New figures reveal almost 30% of children in Cornwall are living in poverty
The Duchy has the third highest level across the whole South West
Last updated 12th Jul 2022
New figures show almost 30% of children in Cornwall were living in poverty in the year 2020 to 2021, which is the third highest level area across the South West.
The End Child Poverty Coalition has launched its annual child poverty statistics for the UK, revealing child poverty levels at a local authority and Westminster constituency level.
The research, carried out by Loughborough University on behalf of the coalition, shows that a quarter (24.7 per cent) of children and young people in the South West region are living in poverty, the equivalent of eight children in a classroom of 30.
In Bristol this figure reaches a third (32.6%) of all children and young people – or a staggering 10 children in a classroom of 30.
Across the region the number of children living in poverty has barely changed in the last 10 years, in 2010/11 25.4% of children were living in poverty. Meaning there has only been a decrease of less than one percentage point between 2010/11 and 2021/22.
Action for Children says for low income families this can mean using food banks and parents skipping meals to feed their children, not being able to afford winter coats or school uniforms, or suffering from the mental worry that comes when you are not able to pay your bills.
The charity says in 2020/21 40% of children in lone parent households were in poverty (compared to 24% of those in couple parent households). The latest data available also shows children from Black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be in poverty, at 46 per cent, compared with 26 per cent of children in white British families.
'We need urgent action'
Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said: ‘Child poverty isn’t inevitable, the government can make changes to ensure that families are able to afford the basics for their children. We need urgent decisive action to ensure that next year we aren’t reporting exactly the same figures for the South West. All children in the South West and across the UK deserve to live free of poverty and to have the same chances as their peers.’
This data covers the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was also the year that saw poorer households receive the £20 Universal Credit uplift.
Whilst in other regions across the UK it seems that this uplift has had more of an impact on child poverty figures, this trend is not reflected in the South West. We're told this could be because many people in the region were in receipt of legacy benefits, so were not receiving Universal Credit payments during the pandemic. As a result they would not have received the extra cash uplift.
The End Child Poverty coalition believes if the government truly wants to ‘level up’ the country and begin to tackle child poverty, MPs must continue to find ways of making social security more adequate in the long term so that every family can afford the essentials.
It is calling on the government to ensure:
1) Universal Credit payments deductions are reduced and the benefit cap abolished.
2) There is improved access to free or affordable childcare.
3) Free School Meals in England and Wales are extended to all children in families receiving Universal Credit.
Government statement
A Government spokesman said the eight million most vulnerable families will be protected during the cost-of-living crisis with at least £1,200 in direct payments from this week.
He said: "Through our £37 billion support package we are saving the typical employee over £330 a year through a tax cut this month, allowing people on Universal Credit to keep £1,000 more of what they earn and in April we significantly increased the National Living Wage to £9.50, the largest ever rise.
"In addition, we have expanded access to free school meals more than any other government in recent decades, while vulnerable families in England are being supported by the Government's Household Support Fund - which was recently boosted by another £500 million."