"I won't eat during the day": Thousands of West Country families face work-constrained poverty
The region suffers the highest proportion of ‘work-constrained’ child poverty in the country
Last updated 22nd Feb 2024
185,000 children in the West Country are trapped in poverty because their parents face barriers to work, according to a new report from Action for Children.
The region, alongside the North West, has been found to have the highest proportion living in what the charity are calling ‘work-constrained’ poverty.
Parents can find themselves out of work, or struggling to get enough work, for several reasons.
They could have disabilities or their children could have disabilities and often childcare costs more than the household income.
Jo is a parent from North Devon.
Her partner works, but Jo is unable to because her disabled son needs round-the-clock care.
“I'd love to go back to work,” said Jo, “I used to work all the time and until I had my son my plan was to go back full time, but now I can't.”
Jo now lives in poverty and is making extreme cutbacks on spending to properly care for her son.
She doesn’t watch TV, rarely turns on the heating often goes without food.
“I won't really eat in the day - I'll just eat for dinner and give my son whatever he needs,” she said.
“In my eyes, he's more important and whatever he needs for his support to help him grow I'm going do - whatever it takes.”
And Jo isn’t alone in taking these extreme measures.
Jeordan is a mother of four from Somerset who suffers chronic back pain.
Her mobility issues mean she can only stand or walk for short periods and she has to use a wheelchair.
Her partner Sean has taken on all of the physical caring needs for Jeordan and their children, forcing him out of work.
“I had a pretty good job - I had my own office,” said Sean, “I worked in the hospital in catering and finances and I want to go to uni to study astrophysics.”
“He has big dreams,” said Jeordan, “I have dreams too – I want to write a book and go to uni but they’ve all been put on hold."
Like Jo, both parents go without food and Sean often goes entire days without eating.
“I just don't have enough,” he said, “I feed everyone else, but I can't really eat anything myself.”
“And that makes me feel guilty,” said Jeordan, who has to eat alongside her medication, “it makes me sad because he's not eating and I feel guilty because I've got a whole plate of food and he's not touching it.
“But that's what being a parent is - being able to sacrifice your life for your children.”
Robert Wyatt is the operational director for Action for Children across the South West of England.
They are campaigning for reforms on the social security system.
“Our research shows we need to be honest about why so many children in our region are growing up poor and confront the myth that work alone is a passport out of poverty,” said Robert.
“In this election year, this is something all political parties must address.
“Further research is needed into the financial challenges facing these working families so we can find more targeted and effective solutions.
“This should be part of a wider programme of reform that strengthens the social security system and tackles the barriers to work and opportunity that are keeping families trapped in poverty.”
A government spokesperson said: “there are 1.7 million fewer people living in absolute poverty compared to 2010, including 400,000 children, as we continue to support families with cost of living support worth on average £3,700 per household.
“Children are five times less likely to experience poverty living in a household where all adults work, compared to those in workless households, which is why this Government has reduced the number of workless households by almost 700,000 since 2010.
“We know work is the best route out of poverty which is why we have also raised the National Living Wage and are investing billions through our Back to Work Plan to break down barriers to work, while expanding our childcare offer and investing in children’s health programmes to make sure children get the best start in life.”