Almost 12,000 children across Swindon living in poverty in run-up to Christmas
Mission Christmas aims to make sure no child misses out on a gift
Nearly 12,000 children across Swindon are living in poverty, as we launch our annual campaign to make sure every child receives a present under the tree this Christmas.
Statistics from End Child Poverty (ECP) show that, before the pandemic, 30% of children were living in poverty. That figure is 500,000 higher than five years ago.
According to ECP, a child is deemed to be growing up in poverty if they live in a household whose income is 60% below the median income.
In our town, the worst affected area is Swindon South, where just over one in four kids are living in poverty.
Experts fear the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and other factors have made the situation much worse:
- Energy bills are rising at record levels
- The end of the Universal Credit uplift sees families £20 a week worse off
- Job uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and Brexit
- Rising inflation pushing up prices
Greatest Hits Radio's Mission Christmas is back for 2021, to help provide presents and gifts for families who would otherwise not be able to afford them.
Families struggling to pay for Christmas
Graham Whitham, from the ECP Coalition, says 2021 has been another tough year for parents and families with low incomes.
"It's been a hard time for families up and down the country, and with the extra costs coming up to Christmas, high energy bills and other financial pressures , it's really going to hit low income families.
"You've got children living in this country that won't have a happy Christmas, and won't have the things that other families do have, and that can't be right. All families should be able to celebrate Christmas and those big occasions, because that's what life is about and nobody should be denied that," he told Greatest Hits Radio.
Asked whether campaigns like Mission Christmas can make a difference to local families, Graham agreed: "When we're coming up to Christmas we think about families who can't afford the things other families take for granted, so let's reach out and help each other and make sure we can all have a happy Christmas".
Mission Christmas
The aim of Mission Christmas is to ensure children across the UK wake up to a present on Christmas morning. Sadly, many children and young people from families who are living in poverty are at-risk of waking up to nothing.
Cash for Kids are encouraging Greatest Hits Radio listeners, local businesses, schools and community groups to join together, and get involved with Mission Christmas this year.
New, unwrapped gifts can be donated at one of the special drop-off points across our area.
Alternatively, cash donations and proceeds from fundraising will enable Cash for Kids to purchase additional gifts, to ensure every child and young person wakes up to a gift on the big day.
More details of how to get involved in Mission Christmas can be found here.
Another difficult year for families
There are concerns that some families might find it even harder to pay for Christmas this year:
Children living in poverty
In March 2020, 4.3m children were living in poverty in the UK. That's 30% of all children, and 500,000 more than five years ago.
It's feared the pandemic and the economic situation caused by Brexit has made the situation even worse
Money worries
The £20 a week increase in Universal Credit introduced at the start of the pandemic was removed by the government in October.
Campaigners says the cut to income affects the poorest members of society just as prices are starting to rise.
Energy prices rise
Inflation is increasing as we head towards Christmas.
That means we all have to pay more for day-to-day items.
The price of gas has rocketed since the summer, leaving some families choosing between heating their homes or feeding their families.
Working families struggling
Three-quarters of children living in poverty are from households where at least one parent works. That's up from two-thirds in 2014-15.
Where is worst hit?
There are people living in poverty across the UK, but the highest numbers are in cities with the biggest populations, London and Birmingham.
Wales has the highest rate per nation while poverty is increasing at its fastest rate in the North East.