One-in-five Plymouth children are living 'in poverty'
ONE in five children in Plymouth live in poverty it has been estimated – but that figure could rise as a result of government cutbacks.
A deprivation map published by the Campaign to End Child Poverty reveals 10,800 of the city's 52,941 youngsters – 20 per cent – faced hardship.
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In Cornwall – the number is 17,940 or 17 per cent of children, while in the South Hams it is 1,771 (11 per cent). The England average is 21 per cent. It comes as campaigners warn targeting cuts at families would lead to an "economic and a social disaster".
But the Government insists its education and welfare reforms will help "break the cycle" of deprivation, and highlighted steps to assist families including freezing Council Tax. London features heavily among the UK's most deprived areas, with Islington, Hackney, Westminster and Camden all making the top 10 compilation of local authority areas enduring the biggest proportions of child poverty.
The Government's headline target for 2020 is to have child poverty rates of 10 per cent or lower. But the Institute for Fiscal Studies recently warned that a couple with two children will be £1,250 a year worse off by 2015 as families "shoulder the burden of austerity". It has been predicted that the number of children in poverty before housing costs are taken into account could rise from 2.5 million in 2010/11 to 3.3 million by 2020/21.
The Child Poverty Map of the UK report said: "While it is fully accepted that the nation now faces incredible challenges reducing the deficit, this cannot excuse the regressive nature of the path the coalition has chosen."
Campaign executive director Alison Garnham said: "Child poverty costs us billions in picking up the pieces of damaged lives and unrealised potential, so it's a false economy if we don't prioritise looking after children today. Targeting cuts on families will prove both an economic and a social disaster, with businesses losing billions of pounds of demand and families struggling to keep their kids clothed, fed and warm."
The report used tax credit data to examine the proportion of children living in low income homes, also taking into account recent unemployment to estimate changes in the number of children who are sinking into poverty because their parents have lost their jobs.
Children were classed as in poverty if their family's income fell below 60 per cent of the median average income. At this level families struggle to meet basic needs like food, heating, transport, clothing, school equipment and trips.
A government spokesman said the coalition remained committed to tackling child poverty.
She said: "The Government has taken practical steps to help families – cutting fuel duty, freezing Council Tax and cutting income tax for millions.
"The Chancellor also confirmed working-age benefits will go up by 5.2 per cent in April and increased the child element of the Child Tax Credit in line with inflation."
Introducing the single Universal Credit payment, would also help the spokesman added.
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by mcspredder
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 9:47PM
“@explymgirl73
Why aren't mothers allowed to care for their own children rather than support another job creation scheme known as childcare?
Just when she had it all sorted out, my daughter (in stable marriage, both working and she at university) was informed by her childcare one morning that she couldn't take her 2nd child that day as her own child was ill and she is only allowed a certain number of children at home.
If you're going to make a job out of childcare, you should be either childless or have adult children. Surely she should have farmed her own child out in order to not let my daughter down?”
by nonamous20
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 8:02PM
“why would I want to win him back???? he is a scrounger has never done anything for me or the children why would I want a man like that in mine or my children's lives? to teach them when things get tough run? not a chance. as for the paternal grandparents they do not live in Plymouth and my parents work full time so again out of the question. the government want parents to return to work more support is needed, I recently attended a meeting at the job centre and they were hopeless.”
by TwoTreesBob
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 7:53PM
“nonamous20,
Why don't you request that the father's parents look after the children whilst you go to work. In this way you may be able to eventually win back the father of your children, and create a family life.”
by nonamous20
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 7:34PM
“@explymgirl73 yes the government would pay for my child care but only 16hours of it, 1 of my children are very poorly which requires constant appointments and meetings, you tell me where I can find a job that will allow me plenty of time off to attend these meetings/appointments and will allow me time off when my child is not having a very good day. Not all of us are benefit scroungers, not all of us open our legs for the sake of having a child and not having to work. I would love to work but unfortunately this is not possible at the moment. And people may find half of us single parents are not on our own because we don't no the father or what ever other reason just half the men are cowards and cannot cope with having to look after anyone but themselves (this does not apply to all men by the way) just sick of people putting a stereotype on single parents, not all of us are lazy scroungers.”
by Kitkat79
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 7:09PM
“Some people on here have no clue! Not everyone fits into your social stereotype of lazy benefit scroungers. Although I'm not in poverty myself, I work with plenty of children who come from dire situations that you would never believe existed in our city. They are not wanting to be criminals or yobs, like you suppose. They are trying to make better lives for themselves. Open your eyes people, look around you, how about rather than moaning, you offer to babysit or help someone out rather than getting too comfortable on your soap boxes. Too much? I thought it might be.”
by TwoTreesBob
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 7:02PM
“To all the females who have whined on about the situations they find themselves in. Here is a simple lesson: make yourself attractive to your husband and he they will not want to rid himself of you. Teach the child respect and the father will not feel the need to distance himself from them. It really does not require a Ph.D.
Equally, if you cannot afford to care for your children, then offer them for adoption, the children will thank you for it, should the adoptive parents feel the need to let the child know of your existence that is.
Or more simply, keep your underwear on and just say 'no'.”
by Tessa43
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 6:17PM
“I work 189 hours per week. I get paid £67 for this in benefits. I am a carer. I can claim all sorts but if I do it all comes out of my tax credits for my son or my husbands JSA. Both of these people are disabled but one has been thrown off income support and is awaiting appeal, This is fine we are not complaining, as we know there are a lot of people out there that really do not want to work and are fiddling the system. But It is really getting me down how people are tarring us all with the same brush. I want a decent job. I am a 45 year old lady who has worked in catering and caring all her life so if you have a job or hear of one going PLEASE let me know as I need a rest and I really need to put some food on the table.”
by explymgirl73
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 5:34PM
“@nonamous20 - Why can't you work? I don't understand? Your childcare fee's are subsidised by the government, so tell us again why we are paying for you to not have a job?
My sister manages work and college with 2 young children so why cant you? You don't want other people looking after your kids is also no excuse.... Not our problem, if your not going to support them then don't have them. Can't is more like won't, you people make me sick.”
by MickBarb
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 4:50PM
“I grew up in the 1950's on a council estate in the midlands and looking back i think you could say we were "poor" because we never had a TV til I was about 9, and we never had a phone or car. But we were always well fed and paid the rent easily and were dressed okay and happy enough, so i suppose that's all that matters really..:)”
by basil4040
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 3:33PM
“Many points made and there is an element of concieved truth in all of them.
However, we do not invest in Families and children only the services that police them when they get into trouble, which of course they will do.
Free pre-school playgroups with sufficient staffing to give Mothers some respite.
Youth clubs for teenagers that belong to the teenagers.
Community Care Workers from within Social services (with ringfenced funding) to initiate local community self help groups dealing with issue such as Drugs, Alcholism, Debt and parenting skills.
I know this may seem like interference by the state, but if people own their problems and are shown solutions then things might improve.”