More than a third of children on the Isle of Wight are growing up in poverty, new figures have revealed.
Numbers have grown by almost five per cent in just one year — in 2018 there were 29.5 per cent of children living in poverty, compared to 34 per cent today.
The data, published by the End Child Poverty coalition, highlights how worrying levels of child poverty vary across Britain and shows poverty is on the rise — and rising fastest in places where it is already highest.
National comparison
In Hampshire, levels were worst in Portsmouth and Southampton, with 36 per cent of children living in poverty.
In some areas of London, child poverty levels are as high as 59 per cent.
Growing up in poverty means growing up trapped
Chair of the End Child Poverty coalition, Anna Feuchtwang said:
“We know what causes child poverty and we know how to end it. We know the income of less well-off families has been hit by severe real-terms cuts in benefits and by higher housing costs.
“And we know that work alone does not guarantee a route out of poverty, with two thirds of child poverty occurring in working families.
“Yet in many areas growing up in poverty is not the exception it’s the rule with more children expected to get swept up in poverty in the coming years, with serious consequences for their life chances.
“Policymakers can no longer deny the depth of the problem or abandon entire areas to rising poverty. The government must respond with a credible child poverty-reduction strategy.
“Growing up in poverty means growing up trapped. It restricts a child’s chances of doing well at school, of living a healthy and happy life, and of finding well paid work as adults. We urgently need the government to set a course of action that will free our children from the grip of poverty.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may be been made by OnTheWight. Ed
