‘Shocking’ Worthing child poverty figures revealed
AT least one in three children in parts of Worthing are living in poverty, a study has shown.
According to the West Sussex Annual Public Health Report 2011, Worthing’s Northbrook and Broadwater wards are among the worst areas in West Sussex for levels of child poverty.
The latest published figures, which show statistics recorded in 2009, state that 39.9 per cent of Northbrook children and 39.7 per cent of Broadwater children live in a low-income environment.
But according to children’s charity Save the Children, there has not been any improvement in the figures over the past two years – in fact, UK poverty levels are set to rise by 400,000 children by 2015.
Sally Copley, Save the Children’s head of poverty, said: “Many of these children will be going to bed hungry, growing up in a cold home and falling behind in their education. These figures are driven by the fact that any progress in tackling poverty made by the government’s new universal credit reforms is wiped out by the impact of other benefit cuts. The government must urgently change course and invest more in supporting the poorest families.”
On a local level, poverty is defined by families who earn less than 60 per cent of the area’s median income, or a “relative low income”. On average in the UK, this equates to £297 a week for a single parent with two children, before housing costs are taken into account. For a couple with two children, a relative low income would mean £379 a week.
Evidence suggests persistent poverty during childhood can have adverse effects for life, including poorer job prospects and even a shorter life expectancy.
County councillor for Northbrook, Robin Rogers said: “To think that almost four in 10 children are living in poverty is beyond belief. We need to take action against this shocking statistic. Big developments like the recently-approved Durrington Consortium will not tackle child poverty. What I’d love to see is more work done in the community. The West Durrington Phoenix Youth Group do great work, but we need more. Breakfast clubs at schools are a fantastic idea – it gives children the nutrition they need, and it’s a great start to their learning day.”
West Durrington’s Phoenix Youth Group organises low-cost day trips and residential trips for the 100 children who attend their weekly sessions, for as little as £1.50 membership a week.
Secretary for the group, Laura Scott said: “I’ve just come off a four-day trip to PGL activity centre with the kids, they paid £40 each for everything. We heavily subsidise everything we do, we rely a lot on grants and fund-raising.”
Laura added: “We have a lot of children whose parents are on benefits, and the number is growing. Our aim is to provide a safe environment for kids to meet their friends.”
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There are 5 comments to this article
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laura13
Monday, November 21, 2011 at 07:13 PMI have 3 children 7 and under (and 2 cats) i dont work but i run youth groups for children and young people 4-16 as a volunteer. My husband earns around £900 a month from his full time job and we get tax creds and about £200. I don't consider my self to be in povery but we certainly do find it hard, and i can asure you my money does NOT go on booze!!! my husband often has to work overtime so that we can pay our bills. Any way thats not the issue. At the end of the day whether a parent chooses to work or to sit at home all day is not the childrens fault and recognising that some children are on that border and don't have things like an outside area to play in, is surely a good thing to be recognising?
Chatsmore88
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 01:33 PMNail on the hard..words from my mouth.. Where do they dig these figures up from. To understand relative poverty, you must first understand the difference between existence and living. If you lack motivation to work, because getting up in the morning and feeding your children and perhaps walking to school or nursery with them, seems like too much trouble, then stay on welfare and give your kids poptarts for breakfast. Send them off with minimum chance of learning anything at school, much like your own school experience. Then do some cash in hard work to supplement your government funded home, car and 2 weeks in the sun. Then of course, you'll moan about not having what your neighbours can afford..Bloody shame that Britain has gained a rputation of spongers..and you wonder why the rest of Europes unfortunates want their bite og the UK welfare pie!
Joby
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 06:23 PMI can't offer any different view to scritty or frankly. Scritty is living it for real as indeed, frankly and I did a long time ago.. Yes, it was 15% interest on our mortgage which makes me shudder at the very thought now. I wonder how many have the real bottle to follow your excellent example scritty ? On these points, frankly and I rarely disagree. Over to another contributor.
frankly
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 11:46 AM@1 Scrittipolitti I think you have struck the nail on the head here with what you say. I remember very well being in a similar situation to yourself. back in the mid 70`s. My salvation turned out to be home ownership,Once the mortgage was paid!, Mind you it was one hell of a struggle with interest rates at15% for a while, and 3 young children to feed and clothe. I used to do 2 jobs,never had holidays abroad,and as the children got older I helped them with paper rounds etc, I`m not sure that property prices will continue to rise,nor am I sure that it is a good thing if they do? I think employment to pay for it all is the problem facing us here in the South East.
Scrittipollitti
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 01:41 PMConfused.com ' On a local level, poverty is defined by families who earn less than 60 per cent of the area’s median income, or a “relative low income”. On average in the UK, this equates to £297 a week for a single parent with two children, before housing costs are taken into account. For a couple with two children, a relative low income would mean £379 a week.' Huh? We are a family of 2 adults, 2 children under 5 and a dog, i take home approx £1300 a month, my partner doesn't work but takes no benefits and we are outside of the income ceiling for claiming any beneifts, child tax credit is all we get. Now according to this story we are living in poverty as our weekly income before household expenses is approx £325. However, we do not feel we live in poverty, the house is heated, the bills and mortgage are paid and everyone gets fed a min of 3 squares a day and we have some left over for savings or luxeries. How can £379 per week be considered 'poverty'? I would question what these families spend thier £1516.00 a month on, booze? Recreational Drugs? Expensive cars? Holidays abroad? I just cant understand were these figures come from, anyone with a family of 2 adults and 2 kids should easily be able to survive, and quite comfortably, on £1500 a month.....Am I missing something here?
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