ipl-logo

Child Poverty Remains High In The Uk Essay

1848 Words8 Pages

Explain why child poverty remains high in the UK and is increasing
Introduction
Child poverty is a persistent issue in the United Kingdom (UK), affecting an significant proportion of the nations children each year. Although the UK is a developed country, the it has a higher than average rate of child poverty in Europe (see figure 1), approximately 4.2 million children were living in poverty as of 2021 (Department for Work and Pensions, 2023). The amount of children affected is predicted to increase further because more families will become vulnerable to financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict in Ukraine and austerity to name a few. This essay will explore the causation of child poverty in the UK and why it continues to …show more content…

Children living in poverty are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health, have limited access to education and employment opportunities, and be exposed to higher levels of crime and social exclusion. These challenges can persist throughout their lives and contribute to a cycle of poverty that affects not only individuals but also communities and society as a whole.

How is the UK tackling child poverty and is it effective?
The UK government has implemented various measures to tackle child poverty, although the effectiveness of these measures is a matter of debate. Some of the measures implemented by the UK government to tackle child poverty include:
Universal Credit: This is a single payment system for people who are on a low income or out of work. It replaces several previous benefits, including Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. The government claims that Universal Credit simplifies the benefits system and helps people to get into work.
Free School Meals: Children from low-income families are entitled to free school meals. The government has extended this entitlement during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that children who are not attending school still receive a nutritious …show more content…

While some argue that the measures are not enough to make a significant difference, others argue that they are a step in the right direction.

Why is child poverty increasing in the Uk
Child poverty in the UK has been increasing in recent years for various reasons, including:
Low Wages: Many families in the UK are working but still living in poverty. The minimum wage has not kept up with the rising cost of living, which means that families are struggling to make ends meet.
Changes to the Benefits System: Changes to the benefits system, including the introduction of Universal Credit, have made it harder for some families to access financial support. Some families have experienced delays in receiving payments, which has put them in financial difficulty.
Housing Costs: Housing costs in the UK are high, particularly in cities, which means that families are spending a significant proportion of their income on housing.
Inadequate Support for Working Parents: Many parents in the UK struggle to balance work and caring responsibilities. The cost of childcare can be prohibitively expensive, which means that some parents are unable to work full-time or at

Show More
Related

  • Ao4 Government Response Paper

    670 Words  | 3 Pages

    AO4 - Government responses to social issues and welfare needs Introduction Tony Blair came into power in 1999, he then declared that child poverty should be eradicated from the UK by the year 2020. The Child Poverty Act was introduced and recognised in 2010; it was made legislation to meet four targets for child poverty by 2020. These targets are to reduce the amount of children living in relative poverty to less than 10%, the second target is to reduce the amount of children that live in a low income household and material deprivation to less than 5%, the third target is to reduce the amount of children suffering from persistent poverty and lastly, to reduce the amount of children living in absolute poverty to less than 5%. The legislation involves the state considering a new child poverty strategy every three years, where policies are set to attempt to meet the targets established. Child poverty fell to 2.3 million in 2010/11, however this did not meet the Governments target of halving child poverty, this number remained consistent up until 2012/13 (Kennedy, 2014).

    Read More

  • Poverty And Inequality In New Labour

    2080 Words  | 9 Pages

    When Labour took power, poverty rates in the UK were the highest they had been since World War 2 (Stewart, K. ‘(2005). New Labour turns the tide of poverty, but inequality still runs deep. Available: http://bit.ly/1tSiqo9) and one of New Labours flagship pledges in the 1997 General election was to decrease poverty, particularly for pensioners and families with children. The figures of 2.5 million down from 3.4 million children living in poverty shows New Labour made significant progress in reducing child poverty despite failing to meet their aim of halving child poverty (Pearce, N. (2012). The struggle against child poverty: an analysis of Labour's legacy.

    Read More

  • Issue Of Poverty In Canada

    1549 Words  | 7 Pages

    "Major source of poverty is it in inevitable existence of employment... many workers, particularly women, cannot find affordable childcare and are therefore unable to work" (Naiman 228) however, there are different types of poverty, "as important as money is in a monetized society such as Canada, there are forms of poverty that are more about a shortage of money. Poverty is often a complex and multi-faceted, and can damage the human spirit in ways that are profound. "(Silver 2) that being said, there needs to be different as well as more shelters, food banks and whatever more resources someone in need, needs. We need more of certain resources, because the amount we have now are full, for example, shelters get full so quickly that the citizens without homes are stuck to sleep on the street, no matter the weather.

    Read More

  • Feeding America Research Paper

    1348 Words  | 6 Pages

    Millions of people all over the world suffer from poverty. Americans usually think of third world countries when thinking of poverty, often one will not realize that it is a problem right here at home. Everyone will agree that poverty is a problem, but how exactly does poverty affect people? Most people will think of an old beggar on the side of the road with a sign and a tin can in their hand when they think of poor people. But the age group that is most affected by poverty in our nation is our children.

    Read More

  • Poverty In Texas Essay

    1058 Words  | 5 Pages

    [2] Despite recent declines in poverty rates, a large number of people still face hardship, particularly children. According to the Center for Public Policy

    Read More

  • Spsarcs Intervention Model

    958 Words  | 4 Pages

    Often times, these are attributed to poverty. According to the 2005 census, 17.6% of children are living in poverty. The rate increases to 42% for children raised by single mothers (DeNavas-Walt, 2010). Policymakers and researchers have long recognized that low income families are substantially more likely to come in

    Read More

  • Child Disparities In Poverty

    134 Words  | 1 Pages

    According to Hodgkinson et al, there are “disparities in poverty rates depending on age, race or ethnicity, family structure, and geographic location. Although the largest number of poor and low income children are white, minority children are disproportionately affected, particularly African American, American Indian, and Hispanic children. In 2013, Hispanic and African American children were ~3 times more likely than white and Asian children to be poor. Children raised by single parents and children raised in the South or West are also more likely to be poor or low income than children residing in the Northeast” (Hodgkinson et al, 2016). Children and youth are a vulnerable population because they have no control over their situation or environment;

    Read More

  • Child Poverty In The United States Essay

    792 Words  | 4 Pages

    Child Poverty in the U.S About nine months after conception, newborns come out of the wombs and come to the world. The newborns must be the most beautiful gift the mothers have ever received. It is always moved that the mothers finally see their babies after have waited for long time. The newborns start their new journey in the world. Meanwhile, the babies will embody tomorrow’s world.

    Read More

  • Henrietta Lacks Essay On Poverty

    1029 Words  | 5 Pages

    Poverty is affecting billions of people around our world and the number is growing with each day. Many people think they can avoid the effects of poverty, but it is something that affects all of our daily lives. Many people see poverty as a person who lacks money, although this is true poverty is caused by many more things than being without money. Just the fact that one in two children live in poverty can help people see clearly the impact it has on our world. Poverty truly does influence the type of care and treatment a person will receive when they need it.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Poor Kids

    879 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to the PBS Frontline video “Poor Kids” 2012, more than 46 million Americans are living beneath the poverty line. The United States alone has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the industrialized world. It is stated that 1 out of 5 children are living in poverty. The video documented the lives of three families who are faced with extreme hardships and are battling to survive a life of being poor. All three families have more than one child and could barely afford to pay their bills and purchase food for their household.

    Read More

  • Poverty And Student Achievement In Chicago Public Schools By Lisa Breger

    1042 Words  | 5 Pages

    Seekamp states, “Poor children complete two fewer years of schooling, work 451 fewer hours per year, earn less than half as much, receive $826 per year more in food stamps as adults, and are more than twice as likely to report poor overall health or high levels of psychological distress(11).” As presented, children who have grown up in poverty are more likely to need financial help in the future. This causes dependency on other people and the government making people not grow in life financially. “5 Ways Poverty Harms Children” by David Murphey and Zakia Redd utters that poor physical, emotional, and behavioral health has been proven to be a consequence of poverty(Murphey and Redd). Due to the lack of resources, including nutrition, many people suffer from the long-lasting negative effects of poverty.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Poverty In The House On Mango Street

    1142 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to statistics, the monthly child poverty rate increased from 12.31% to 17% in December 2021. That is a difference of 4.9%. Poverty is something many have to deal with on a daily basis. Some may think that the only difference between them and someone in poverty is the financial difference, but there is so much more to it. Growing up in poverty makes even more of a difference.

    Read More

  • Satire About Poverty

    1464 Words  | 6 Pages

    Poverty is universal but does vary within countries, even neighborhoods. According to society poverty is hunger, lack of shelter, not having the ability to see a doctor when necessary and limited education. In third world countries, it is very common for parents to conceive a high number of children as a source of labor. Not only do these kids frequently receive slight or no education, but large families in these countries are the main contributor to global overpopulation. These children are not privileged with the same basic opportunities given to an American child.

    Read More

  • Child Poverty Informative Speech

    874 Words  | 4 Pages

    Good afternoon distinguished members of the government, I am standing here before you as a very concerned citizen to talk about the rise in child poverty we are currently seeing in our country. First of all, let me talk a little on the background of child poverty in our nation. Child poverty or even poverty in general is present in almost every single country. Even UK, Australia have children living in poverty.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Poverty

    1222 Words  | 5 Pages

    These statistics are overwhelming due to the fact that child poverty affects all areas of their lives. Children exposed to poverty at such a young age are at a disadvantage in several areas; these children are at risk of low academic achievement, resulting in lasting negative effects. Our economy is not able to thrive if child poverty continues. Children living in poverty are also at risk of dropping out of school, being unemployed, and entering the juvenile justice system. Our government is responsible for ensuring that child poverty ceases to be an issue in the United States.

    Read More

More about Child Poverty Remains High In The Uk Essay

Open Document