The
Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield opts for a “big, bold, long-term plan
for fixing” child poverty and has published a series of short essays from
campaigners and politicians.
The
article notes that by the end of this parliament a third of children will be
living in relative poverty and these levels have not been reported since the
1990s.
The
article also states poverty can make a child’s life a lot harder, cause them to
worry about money, food and clothing and that poorer children have fewer
opportunities as they enter adulthood. Children on free school meals are
reported to be more than twice as likely to leave education without a Level 2
Qualification which amounts to 5 GCSEs or an equivalent/apprenticeship.
The
gap in the disadvantages between peers and children in poverty has also been
reported have increased for first time in decades.
The
Children’s Commissioner therefore reports that “child poverty was already a
problem before the pandemic but it has been laid bare by the Covid crisis and
must not be ignored any longer”. No doubt the Covid-19 pandemic will have
increased the number of children impacted by poverty and the full effects will
not yet be known.
Resolution
Foundation found that if the £20 weekly increase in Universal Credit (which was
introduced at the start of the Covid-19
outbreak) is removed in April over 300,000 children would be forced into
poverty. Anne Longfield therefore states her support for the government keeping
the uplift in the short term.
The
need to tackle child poverty is clearly an important issue for the improvement
of the lives and opportunities presented to children.
If you
require legal advice in relation to your children our experienced Child Care
team can assist you through this process. Please call 01924 431774 for a
confidential telephone call or email care@ramsdens.co.uk.
The
article and essays can be found here.