Children to investigate UK poverty as study highlights 'unacceptable' conditions
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Children in poverty in the UK are being forced to cope with mouldy and damp housing conditions, and are bullied because their parents have no money, a study has found.
A survey conducted by the Children’s Society found that, of those children and young people who said they “felt they were poor”, 26 per cent had experienced problems with damp or mould at their home.
More than half (53 per cent) said their home was too cold last winter and the same proportion said they do not have enough space.
Fifty-five per cent of children said they felt embarrassed about being poor and 14 per cent said they had been bullied as a result.
More than three-quarters (76 per cent) said they often worry about how much money there is to go around in the family.
The report, called Through Young Eyes, has been released to mark the launch of the first ever Children’s Commission on Poverty.
The commission, supported by the Children’s Society, will see a panel of 15 children and teenagers from across England conduct an 18-month investigation into child poverty in the UK.
“The launch of the Children’s Commission marks a major milestone in the debate around child poverty in this country,” Reed added.
"For the first time it is being driven by children themselves, who will show us, through their own eyes, what it looks and feels like to be in poverty.”
Out of a total of 2,000 10- to 17-year-olds who took part in the study, eight per cent said they were in poverty.
According to Department for Work and Pensions figures, 3.5 million children currently live in poverty in the UK.
However, children questioned in the study said they believe the overall situation regarding poverty is going to get worse.
Nearly half (49 per cent) said childhood poverty had been increasing over the last 10 years and 41 per cent said it would continue to increase over the next 10 years.
Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “For millions of children up and down the country, poverty is a grinding reality – and it is getting worse. Many families are facing stark and unacceptable choices, like heat or eat.
“This is disgraceful in any country – especially in one of the world’s richest."
Yousif, a 16-year-old member of the commission’s panel, said: “Child poverty is one of the gravest injustices to face the UK and we on the young people’s panel, have gathered together to help combat it.
“We are here to fight this injustice.“
