Coronavirus daily round-up: Thursday 4 June
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Hundreds of thousands of children face being plunged into poverty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, new research warns.
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Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.
Thinktank warns 200,000 children face poverty post-pandemic
Some 200,000 children will be among 1.1m people plunged into poverty due to Covid-19, a new report by the Progressive Policy Think Tank (IPPR) warns.
Without urgent action to protect families from the financial hardship caused by the pandemic, this would bring the total number of children living in poverty in the UK to 4.5 million, an increase of almost five per cent, IPPR says.
It adds that the number of children newly pushed into poverty since before the pandemic is likely to be 300,000 at the end of this year, however, this is partially offset by the 100,000 children likely to have moved out of poverty, due to emergency reforms to the Universal Credit system introduced in March.
Call for emergency bailout of childcare sector
Early Years leaders have backed calls from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for an emergency bailout of the childcare sector.
The TUC has called on the government to “give an urgent cash injection to the childcare sector to ensure it remains sustainable” in a new report.
The Early Years Alliance and National Day Nurseries Association are among those to back the proposal.
Young people worst affected by anxiety and depression as lockdown lifts
Anxiety and depression remains highest in adults aged under 25 despite national levels decreasing since the start of lockdown.
New research by University College London shows that nationally levels of anxiety and depression have fallen from 23 March when lockdown was introduced and 1 June when measures began to ease.
However, researchers warn that the change is largely in those over 60 with young adults (under-25), those living alone and those with children still reporting higher than average ratings of poor mental health.
Surge in demand for accommodation for homeless young people
Local authorities are facing a spike in demand for support from homeless young people following an initial push to house rough sleepers during the Covid-19 pandemic, new research warns.
A new report by Crisis shows that nearly half of frontline services have reported a rise in homelessness during the pandemic.
Councillor David Renard, LGA housing spokesman said: “Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, councils have faced significant challenges housing large numbers of homeless people in a short space of time.
“Following the initial surge in demand for accommodation, councils are also now experiencing an urgent need for more accommodation as people, including young people, continue to face homelessness and rough sleeping.”
