Action for Children responds to today's child poverty stats

In reaction to today’s official statistics which show a rise in child poverty in the UK from 4.1 million (2017/18) to 4.2 million (2018/19), director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, Imran Hussain, said:

“These grim figures show millions of families with children are already struggling to keep their heads above water even before they - and millions of others living comfortably - find themselves hit hard by the economic wave of this once-in-a-generation health crisis.

“In the past week some families have already got so desperate, our frontline staff are feeding them from their own cupboards. And with so many families close to breaking point, we’ve had to launch an appeal fund to help those struggling to pay for basic essentials like food, nappies and utility bills.

“We welcome the financial support announced last week but the government needs to go further and faster. We urgently need to put a protective shield around children in low income families. That means improving the child element of Universal Credit and Tax Credits, and ensuring these changes reach those children most at risk of poverty by suspending the benefit cap and the two-child limit for this support. Only then will we have a chance of giving vulnerable children a safe and happy childhood.”

To support Action for Children’s emergency coronavirus appeal which will help families cover the cost of the basics, please visit actionforchildren.org.uk, call 0300 123 2112 or text ACTION to 70175 to give £10.