A third of North East children are growing up in poverty, new report says

Child poverty in the North East
-Credit:Kate Stanworth / Save The Children


A third of North East children are growing up in poverty and that number will not fall without changes to Government policy, a new report has warned.

Anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) says that a stronger economy is likely to make little difference to the poorest UK households unless there is targeted support for the issue. It says the North East’s child poverty rate of 33% will not fall by 2029 based on current policies.

JRF said it was “deeply unjust” to expect struggling families to wait for wider economic growth, and re-emphasised its plea for the two-child limit on benefits to be scrapped. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously indicated he would like to scrap the limit but that the Government cannot currently afford to do so, and has repeatedly stressed the focus on growing the economy.

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Hear more about how the North East is fighting back against child poverty in The Northern Agenda's podcast series, Our Kids In The North, below:

Paul Kissack, JRF chief executive, said: “Child poverty will only be driven down through focused, deliberate and determined policy action. Even very strong economic growth won’t automatically change the picture. Policy action must start with the system designed to help people meet their costs of living – social security. At the moment, that system is not only failing to do its job but, worse, actively pushing some people into deeper poverty, through cruel limits and caps.”

The report noted levels of poverty in working households, with 71% of children in poverty in a household where at least one adult worked. Poverty was highest among children and lowest among pensioners, and JRF said there had been a significant growth in “deep poverty”.

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Since coming to power in July, the Government has announced a child poverty task force co-chaired by Education Secretary and Sunderland MP Bridget Phillipson. North East mayor Kim McGuinness has also launched a drive to reduce child poverty in the region.

Beth Farhat, chair of the North East Child Poverty Commission
Beth Farhat, chair of the North East Child Poverty Commission -Credit:North East Child Poverty Commission

Beth Farhat, chair of the North East Child Poverty Commission, said: “As this important new analysis makes clear, economic growth and job creation – whilst vital – will not, on their own, be enough to make a dent in unacceptably high rates of child poverty here in the North East. Indeed, we know the hardship being experienced by so many families – both in and out of work – is itself acting as one of the single biggest barriers to growth and opportunity our local communities face.

“The Government has made a welcome commitment to deliver an ambitious and bold child poverty strategy this spring, and I urge them to take the findings of this report squarely on board as they develop their long-awaited proposals. Whilst there is real, cross-sector determination across our region to do what it takes to tackle child poverty, that has to be underpinned by meaningful national action if we are to have a chance of shifting the dial on this issue with the urgency it requires.

“This must include investment in our social security safety net – including scrapping the cruel two-child limit – to ensure that children in all families are given the opportunity to thrive and reach their potential.”

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North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “Tackling child poverty is our mission as a region. We will not tolerate a situation where a generation of children are held back by poverty. This report is a stark warning that we all need to lend a hand so that every child growing up in our region can fulfil their potential.

“That’s why I’ve set up the country’s first Child Poverty Reduction Unit, to bring together business and the public sector with people who can make a difference in our communities. The Unit will meet for the first time this week to build a plan for every part of the North East, tailored to family needs to give every child the best start in life."

A Government spokesperson said: “No child should be in poverty – that’s why our ministerial taskforce is exploring all levers available across government to give children across the United Kingdom the best start in life, while our Plan for Change will raise living standards across the country.

“As we fix the foundations of the economy, we’re increasing the Living Wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families with children by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income families and make everyone better off.”