Mark Whitehead 04 December 2018

One in five people are living in poverty, report warns

Britain has suffered a 'relentless rise' in the number of working families struggling to make ends meet over the last five years, according to poverty campaigners.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said there were now half a million more children trapped in poverty than five years ago.

Its report, UK Poverty 2018, says 14.3 million people – more than one in five of the UK population – are poor.

Of these 8.2 million are working-age adults, 4.1 million are children and 1.9 million are pensioners.

The foundation says the rise is driven by a range of factors including parents getting trapped in low-paid work with little progression and changes to tax credits and benefits that top up low wages.

The foundation's chief executive, Campbell Robb, said: 'We are seeing a rising tide of child poverty as more parents are unable to make ends meet, despite working.

'This is unacceptable. It means more families are trapped in impossible situations: struggling to pay the bills, put food on the table and dealing with the terrible stresses and strains poverty places on family life.

'It’s time for us to decide what kind of country we want to be. As we leave the EU, we must tackle the burning injustice of poverty and make Britain a country that works for everyone.'

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said: 'To tackle the issue, including the worrying growth in in-work poverty, government needs to resource and fully engage with councils to prevent homelessness and support people into jobs to lift themselves out of poverty.

'Welfare reforms also need to be adapted to reduce the risk of homelessness and councils need more powers to build more affordable homes.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief Executive

Leicestershire County Council
Up to £234,171
This is a rare opportunity to lead a council with both strength and ambition at a time of change. Leicestershire
Recuriter: Leicestershire County Council

Director of Adults and Integrated Commissioning

Kent County Council
up to £129,530 per annum
A career-defining role at the heart of adult social care transformation. Kent
Recuriter: Kent County Council

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner