Poverty


Government urged to consult on a national 'right to food' in England 07/04/2021 MPs have urged the Government to consult on a national 'right to food' and appoint a new minster for food security to prevent food poverty in England.
UCL study calls for ‘21st century approach to prosperity’ 16/03/2021 A new study has criticised the Government’s top down levelling-up agenda and calls for what it calls a ‘21st century approach to prosperity’.
Councils welcome boost to COVID Winter Grant Scheme 15/03/2021 Council leaders have welcomed the £59m funding boost to the COVID Winter Grant Scheme to help support vulnerable families over the Easter period.
Household food insecurity at 'crisis' levels warns report 02/03/2021 The Government must make food insecurity a priority and move away from short-term emergency measures, a new report has urged today.
Pandemic pushes 450,000 families into housing debt, says report 16/02/2021 A further 450,000 families have fallen behind on their housing payments due to the impact of the pandemic, a think tank has warned today.
MPs calls for year-long extension of Universal Credit uplift 09/02/2021 Mps have urged the chancellor to extend the £20 weekly increase for Universal Credit for at least a year to stop hundreds of thousands of people falling into poverty.
Report highlights furniture poverty in social housing 22/01/2021 Only 2% of social rented properties are let as furnished or partly furnished, compared to 29% of private rented properties, new research has shown.
COVID-19 living standards hit ‘ahead, rather than behind us’, think tank warns 18/01/2021 The coming year is set to mark the peak of the pandemic-induced living standards downturn for households, especially those on lower incomes, think tank warns.
Council chiefs call for restoration of local welfare funding 13/01/2021 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to restore local welfare funding as a study warns of the impact the pandemic is having on people who were already struggling with poverty.
Lockdown piles extra financial pressures on low income families 12/01/2021 The extra cost of food, energy, and entertaining and home-schooling children has meant that low-income families with children are twice as likely to have increased their spending during the pandemic, according to a new study.
One million households face UC debt deductions 07/01/2021 More than one million households who were forced to claim universal credit (UC) when coronavirus struck are having debt deductions taken from their benefit payments, according to a child poverty charity.
Babies ‘largely invisible’ in pandemic response 21/12/2020 Babies and young children have been forgotten in the Government’s response to the pandemic, health visitors warn.
Footballer Marcus Rashford launches child food poverty website 21/12/2020 The England international footballer Marcus Rashford has launched a new website to support children and vulnerable people over the Christmas period.
Councils urged to back £20 Universal Credit uplift 10/12/2020 Councils have been urged to lobby the Government to make the £20 uplift in Universal Credit permanent by trade union Unite.
Study highlights ‘appalling’ rise in destitution in the UK 09/12/2020 The number of people experiencing destitution in the UK has increased by 54% in two years, a new study has found.
Food poverty linked to mental and physical distress 10/11/2020 New research has revealed that people who have experienced food poverty are more likely to live with obesity and suffer from increased levels of physical and mental distress.
Councils welcome £170m COVID winter grant scheme 09/11/2020 A new £170m COVID winter grant scheme will be distributed to councils to stop children going hungry during the second wave of the pandemic.
Councils urged to appoint 'Food Champion' 05/11/2020 Councils have been urged to appoint a Food Champion and work with a Food Partnership in a bid to tackle food poverty.
Charities tell PM to protect children from ‘winter of hunger’ 04/11/2020 The UK’s leading children’s charities have joined forces to urge the Government to do more to protect children this winter.
Faith leaders call for ‘cross-party strategy’ for tackling child poverty 02/11/2020 Faith leaders praise footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign to extend free school meals and urge the Prime Minister to establish a cross-party commission with the mandate and resources to tackle child poverty in England.
Think tank calls for a 'family stimulus' boost 28/10/2020 A 'family stimulus' would help support hard-hit families through the pandemic, a new report has said.
Charity warns parents are struggling to cover school food costs 23/10/2020 Nearly one million children are living in households that are struggling to afford to feed their children during a school day, according to a new survey.
Child poverty has risen most in Northern areas and Midlands, research finds 14/10/2020 Child poverty has risen fastest in parts of the Midlands and Northern towns and cities in the past four years, new research has revealed.
Universal Credit does not cover ‘basic day to day living costs’, campaigners say 13/10/2020 Four in five people claiming Universal Credit do not have enough money to cover rent, food and bills, shocking new research reveals.
Nearly one million children sign up for free school meals 12/10/2020 Around 900,000 children have newly registered for free school meals this Autumn, according to the Food Foundation.
Scottish council becomes first to set an end poverty target 08/10/2020 The City of Edinburgh Council has become the first local authority to set an official end poverty date.
Automated benefit system 'pushing people into poverty' 30/09/2020 The UK’s automated benefits systems is threatening the rights of people most at risk of poverty, campaigners have warned.
Thousands of families face ‘bleakest’ winter, charity warns 14/09/2020 A new report from a children’s charity has warned of a ‘bleak’ winter with thousands of families set to be plunged into financial crisis.
Low-income families ‘struggling’ under lockdown 25/08/2020 Coronavirus has left low-income families struggling with a significant deterioration in living standards and high stress levels, child poverty charity finds.
Calls to extend free school meals to children from migrant families 17/08/2020 Pupils from low-income migrant families should receive free school meals to prevent thousands of children from going hungry, 60 organisations have said.
A third more families with children now claiming universal credit 12/08/2020 Over 400,000 more families with children started claiming universal credit since the start of the pandemic, a charity has said.
Nearly two thirds of families on Universal Credit stuck in debt ‘nightmare’ 18/06/2020 Two charities have called on the Government to increase the child element of UC by £20 to help struggling families ‘stay afloat’ during the Covid lockdown.
PM forced into U-turn on free school meals 16/06/2020 Council chiefs have welcomed the decision to provide a £120m voucher scheme to allow children from the poorest families get free school meals over the summer.
Councils call for tougher action on ruthless loan sharks 08/06/2020 Council leaders are calling for tougher sentences for loan sharks who are pushing vulnerable people further into debt.
Children 'cut adrift' due to four-year rise in poverty, campaigners warn 20/05/2020 Child poverty is ‘rising rapidly’ in Britain’s poorest communities, a report has warned today.
Food banks report record level of need 01/05/2020 Food banks have warned they have seen record levels of need as the coronavirus pandemic causes more financial hardship for vulnerable families.
Charities call for frontline feedback 29/04/2020 Sam Royston calls on emergency support providers to provide feedback on how Covid-19 is affecting their services.
London has highest poverty rates, report shows 21/04/2020 London has greater levels of poverty than any other region in the UK, new figures have revealed today.
Three million people go hungry since lockdown 14/04/2020 New figures show that three million adults have gone hungry in the first three weeks of lockdown, with 1.5 million going all day without eating.
Charity calls for ‘emergency measures’ to tackle child poverty 27/03/2020 A charity dedicated to fighting child poverty has called on the Government to introduce a package of ‘emergency measures’ to lift children out of poverty.
Families living in poverty ‘struggling to keep heads above water’ 23/03/2020 A children’s charity has launched an emergency appeal to help families who fear they will ‘go under’ as a result of the economic and health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Study finds a tenth of 14-year olds 'blighted' by poverty 12/02/2020 A tenth of 14-year olds are living in persistent poverty, analysis by the Children's Society has found.
Government fails to 'break the grip of poverty' 07/02/2020 Poverty has risen for children and pensioners in the past five years despite efforts to ‘level up’ Britain, new research has revealed.
Work alone cannot eliminate poverty, think tank says 04/02/2020 Policy makers need to focus on further interventions to reduce poverty, think tank says as a new report warns that work alone cannot eliminate poverty.
Charity warns of ‘Christmas childhood crisis’ 06/12/2019 Three children in every primary class face Christmas without warmth or fresh food, a children’s charity has warned.
No parties would reduce child poverty, warns think tank 26/11/2019 None of the party manifestos would reduce levels of child poverty, new research from the Resolution Foundation has found.
Private renters overspending £11bn a year on rent 26/11/2019 Private renters in England are spending £11bn more a year on rent than they can afford, new research has shown.
Child poverty in working households up by 800,000, TUC finds 18/11/2019 The number of children growing up in poverty in working households has shot up by 38% since 2010, according to the TUC.
Food bank use ‘shoots up’ by a quarter in one year 14/11/2019 The number of people using food banks has shot up by nearly a quarter in the last year, according to one of the main providers.
London councils ‘fail’ to challenge inequality, campaigners say 13/11/2019 Many London councils are failing to challenge poverty and inequality, according to campaigners.
Benefit problems ‘widespread’ among food bank users 05/11/2019 Problems with the welfare system affected two-thirds of people at food banks over the last year, a charity has revealed.
Millions struggling to pay council tax and household bills, study finds 08/10/2019 Nearly 1.6 million people are falling behind on their council tax payments, new research has revealed.
Universal Credit drives food bank use, charity says 19/09/2019 A report from the main provider of food banks has warned that the roll out of Universal Credit has been a major factor behind the increase in food bank use.
Poverty result of ‘political decisions’, MPs say 31/07/2019 The poverty and destitution levels in the UK are the result of political decisions made since 2010, MPs have said.
Over 14 million living in poverty, think tank reveals 30/07/2019 Millions of people, including children and pensioners, are living below the poverty line, new research into poverty has revealed.
Charity calls for help feeding children during the holidays 16/07/2019 The Trussell Trust is urging people to donate food to their local food bank to help support families with children during the summer holidays.
Local government cuts forcing children to grow up in poverty, Labour say 15/07/2019 Millions of children are growing up in poverty because of Whitehall cuts to council funding, Labour says after research reveals extent of childhood poverty.
Think tank calls for creation of ‘investment state’ 03/07/2019 A think tank has called for an end to austerity and the creation of an ‘investment state’ to help boost economic growth.
Whitehall blasted for trying to solve homelessness ‘on a shoestring’ 20/06/2019 An assessment of the state of homelessness prevention has criticised Whitehall for trying to solve the homelessness crisis ‘on a shoestring’.
Poorest children most affected by early years funding crisis, research finds 12/06/2019 The poorest children are bearing the brunt of cuts in funding for early years education, according to campaigners.
Sure Start had ‘major benefits’ for disadvantaged children, think tank says 04/06/2019 The twenty-year-old childcare programme has had major health benefits for children in poorer neighbourhoods, a new analysis reveals.
Scotland’s poorest ‘more likely’ to be injured by road traffic 22/05/2019 Children in Scotland’s poorest areas are nearly three times more likely to be injured by road traffic than those in the richest, according to campaigners.
Child poverty is the ‘new normal’ in Britain, campaigners warn 15/05/2019 An estimated half a million more children are having their lives ‘limited by poverty’ today than at the start of the decade, the UK’s leading child poverty coalition has revealed.
Welfare reforms put pressure on struggling families, report warns 13/05/2019 A new study looking at the impact of welfare reforms on child vulnerability has found that a quarter of children in low income families are unable to make ends meet.
Universal Credit ‘key driver’ behind increase in foodbank use 25/04/2019 The number of food parcels given out across the UK has gone up 73% in five years, according to a major charity.
Teachers are ‘deeply concerned’ about the effects of poverty 15/04/2019 Teachers are ‘deeply concerned’ about the effects of poverty and low income on their pupils, a new survey of education professionals has revealed.
Review of school appeals system ‘imperative’, think tank says 11/04/2019 Poorer families and those from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to secure their top choice of school through the appeals and waiting list system than other groups, new research reveals.
Government is ‘failing’ to combat child poverty, campaigners say 28/03/2019 Campaigners have warned that the economy is not ‘working for everyone’ as the latest statistics show that child poverty in working families is on the rise.
Basic income pilots 21/03/2019 Gail Irvine finds out how local government in Scotland is leading the way on basic income.
MPs to investigate link between Universal Credit and ‘survival sex’ 19/03/2019 Reports that increasing numbers of people are being forced to exchange sex to meet basic needs due to welfare reforms are to be investigated by MPs.
Children missing out on ‘vital emergency support’ due to cuts 18/03/2019 New research from a children’s charity has revealed that young people are paying the price of Government cuts in crisis support, with many parents struggling to afford food and clothing.
Poll reveals ‘rising tide’ of pupil poverty 15/03/2019 A shocking new survey of headteachers has revealed that schools have become an ‘unofficial fourth emergency service’ for poor and vulnerable children.
Charity warns people at risk of suffering poverty, ill-health and hardship in later life 13/03/2019 Action must be taken to create communities that enable older people to stay active, campaigners have urged.
Calls to redirect £30bn Crossrail 2 investment into tackling poverty in outer London 12/03/2019 The £30bn investment for the proposed Crossrail 2 project linking north and south London should be switched to tackling poverty in the suburbs instead, campaigners have demanded.
It’s time to act on child poverty 07/03/2019 We are one of the richest countries in the world, yet poverty levels are rising. Councils must act now, says Stuart Gallimore - or we will look back in shame.
Childhood poverty set to hit ‘record highs’ 20/02/2019 The proportion of children living in poverty risks hitting a record high by the end of the parliament, a shocking new report has revealed.
Scottish government must eradicate ‘extreme fuel poverty’, committee says 29/01/2019 A Holyrood committee has called on the Scottish government to eradicate ‘extreme fuel poverty’ over the next two decades.
Poverty and the digital divide 22/01/2019 Phil Walker explores how councils can help close the digital attainment gap for children living in poverty.
Teachers warn of ‘Dickensian’ levels of poverty 17/12/2018 Teachers have warned they are seeing increasing levels of 'Dickensian' poverty among children in their classrooms.
Leeds first council to provide free sanitary products 13/12/2018 Councillors in Leeds are to consider providing free sanitary products in schools and libraries throughout the city in a bid to end 'period poverty'.
A million young children will be deprived of basics this Christmas, charity warns 06/12/2018 A million children face a miserable Christmas without warm clothing, fresh food or celebrations, poverty campaigners have warned.
One in five people are living in poverty, report warns 04/12/2018 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.
Campaigners calls for action on rule-breaking bailiffs 14/11/2018 Campaigners are calling for action to stop bailiffs causing people increased stress, anxiety and financial hardship.
Council workers borrowing money to cope with low pay 25/10/2018 Council staff are being forced to rely on credit cards, pawn possessions and borrow money from friends and family due to low pay, a new survey has revealed.
Poverty can lead to self-harm and violent crime, study shows 11/10/2018 Children from poorer families are at ‘significantly greater risk’ of being involved in violent crime and harming themselves later in life, new study shows.
Half of households unable to afford a healthy diet, finds study 05/09/2018 Around 3.7 million children are living in households unable to afford a healthy diet, according to a new study by a think tank.
More poorer pupils excluded than achieve 'highly valued' EBacc 22/08/2018 Poorer pupils are more likely to be excluded than to achieve the Government’s gold standard English Baccalaureate, a teaching charity has revealed.
Foodbanks not ‘long-term’ solution to holiday hunger, charity says 03/08/2018 Anti-poverty campaigners have warned that foodbanks are not a ‘long-term’ solution to hunger as data reveals the summer holidays force parents to turn to charity to feed children.
Child poverty at ‘highest rate’ in over a decade 24/07/2018 Relative child poverty may have risen to its highest rate in at least 15 years, think tank warns.
Over 1.5 million people were destitute in the UK last year 07/06/2018 More than 1.5 million people in the UK were pushed into destitution at some point last year, according to anti-poverty campaigners.
Council-run crisis support ‘failing’ people in need 25/05/2018 Crisis support schemes run by local authorities are failing to operate effectively, new research reveals.
Rollout of Universal Credit increasing demand on food banks 24/04/2018 The rollout of Universal Credit is increasing the use of food banks by an average of 52%, new research has revealed today.
Government cuts force over a million children into poverty 14/03/2018 One and a half million more children will be in poverty by 2022 due to the Government’s austerity agenda, commission reveals.
Fuel poverty kills thousands every year, charity reveals 26/02/2018 The UK has the sixth-highest rate of excess winter deaths in Europe with thousands dying preventable deaths every year, fuel poverty charity finds.
North Lanarkshire to offer free school meals during holidays 19/02/2018 A Scottish council is planning to pilot a new programme that will provide children in low income households with free meals every day of the year.
150,000 children of public sector workers ‘pushed into poverty’ 15/02/2018 Over a hundred thousand extra children of public sector workers have been pushed into poverty due to pay restrictions and benefit cuts, trade unions say.
Child poverty charities call for end to benefit freeze 24/01/2018 Child poverty charities are calling for an end to the benefit freeze as new figures reveal in some areas over half the children are growing up in poverty.
Prepaid cards: Delivering dividends for councils 22/01/2018 Alastair Graham explains how prepaid schemes can help councils save money, reduce digital exclusion and increase security.
Over £300m from dormant accounts to go towards ‘good causes’ 04/01/2018 Around £330m from dormant bank and building society accounts will be used to help disadvantaged young people, the homeless and other good causes across the UK, the Government has announced.
Million children to lose free school meals under Universal Credit 19/12/2017 One million children living in poverty in England will miss out on free school meals under Universal Credit (UC) proposals, a children’s charity has warned.

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