Poverty


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.
Think tank urges every city to set up a local Inclusive Growth Investment Commission 13/12/2017 Cities should establish new bodies to coordinate and finance attempts to extend prosperity more widely, according to a think tank report.
Britain’s record on fighting poverty ‘at risk’ 04/12/2017 Britain’s record on tackling poverty is 'at risk of unravelling', campaigners have warned.
Benefit cuts set to increase child poverty 02/11/2017 The Government’s planned benefit cuts are set to increase child poverty, particularly in the North East and Wales, financial experts warn.
Universal Credit requirements pushing more single parents into poverty, warns charity 01/11/2017 The job search requirements placed on parents with pre-school children are 'unrealistic' and driving people into poverty, new research has revealed.
Nearly half of renters forced to cut back on essentials 20/10/2017 Nearly half of low-paid workers are forced to cut back on essentials so that they can pay their rent, according to new research by housing campaigners Shelter.
Benefit freeze ‘biggest policy driver’ of poverty, think tanks finds 10/10/2017 Real terms cuts to working-age benefits and tax credits are set to drive almost half a million more people into poverty in 2020, think tank reveals.
Universal basic income enjoys high level of support, poll finds 11/09/2017 New polling data has revealed the idea of a universal basic income (UBI) enjoys support from the public - until benefit cuts or tax rises are mentioned.
Charity warns millions of pensioners living below the poverty line 01/09/2017 A quarter of pensioners are facing financial problems with many unable to meet unexpected expenses or keep their homes warm, according to Age UK.
Charity warns nearly four million children living in poverty 04/08/2017 Almost four million children across the UK now living below the breadline, a charity has warned.
Carers in financial difficulties also feel isolated 03/08/2017 More than a third of carers in financial difficulty also feel socially isolated, according to a new survey.
Hardship payments extended to protect more jobseekers 19/07/2017 Homeless people or those with a mental health condition are to be offered financial support from the Government if their benefits are sanctioned.
School summer holidays creating 'class divide' over fitness levels 12/07/2017 The high cost of school holiday activities is opening up a ‘major class divide' in the fitness levels of children, new research has revealed.
Families dependent only on a father’s income ‘struggling’, report warns 10/07/2017 Families dependent on the father’s earnings alone are struggling to get by because of the ‘extremely slow’ growth in their income, financial experts warn.
In-work poverty hits record numbers, report reveals 23/05/2017 Over half of those living in poverty in the UK live in a household where someone is in work, research reveals.
MSPs call for interim targets to tackle child poverty 22/05/2017 Statutory targets to reduce child poverty in Scotland are ‘too long range’, MSPs have warned in a new report.
Half a million ‘rent burdened Brits’ borrowing to meet housing costs 12/05/2017 One in three ‘rent burdened Brits’ are borrowing money in order to pay their rent, new research reveals.
Two-thirds of paediatricians warn poverty impacts children’s health 11/05/2017 Any new Government must tackle health inequalities or risk storing up health problems for future generations, paediatricians say as they warn of the impact of poverty on the health of children.
MPs call for sugary drinks levy to be used to tackle school holiday hunger 25/04/2017 Three million children risk going hungry during the school holidays, putting them in danger of malnutrition and undermining their education prospects.
Universal Credit reforms to force 200,000 children into poverty 06/04/2017 'Pernicious' welfare reforms coming into force today will push hundreds of thousands more children into poverty, a charity has warned.
Stress of moving house ‘normal’ for children in poverty, charity says 24/03/2017 The stress and uncertainty associated with moving house regularly is a ‘worryingly normal part of life’ for children growing up in poverty, charity warns.
Health problems in rural areas ‘masked’ by idyllic images, report says 20/03/2017 Poor health in rural areas is being ‘masked’ by idyllic images of the countryside and a lack of accurate data, new report says.
Study finds poorer children ten times more likely to end up in care 01/03/2017 Children in the poorest areas are at least 10 times more likely to be in the care system than those in affluent neighbourhoods, according to new research.
Poor pupils falling behind affluent peers in secondary school, research reveals 27/02/2017 Progress made by poor pupils in primary school is ‘all but wiped out’ at the secondary level, new research into social mobility reveals.
Four million more people living below an ‘adequate income’ 15/02/2017 Millions of just about managing families are on the ‘tipping point’ of falling into poverty, warns think tank.
Embed relationship support in mainstream services says charity 15/12/2016 Relationship support services should do more to help poorer families, who are less likely to access support, a new report has argued.
Poverty in working households at ‘record high’ levels 07/12/2016 A ‘record high’ of more than half of the people in poverty are in working households, shocking new research reveals.
Think tanks calls £1.1bn investment in Living Rents scheme 14/11/2016 Rent rates for council housing should be linked to local wages in a bid to make them affordable for those earning the National Living Wage, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has said.
Benefits freeze contributes to child poverty 09/11/2016 The benefits freeze and cuts to Universal Credit threatens to increase the number of children living in poverty, charities warn.
City bosses back credit union loan in Glasgow 09/11/2016 A low-cost loan to help residents avoid costly payday lenders has been launched with support from Glasgow City Council.
Think tank sets out plan to eradicate poverty by 2030 06/09/2016 Councils should be given more powers to help tackle poverty, according to a new report published by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Most deprived areas of Scotland are revealed 01/09/2016 Ferguslie Park in Paisley has been named as the most deprived area in Scotland for the second time running.

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