The number of children suffering poverty has shot up since support given during the COVID pandemic came to an end, according to new figures.
The End Child Poverty Coalition says seven in 10 children experiencing poverty are living in working households and it is rising fastest in the North and Midlands, while black and minority ethnic communities are more at risk.
It says an end to the extra support made available during the pandemic has driven up the number of children experiencing poverty to 4.2 million last year, up from 3.6 million in 2020/21.
The coalition, representing 101 organisations including child welfare groups, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others, is calling for two-child limit for those claiming Universal Credit to be scrapped.
It says as the evidence shows that children with two or more siblings are more likely to be going through poverty.
The coalition's chair Joseph Howes said: 'The pandemic and cost of living crisis have meant more and more children are having to go without food and a warm home.
'These statistics show that the trends in child poverty are particularly worrying in parts of the UK such as the North East and Midlands.'
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