"50 years on and poorer children are still born to fail." New report highlights the continuing problem of child poverty.
In a report published this week, the National Children's Bureau finds that, in many respects, child poverty is now a bigger problem in the UK than during the 1960s.
'Greater Expectations' compares data from a study of 11-year-olds in 1969 to children of the same age today, and has found that 1.6 million more children are growing up in relative poverty 45 years on.
The 'Born to Fail?' study found that 2 million children were living in poverty in 1969, and that "although there have been some improvements, [the] overall situation appears to be no better, and in some respects has got worse", according to the charity.
Their report finds that:
- a child from a disadvantaged background is still far less likely to achieve a good level of development at four-years-old than a child from a more privileged one
- children living in deprived areas are more likely to be the victim of unintentional injury or accident in the home
- children from the poorest areas are nine times less likely than those from affluent areas to have access to play areas, green land and environments with better air quality
- boys living in deprived areas are three times more likely to be obese than those growing up in affluent areas, with girls twice as likely.
In 2013, children born to poorer families are even more likely to experience hardship and disadvantage growing up. According to the charity, Britain risks "becoming a place where children's lives are so polarised that rich and poor live in separate, parallel worlds".
The charity also suggests that, by following the examples set by neighbouring European countries, the deaths of 172 children through unintentional injuries could be prevented every year, 320,000 more 15 to 19-year-olds would be in education or training, and 45,000 fewer 11-year-olds would be obese.
The government has made tackling child poverty a key commitment, with a focus on helping out working parents in order to lift families out of poverty. To help you promote a culture of vigilance in your organisation, club or network, please take advantage of EduCare's online child protection training courses.
Read the full report by the National Children's Bureau here.
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