British national Tha Jaffey never imagined she would have to turn to a bank dedicated to helping children, especially since she used to work locally, guiding single mothers to the 'Little Village' charity, which provides essential supplies to new parents who cannot afford them due to poverty and difficult economic conditions. The charity provides everything a child might need, from strollers and cribs to clothes, diapers, toys, and books. But when Jaffey unexpectedly became pregnant with her second child, she found herself unable to afford the basic necessities. She told CNN in an interview: "It's hard to welcome a new baby without a suitable budget," adding, "I was struggling with poverty before the second child arrived, but I didn't realize how much things would worsen with him. My situation deteriorated further. I work full-time and still can't cover my expenses." Unprecedented Levels Child poverty in the UK has reached unprecedented levels amidst a cost of living crisis and a shrinking social safety net, following years of government austerity and declining public services. Amidst this decline, charities like 'Little Village' have stepped in to help, filling as many gaps as possible. The crisis of child poverty in the UK has recently taken center stage, with activist groups urging the Labour Party government to make this issue a top priority in the annual budget to reduce poverty rates. After all, nearly one-third of children in the UK, equivalent to 4.5 million children, are living below the poverty line or in 'relative poverty,' according to a recent government report. This is measured by living in households with an income less than 60% of the median income after housing costs. Among them, about one million children are in deep poverty, deprived of basic needs like warmth, clothing, and food, according to a study by the 'Joseph Rowntree Foundation,' a specialist institution in poverty research and policy recommendations. Sophie Livingston, the executive director of 'Little Village,' said: "We came across a family whose only food was corn chips and rice." According to Sources Academics and human rights advocates in the UK say political decisions have also played a significant role in child poverty. Public services in the UK were curtailed by the coalition led by the right-of-center Conservative Party and the subsequent Conservative government in power from 2010 to 2024. As part of the government's austerity program, aimed at cutting spending in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis, the Conservatives introduced three policies 'that are largely responsible for the rise in child poverty today,' said Jonathan Bradshaw, an Honorary Professor of Social Policy at the University of York, who worked as one of the academic advisors on the child poverty strategy the current government will release." These policies capped the value of social benefits individuals could claim. The first capped the total amount of benefits a family could receive, the second limited housing benefits, and the third set a two-child limit for child benefits, meaning parents cannot claim anything for their third or subsequent child born after 2017. Charities and academics say the two-child limit, in particular, is largely responsible for rising child poverty rates in the UK. A spokesperson for the current UK Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, who came to power last July, stated: "Every child, regardless of their background, deserves the best start in life." He added to CNN: "We are already investing £500 million to support children through 'Best Start Family' centers, expanding free school meals, and ensuring the poorest children don't go hungry during holidays through a new £1 billion crisis support package." Addressing the child poverty crisis was a top priority for the center-left government, but at the same time, it is an issue that highlights the government's internal weaknesses. Since the Labour Party came to power, Starmer has struggled to balance his mandate for change, for which he was elected, with his traditional inclination to invest in public services amid a shortage of available funds, and his election pledge not to raise taxes for workers. But for parents already living on the poverty line, their family budgets have been extremely tight for far too long. Sophie Livingston, the executive director of the 'Little Village' charity, recalling when she first took the post, said: "People no longer have any capacity to cope.".. 300,000 children in the UK are expected to fall into poverty by 2030.. Poverty has reached unprecedented levels amidst a cost of living crisis and a shrinking social safety net. With these recurring problems, she eventually had to leave her job. Lia says: "I live by the principle of resilience. And despite knowing my abilities and wanting to be an active member of society, I always feel the path is fraught with difficulties." High Costs For families with incomes above the poverty line, especially in London, housing and childcare costs weigh heavily, leaving no surplus for other expenses. In this context, it is noted that 70% of families living in poverty have at least one working adult, and the cost of childcare in the UK is among the highest in wealthy nations, reaching 25% of parents' income and 60% of a single parent's income, according to a 2022 report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies. A Chronic Problem Although child poverty has been a chronic issue in the UK, it is rising faster than in other wealthy countries. It increased by 20% between 2012 and 2021, according to a UNICEF report. Meanwhile, the 'Resolution Foundation,' a research foundation focused on living standards, reported that the UK's child poverty rate in 2025 will be higher than all EU countries except Greece. It also anticipates that another 300,000 children will join the ranks of the poor by 2030 if no concrete steps are taken to address the crisis. The rising child poverty rate in the UK reflects the growing inequality gap in society, with nearly half of poor children living in 'Black communities' compared to 24% of children living in 'White communities.' From CNN A Monthly Struggle British national Tha Jaffey, a beneficiary of the 'Little Village' children's bank, works full-time in client solutions and earns £45,000 a year (around $59,000) to support herself and her two children. This income is above the national average, yet she says she "faces a monthly struggle to cover her and her children's needs, with no ability to save or meet all their requirements." I used to tell myself that if I could just get past this point, things would be okay, but the situation hasn't improved. She added: "We have many families living in just one room, where there was a lot of mold, not to mention the abysmal quality of housing, even when these families do have a roof over their heads." Constant Fear Even families able to secure their basic needs face a grueling monthly struggle with no financial security in one of the world's wealthiest nations. Lia, a mother of seven-year-old twin girls, told CNN as part of the 'Change the Facts' project, which documents the lives of people on low incomes: "We live in constant fear, and it's a hard feeling when our children depend on us." She added: "My children want to do what their peers do, but our budget doesn't allow it. After buying essentials, there's no money left for activities or extra needs." Despite having a law degree and living in Hampshire in southeast England, Lia returned to work for a while, but she was frequently called away due to the health and behavioral issues of one of her daughters, who has complex needs, including dyslexia and a growth delay. Bradshaw told CNN: "The bulk of the increase in child poverty has been in larger families." In turn, Peter Matejcek, chief analyst at the 'Joseph Rowntree Foundation,' said: "It all shows a benefits system riddled with inequality." When UN rapporteurs Philip Alston and Olivier De Schutter visited the UK in 2018 and 2023, respectively, they both condemned the poverty they witnessed. Schutter noted that the UK government is in line with a growing model of inequality seen in other rich countries. Family budgets living on the poverty line have become extremely tight. I grew up in the care system and I remember the constant feeling of suffering and anxiety. After paying for necessities like rent, childcare, food, and bills, she is left with only £192 ($250) a month for emergencies and unexpected expenses, and she says frequent errors in benefit payments often make this amount unreliable. The Austerity Program The austerity program introduced by the Conservatives capped child benefits.
