The impact of poverty
Reducing “the impact of poverty on children’s lives by tackling the underlying causes and mitigating the effects” is seen as the top priority by Kent Children’s Trust that knows from research (in a report for 2008 to 2011):
- 48000 children and young people in Kent live in poverty
- children living in poor households are likely to have low birth weights, shorter life expectancy and are more likely to die in an accident
- in poor areas, teenage pregnancies rates are higher than average, young people are more likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour and are less likely to achieve
- as adults, children who have been brought up in poor households are likely to have low earnings, are less likely to be employed and are more likely to offend
- child poverty increases the risks of mental health problems
- 1:3 children say cost is a barrier to activities
- 1:4 say lack of money stops then from achieving their ambitions
- 1:6 say the same for poor transport links
- we (Kent Children’s Trust) must “work with schools and colleges to make sure children and young people do not feel stigmatised” [by being poor and disadvantaged]