United Kingdom

Survey of frontline social workers finds 120,000 children are living in destitution.

The UK’s poorest families have endured a “frightening” collapse in living standards over the past year as a result of soaring energy and food prices, with nearly two-thirds experiencing extreme levels of poverty and deprivation, a survey has found.

The annual survey of frontline poverty and social services professionals by the Buttle UK charity reported unparalleled concern about the prevalence and consequences of hunger and mental illness in struggling and vulnerable families affected by the rising cost of living.

This year’s survey had received some of the most distressing accounts of children in need it had ever seen, the charity said. “We are talking not just about significant hardship but life-changing and life-limiting deep poverty.”

One respondent, noting the parental neglect and domestic chaos endured by a child she visited once a week for “emotional wellbeing” sessions, reported the child had no shoes that fitted her, was frequently excluded from school, and had been caught stealing an apple from the local shop because she was hungry.

Respondents to the survey reported that more than half of the families they worked with had been unable to afford food, heating, rent, or online access, with just under half going without basic domestic appliances. Nearly two-thirds had used food banks.

Another respondent wrote that they worked with a child “who lives in a cold, dark house due to their parents being unable to afford to heat or light the home. A child that does not want to go to school because they are worried about their parent’s physical and mental wellbeing. A child isolated from friends, as they cannot afford to attend their friends’ birthday parties, as their parents cannot afford a small present for the party.”

Although most families relied on a range of local authority support services, respondents said services had often either been cut back or were unable to meet demand, with mental health and homelessness support worst affected. Charity food banks were the only service reported to have increased capacity.

The children affected had poor levels of health, wellbeing and hygiene, as well as isolation and emotional and physical abuse. Many respondents reported the young people they worked with had struggled to engage with education.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/18/uk-poorest-families-fall-in-living-standards