One in five under-18s in Cornwall live in relative poverty, says annual report
That amounts to 27,000 children across the county - or 1,080 classrooms
One in five under-19s in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are living in relative poverty, according to Cornwall Council's annual report.
This equates to 27,000 children and young people, or 1,080 classrooms full. It's also a percentage point above the national average.
The report contains testimonies from young people themselves, as well as experts, and looks at how poverty negatively impacts different areas of life, from classroom learning to not having access to dental care.
Thalia Marrington, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Wellbeing, said: "There's lower attainment, there's lower attendance, there's a greater number of exclusions, children in poverty often suffer worse mental health."
Marrington added that the popular image of Cornwall as a holiday spot for second homeowners masks the issue.
The councillor said: "There's some wealthy bits with lots of second homeowners, and lots of little touristy, and it can mask poverty. Also we're post-industrial, there's all of that history with Cornwall as well."
For the purposes of the report, 'relative poverty' means not being able to afford basic needs, such as food, heating and rent.
Marrington emphasised the need for the councillors to tackle the issue by looking at it through what she calls a "poverty lens".
For example, she explained, if you're planning temporary accommodation provision, this involves thinking about how it might affect children to have to move often, possibly not allowing them to form firm friendships, or setting back their learning because they're changing teachers all the time.
The report recommended that a local, multi-agency taskforce be set up to implement the report's recommendations.
The council called the situation "urgent", and Marrington said she knows from practitioners in the report that the child poverty situation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was getting worse.
When asked whether she was optimistic, Marrington said: "I have to be. And I'm determined."