One in four people in North West living in poverty
Anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have released the findings today
There's concerns that millions of children will continue to grow up in poverty unless changes are made.
New figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's annual UK Poverty report show that 1.8 million people, which equates to one-in-four, in the region are currently living in poverty.
They're warning that the UK government won’t see progress on child poverty by the end of this Parliament – even with high economic growth – if investment in social security does not form a part of its child poverty strategy.
The charity say that without further changes to policy by 2029 the problem could almost 1 in 3 children would still be in poverty in England.
The report by the JRF also found that there are 4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK.
Paul Kissack, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, says:
“Growing levels of poverty and insecurity are acting as a tightening brake on growth and opportunity. We can’t expect children to be ready for school or able to learn if they’re going without the basics.
"Growing up in poverty can also lead to poor health, increasing pressure on the NHS. Child poverty will only be driven down through focused, deliberate and determined policy action. Even very strong economic growth won’t automatically change the picture.
“Policy action must start with the system designed to help people meet their costs of living – social security.
"At the moment that system is not only failing to do its job but, worse, actively pushing some people into deeper poverty, through cruel limits and caps.
"The good news is that change – meaningful change to people’s lives – is possible and can be achieved quickly. We know this from our recent history, and from different approaches across the UK.
“The British public believes that everyone should be able to afford the essentials.
"With its child poverty strategy later this year the Government has the opportunity to show it agrees.
"Any credible child poverty strategy must include policies that rebuild the tattered social security system.
"The wellbeing of millions of children depends on that. And so do the Government’s wider ambitions for improved living standards and opportunity.”
A Government spokesperson said: "No child should be in poverty - that's why our ministerial taskforce is exploring all levers available across government to give children across the United Kingdom the best start in life, while our Plan for Change will raise living standards across the country.
"As we fix the foundations of the economy, we're increasing the Living Wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families with children by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income families and make everyone better off."