What is child poverty, its key causes and impacts?

What is child poverty, its key causes and impacts?

In the introduction of this essay we will be looking at ‘what is child poverty?’ Poverty is often associated with the third world and developing countries where death from starvation and disease is the outcome. This kind of poverty is rarely seen in the UK though. Child poverty is unfortunately a result of adult poverty with Child poverty having lifelong consequences. There are 3.5 million children living in poverty in the UK today, that’s 27 per cent of children or more than one in four (department for work and pensions, 2013.) Poverty in the UK is about a lack of resources, lack of capital both income and wealth. But it can also be resource poor such as; education and good health and poor in social capital such as positive, trustful communities. (Townsend, 1979.) Poverty can also be defined as: Individuals, families and groups in the population can be said to be in poverty when they lack resources to obtain the type of diet, participate in the activities and have the living conditions and amenities which are customary or at least widely encouraged in the societies in which they belong. (Townsend, 1979)

Child Poverty is very complex and it is caused by many factors working together. Therefore, the causes can vary according to their factors. Low paid jobs, high living cost, family structures, and housing all play a role in child poverty. Worklessness is probably one of the most major contributors to poverty, with 42 per cent of all families below the UK poverty line not having any member working. (DWP, 2011.) There are many reasons as to why people don’t work, be it personal or through ill health. Another reason is because of discrimination, in 2009/10 people from ethnic mino...

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... they are not going to have the grades to get well paid jobs. So intern the cycle of poverty begins.

So as we can see child poverty is a major problem in the UK. Although in the past poverty levels were significantly lower than what they are today. Because of unemployment levels, ethnicity, poor housing and poor education child poverty is at an all-time high. Child poverty is not inevitable though with the right help from the government and a change to political ways we could tackle the problem and help to change culture ways. If there was more help for parents to find work or gain qualification to improve their understanding less children would be brought up in poverty. The way we look at employment is the key to tackling child poverty. We need to stop the cycle of poverty by better educating people.