Child poverty is becoming the ‘new normal’ in many parts of Wales
Statistics out today by the End Child Poverty coalition show that 206,173 children in Wales were in poverty in 2018, or 29.3% of Wales’ child population and a 1% increase on the previous year after housing costs are taken into account.
The powers to change child poverty levels in Wales sit with both Welsh Government and UK Government. The UK’s leading child poverty coalition is calling for the major political parties in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster to outline ambitious child poverty-reduction strategies. New data published today shows that child poverty is becoming entrenched in some parts of Wales, with 35% of children trapped in poverty in some constituencies.
The data highlights how deeply concerning levels of child poverty vary across Britain and shows that poverty is on the rise. Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf faced the highest levels of poverty, with 14 electoral wards facing 44% or over of children living in poverty, including Penrhiwceibar at 49%.
In Wales, End Child Poverty Network Cymru (ECPN) is calling on Welsh Government to produce a new Child Poverty strategy and action plan with ambitious milestones and targets, and will be campaigning for Wales’ political parties to commit themselves to ambitious child poverty reduction pledges in the run-up to the 2021 election to the National Assembly for Wales.
You can find out more and view the full report at http://bit.ly/2VvFQyQ.
