How Many Children Are Currently Experiencing Poverty in the UK?
According to the latest figures by organisations including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation , 3.9 million children are living in poverty in the UK. Families with three or more children are at the highest risk. And according to JRF’s latest cost-of-living tracker, around four in ten households with children are spending less on food.
In England, around 31 per cent of children are currently growing up in poverty, and in Scotland and Northern Ireland around 24
Aper cent (1 in 4) are living in poverty. The picture is similar in Wales where 29 per cent of children are experiencing poverty.
It’s easy to get lost in statistics, but these aren’t numbers. Each one represents a child being denied a fair and healthy life. It isn’t right that we live in a society where so many are stuck in a cycle of poverty.
What Is The Impact of Child Poverty?
Experiencing poverty at any age can lead to negative outcomes, including physical and health issues. But children are particularly vulnerable. Poverty places them at risk of malnutrition, disturbed sleep, and makes concentrating at school difficult. And they’re very aware of how their family’s financial situation will affect their lives. The Child Poverty Action Group’ Effects Of Poverty report outlines the social and health impact of poverty on children.
As well as dealing with hunger, children also face stigma, embarrassment and social exclusion. No child should miss out on school trips, feel a sense of shame and lowered self-worth. But the reality is, more and more children are going through these negative experiences which impact their physical and mental wellbeing. And children who are living in homes without adequate heating are at increased risk of serious health issues including respiratory illnesses and meningitis. In short, living in poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life.
The number of children living in poverty in the UK is rising, and as studies published by organisations such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health make clear – as a country, we’re in danger of failing a generation if this situation doesn’t improve.
How Can Supporting Clothing Collective Provide Clothing For Children?
Clothing Collective was set up to address a specific need. To create a system where essential clothing could be easily accessed by those who need them. Many of our charity shops have a surplus of donations, yet there are far too many people experiencing poverty and homelessness who can’t afford them.
But it’s not just adults that need to access wardrobe essentials. With the escalating cost of living crisis, and many households being forced to choose between heating and eating - clothing and footwear fall further down the list of needs. But they’re very much needed and that’s where we can make a difference.
A 2022 poll by Education Support found that one in ten of the 1000 respondents had paid for items of pupils’ school uniforms, and 13 per cent said they had cleaned their students’ clothes. We believe that it is deeply unfair that such measures have become a reality. But that is what they are, and collective action is needed.
Many more families are now using foodbanks, and we partner with several of them and other charitable organisations to distribute gift cards which can be redeemed in any of our partner charity shops. Allowing parents and carers to pick up extra clothing and shoes for their children with a sense of agency and autonomy.
How Can I Support Clothing Collective Without Extra Spending?
We know times are hard for many more people at the moment. But even if your funds are currently stretched, there is a simple way of supporting Clothing Collective without it costing a penny extra. If you’re shopping for household items and stocking up on essentials online, signing up to a giving portal means you can contribute at no extra cost.
By shopping via Easyfundraising or AmazonSmile, you can help us to raise funds without spending a penny extra. The brands you shop with pledge to give a percentage of each sale as a donation. Any money you help us to raise will help more households access the essential items of clothing that will mean one less thing for children to worry about.
You can get started and help support Clothing Collective in a couple of clicks. Just follow these simple steps:
Easyfundraising
1. Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/clothingcollective /?utm_campaign=raise-more and join for free.
2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.
3. After you’ve checked out, the brand will make a donation* of between to Clothing Collective at no extra cost to you
*Between 0.5% and 10% depending on the brand.
AmazonSmile
If you’re an existing Amazon user, you can sign up with your existing account. Otherwise, sign up and then go to https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ to get started.
1 Search for Clothing Collective in the search bar and click select
2. Click to confirm you have understood you must shop via https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ to support Clothing Collective
3. Click start shopping to make your purchase and a donation of 0.5% of the price will be made to Clothing Collective once you’ve checked out at no additional cost to you
All donations made to Clothing Collective via Easyfundraising or Amazon Smile will help us in our goal to provide essential items of clothing and footwear for people that can’t afford them. From warm layers to decent footwear for children to run around in comfortably, whatever the season.
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