Calling on government to tackle child poverty, a key driver of poor mental health in children

Every child should have access to the things they need to be healthy, feel safe, and reach their potential. But right now, millions of children and families are trapped in poverty making it almost impossible to be physically and mentally healthy. This is particularly true for children growing up in Black and minoritised families who are at much higher risk of being forced into, and kept in, deep poverty.

Research we commissioned on healthy childhood development in Lambeth and Southwark shows how poverty increases children’s risk of adverse childhood experiences. For example, when a family has to live in a cramped and mouldy home, or low-paid, unstable work means they don’t have enough money to put good food on the table, this affects every aspect of their life. Children may find it difficult to sleep so are always tired. They may find it hard to concentrate and regulate their emotions so can get into trouble at school. They may not have space for play or for quiet time when they feel overwhelmed, so levels of stress build up. All these things have a huge impact on their mental health, now and in the future.

Building the foundations for good mental health starts with ensuring children’s needs are met. By doing so, we aim to create a healthier, more equitable future where all children can thrive.

In Lambeth and Southwark, 1 in 3 children live in relative poverty

Child poverty is particularly pronounced in urban areas – in part due to the interplay of insufficient public services, high rents, and expensive childcare. 1 in 3 children in Southwark and Lambeth are living in households below the UK poverty line. However, poverty isn’t experienced equally across our boroughs – 36.7% of the population from Black ethnic groups have to live in overcrowded accommodation, compared to 9.5% of their White British counterparts.

One key driver of child poverty in the UK is the 2-child cap policy, which is currently affecting 1.5 million children.8 The limit, imposed in 2017, means households who have a third child (or subsequent children) do not receive additional Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit. Nearly half of families with 3 or more children now live in poverty. Research reveals that some parents affected by the policy have accrued debt just to cover monthly living expenses or skip meals so that their children’s needs are met.

All of us rely on publicly funded services and support systems like education, roads, railways and the NHS. And our public services, including our welfare system, are especially important to people who are struggling. We need to strengthen these supports to meaningfully tackle poverty and make sure everyone has a decent life.

We are calling on the government to abolish the 2-child cap, which would lift an estimated 250,00 children out of poverty overnight. We see this as a huge first step on the journey towards a long-term commitment to tackling child poverty sustainably.

We need a long-term plan to tackle child poverty

Supporting interventions and policy changes that loosen poverty’s grip on children and families right now – like abolishing the 2-child cap – is an impactful place to start. But without addressing the many other factors that can affect a family’s ability to pay the bills, from low-paid unstable work to unaffordable rent, these changes are sticking plasters.

We need a long-term strategy to sustainably reduce the high levels of child poverty in the UK, considering a range of factors that affect children and families; this includes housing, employment, education, and childcare costs.

The strategy must also aim to address the disproportionate impact poverty has on Black and other racially minoritised children. Across the UK in 2021/22, 47% of children in Asian or Asian British households and 53% of those in Black households are trapped in poverty after housing costs, compared with just 25% of those where the head of household is White.

Furthermore, any strategy produced by government should have the voice of children, young people and parents at the heart of it – listening to their experience in order to fully understand the impact of broader policy change.

Joining others in calling for an end to child poverty

Ending child poverty is a huge challenge, and we cannot do this on our own. Therefore, we are excited to have joined two key coalitions who share our ambition to end child poverty as a key driver of poor mental health: The End Child Poverty Coalition and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition.

We look forward to working with others to build the foundations for good mental health in children, starting with meeting their needs for secure housing, access to nutritious food, a nurturing school environment and safe spaces to play.