Fears are growing in Fife that the continuing jobs crisis could see a rise in child poverty locally, as a new report highlights the scale of the problem.
Research from Save the Children suggests that one in 10 children in Scotland lives in the most “severe poverty” where households survive on less than half the median income.
The charity has expressed concern that the numbers of children living in poverty could rise dramatically, given figures that suggest Scots currently have the lowest chance of finding work in the UK.
Its research suggests that in the five local authorities in Scotland with a higher proportion of severe child poverty, the number of jobseeker claimants per vacancy is disproportionately high.
In areas with the highest rates of severe child poverty there are 18.8 people chasing every vacancy against an average of 6.5 in similar areas in England. In addition 15 authorities in Scotland have a child poverty rate above the Scottish average of 9%.
The figures have disappointed local groups, including lone parent organisation Fife Gingerbread, which has long been concerned about child poverty. Fife Gingerbread manager Rhona Cunningham said she was “not entirely surprised” by the survey suggesting child poverty will increase due to a poor job market in Scotland.
“In Fife we have very high areas of deprivation and this goes hand in hand with astronomical unemployment rates,” she said. “Scotland lags behind England in many aspects including number of jobs available, no statutory childcare provision for lone parents and the high cost of childcare. For many it would appear extreme poverty is a circumstance that is unavoidable.”
Rhona also warned about assuming that once people get into work it will be an automatic route out of poverty.Vicious circle”Unfortunately it’s a vicious circle,” she said. “In-work poverty is just as commonplace for those on low-skill, low-wage jobs and it can be hard to pull yourself and your family out of the poverty that is often inherent.”
Come April the childcare element of working tax credits will be reduced from 80% to 70%, meaning it will be even more difficult for Scottish parents to make work pay. While it is difficult enough in a family with two parents, Rhona admits that for lone parents it may seem the barriers to getting back into work are insurmountable.
Fife Gingerbread wants to be able to encourage parents to take on employment, further education or volunteering opportunities but Rhona is adamant that something must change, adding, “No child in Fife deserves to go hungry, to go without. If we don’t do something now then we’ll never get out of this cycle of deprivation we’ve found ourselves in.”
According to Save the Children a lone parent family with one child aged under 14 in severe poverty is living on an income of less than £7000 and a couple with two children under 14 is on less than £12,500.
Head of Save the Children Scotland Douglas Hamilton described the fact that 90,000 Scottish children could be growing up in severe poverty as a “national scandal.”
He said, “Children up and down the country are going to sleep at night in homes with no heating, without eating a proper meal and without proper school uniforms to put on in the morning. Urgent action is required in Scotland’s most deprived areas or we will end up with a lost generation.
“Some of these children will grow up living in households with no working adults. They have never seen a parent or grandparent work and this becomes the norm. People don’t see a route out of poverty or this cycle of worklessness.
“The government needs to give them hope. It’s essential that we see urgent, bold measures with more resources pumped into these areas to create some decent jobs for parents.”
Lone parents who are in need of help in navigating the minefield of benefits and childcare are encouraged to phone Fife Gingerbread on 01333 303124 or visit the group’s website.