We're going to be taking a closer look at the state of poverty in the UK, and in particular how this affects children, as new data paints a very bleak picture indeed. Here's more on what the report, which is one in a series of reports on Destitution in the UK, has to say.
Over one million children in the UK were living in what is described as horrifying levels of destitution last year according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This means they are unable to meet their most basic needs when it comes to warmth, hygiene and food.
The data suggests that this is due to a combination of factors including the cost of living, low incomes and high levels of debt. Failures in the social security system have also been cited as contributing factors.
The Chief exec at the foundation said that "the government is not helpless to act: it is choosing not to". What the government has said is that they are working to help people's money go further in a variety of ways, including plans to increase benefits by over ten percent and raising the national living wage.
Over one million children in the UK were living in what is described as horrifying levels of destitution last year according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This means they are unable to meet their most basic needs when it comes to warmth, hygiene and food.
The data suggests that this is due to a combination of factors including the cost of living, low incomes and high levels of debt. Failures in the social security system have also been cited as contributing factors.
The Chief exec at the foundation said that "the government is not helpless to act: it is choosing not to". What the government has said is that they are working to help people's money go further in a variety of ways, including plans to increase benefits by over ten percent and raising the national living wage.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Over one million children in the UK were living in what is described as horrifying levels
00:07 of destitution last year, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This means they
00:12 are unable to meet their most basic needs when it comes to warmth, hygiene and food.
00:19 The data suggests that this is due to a combination of factors, including the cost of living,
00:25 low incomes and high levels of debt. Failures in the social security system have also been
00:31 cited as contributing factors.
00:36 The chief exec at the foundation said that the government is not helpless to act, it
00:41 is choosing not to. What the government has said is that they are working to help people's
00:46 money go further in a variety of ways, including plans to increase benefits by over 10% and
00:52 raising the national living wage.
00:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]