Child poverty
Our ambition is for Nottinghamshire to be a place where children grow up free from deprivation and disadvantage, and birth and social background do not hold people back from achieving their potential.
We work together to reduce levels of child poverty and to mitigate the effects of child poverty on children, young people and families, as well as on future generations.
Through our Life Chances Strategic Partnership, we consider local child poverty levels against our statistical neighbours and the national rate and work on measures in our Action Plan to help address child poverty in the county.
Why tackling poverty matters
Many people believe there is very little child poverty in the UK today, but this is not the case - currently 18.4% of children in England live in relative poverty – that’s around 30% of children – or in a classroom of 30 that’s 9 children. Lone parent households and children from black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to live in poverty and around 75% of children growing up in poverty live in households where at least one parent is working.
Poverty damages childhoods - some families cannot, for example, afford to keep their homes warm or pay for basic necessities and activities, such as three meals a day, school uniforms or social outings.
Children who grow up in poverty lack many of the experiences and opportunities that others take for granted and can be exposed to severe hardship and social exclusion. Their childhood suffers as a result and this is unacceptable.
Child Poverty and Covid
The Covid-19 pandemic and lock down restrictions have resulted in several negative outcomes for children, young people and their families – especially for those in low income households. A number of research reports and papers have been published since the first national lock down in March 2020 which highlight the impact of Covid-19 on children, young people and families, in particular for those already experiencing poverty.
We have summarised some of the research and reports to create a Literature Review of relevant research [PDF].
We also carried out surveys with local parents, young people and professionals to gather their views and experiences of Covid. These are available to download.
- The Effect of the Pandemic on Families in Nottinghamshire – Feedback from parents [PDF]
- The Effects of the Pandemic on Families in Nottinghamshire – Feedback from professionals [PDF]
Local child poverty data
A full needs assessment to understand the picture of child poverty in Nottinghamshire was published in March 2011 and the Child Poverty chapter of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment was published in 2016 and updated in autumn 2020:
The local child poverty measure is defined as the proportion of children living in families in receipt of out of work (means-tested) benefits or in receipt of tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 percent of median income.
The following data provides just a flavour of some of the key issues for Children and Families across Nottinghamshire:
The most recent data available is from 2018/19, so the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has yet to be reflected in figures. 15% of Nottinghamshire children under the age of 16 are living in Nottinghamshire, however it is variable across the districts.
In comparison in England for the rate is 18.4% and for the East Midlands 16.6%.
Across Nottinghamshire’s 7 districts, there is wide variation in the percentage of children and young people (under the age of 20) living in low income households. 2018 child poverty data at district levels is as follows:
Local Authority Name |
Children in IS*/JSA** families |
% of Children in low-income families1 |
|||
Under 16 yrs |
All Children and Young People |
Under 16 yrs |
All Children and Young People |
||
England |
1,264,405 |
1,429,840 |
16.8% |
16.6% |
|
Ashfield |
3,855 |
4,300 |
20.9% |
20.3% |
|
Bassetlaw |
2,410 |
2,660 |
15.8% |
15.1% |
|
Broxtowe |
1,775 |
2,000 |
12.8% |
12.5% |
|
Gedling |
2,065 |
2,320 |
13.6% |
13.2% |
|
Mansfield |
3,095 |
3,445 |
19.9% |
19.3% |
|
Newark and Sherwood |
2,400 |
2,675 |
14.9% |
14.6% |
|
Rushcliffe |
880 |
1,000 |
6.6% |
6.6% |
Source: HMRC and DWP 2018 (IS – Income Support, ** JSA – Job Seekers Allowance)
Child Poverty Data Maps for Nottinghamshire (2018)
- Nottinghamshire [JPG]
- Ashfield [JPG]
- Bassetlaw [JPG]
- Broxtowe [JPG]
- Gedling [JPG]
- Mansfield [JPG]
- Newark and Sherwood [JPG]
- Rushcliffe [JPG]
Child poverty documents:
- Nottinghamshire Child Poverty Strategy 2010 [PDF]
- Nottinghamshire Child Poverty Needs Assessment [PDF]
- Nottinghamshire Child Poverty Needs Assessment Executive Summary [PDF]
- Tackling Child Poverty Summary of Literature Review Findings [PDF]
- Working Together to Tackle Child Poverty in Nottinghamshire - Stakeholder Briefing [PDF]
- Food bank provision for families in North Nottinghamshire [PDF].
Child poverty links:
- Child poverty: the crisis we can’t keep ignoring (Children's Commissioner for England)
- Child Poverty Action Group
- Child Poverty Unit
- End Child Poverty
- Covid's Kids (Save the Children UK)
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- The Child Poverty Act 2010
- The Child Poverty Toolkit
- Nottinghamshire Citizens Advice Bureau
- The Money Advice Service
- Nottinghamshire Advice Network
- National Energy Action
- Education for Disadvantaged Children
- COVID-19 children and young people [PDF]
This interactive resource on child poverty, provided by the House of Commons Library, is a useful tool to consider and compare areas.