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.

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)

Child poverty documents:

Child poverty links:

This interactive resource on child poverty, provided by the House of Commons Library, is a useful tool to consider and compare areas.

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