The latest report from the Children’s Commissioner paints a heartbreaking picture of what it means to grow up in poverty in the UK today. The findings highlight real hardship, what the report itself describes as “an almost-Dickensian level of poverty.”
While the testimonies and circumstances described are sadly familiar to us at The Childhood Trust, they remain no less distressing. This is not something any of us should ever become desensitised to, and it is certainly not something any child should have to experience. Children are going without the most basic necessities: a safe and clean home free from mould and vermin, proper washing facilities and warm clothing, a quiet space to do homework, and enough food to eat and access to school.
As the report reminds us: “Children do not talk about poverty as an abstract concept. They talk in simple but powerful terms about how it feels to not have enough money to do the same things as their friends, or to feel a sense of shame at being seen as ‘lesser’.”
In London, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, 700,000 children are growing up in poverty. At The Childhood Trust, we wholeheartedly support the Children’s Commissioner’s call for essential policy changes: a ‘triple-lock’ on all child-related benefits, the removal of the two-child limit, and making free school meals automatic for all eligible children
These are not luxuries; they are fundamental provisions that every child needs to grow up with dignity and opportunity.
The scale of this challenge calls for a united response. We urge the government, businesses, public services, and indeed all Londoners, to come together and act decisively on the recommendations within this report.
We are committed to playing our part, working collaboratively with partner organisations and bodies – including charities, other grant funders, philanthropists, companies, and local councils - to ensure that every child in London and across the country has the safety, dignity, and support they deserve.
