1. The impact of Child Poverty on Health, Wellbeing and Life chances
Community Planning Partnership Board:
Fair For All – Tackling Child Poverty
29 November 2018
The impact of Child Poverty on Health, Wellbeing and Life chances
Dr Regina McDevitt
Public Health Specialist, NHS Ayrshire & Arran

2. Child Poverty in Ayrshire and Arran
What are the causes of child poverty
What are the consequences of living in poverty for children
What is the extent of child poverty nationally and locally
What can we do to reduce the effects of poverty

3. Causes of Poverty The causes of child poverty are Structural Issues
International: Global downturn, UK recession, globalisation,
Macro-economic: Employment, in-work poverty (low pay, zero hours, etc.), cost of living, wages freeze..
Political: Austerity, social security; UK welfare reform (benefits cap; two-child limit, Universal Credit),
Social: barriers to accessing benefits, lone parent, disability, refugee, etc...
Individual: fitness to work, skills, qualifications

4. 8 X
3 X
2 X
Consequences of Poverty for Health & Wellbeing in Children
A&E
2 X
2 X 2
2 X
2 X
3 X

5. Healthy Life Expectancy
Life chances of young people living in impoverished families
50% 8X
7 y
17 y
Life Expectancy
(female)
Healthy Life Expectancy
(female)

6. Scale of the issue Latest measures of child poverty in Scotland
Absolute number
2015/161
20182
Relative poverty
260,000
26%
23%
Absolute poverty
230,000
20%
Combined material deprivation and low income
110,000
12%
11%
Persistent poverty
10%
This slide shows the number and percentage of children (under 16) in poverty in Scotland, aligned to the four headline income targets in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill.
Definitions
Relative: Household income less than 60 per cent of the median equivalised net income for that financial year
Absolute: Household income below 60 per cent of the median equivalised net income in
Combined low income and material deprivation: Household income less than 70 per cent of the median equivalised net income for that financial year AND household has experienced material deprivation in that year (from a list, discussed in more detail in the SPICE briefing – only if parent reports they lack because they can’t afford, not because they don’t want them)
Persistent poverty: living in relative poverty at least three of the past four years
Source: Macpherson and Shaw (2017). SPICe Briefing: Child Poverty (Scotland)
Bill SP Available from: (which also gives a rationale for these targets)
In addition, the Scottish Household Survey (2015) suggests that 448,000 children (45%) live in households who ‘get by alright’ financially and 117,800 (12%) live in households who either don’t manage very well financially, have some financial difficulties or are in deep financial trouble.
1Source: HBAI dataset, DWP 2015/16; Understanding Society,
2Source: Scottish Government: March

7. Child Poverty Definitions
Relative poverty measures poverty relative to the rest of society. It is the proportion of children living in households with equivalised incomes below 60% of the median (middle) UK income in the current year.
Absolute poverty measures changes in poverty relative to a point in time. It is the number of children living in households with equivalised incomes below 60% of the median UK income in the base year – currently 2010/11 - adjusted for inflation.
Combined low income and material deprivation measures whether households are able to afford basic necessities. It is the number of children living in households with equivalised incomes below 70% of the median UK income AND going without certain basic goods and services.
Persistent poverty measures whether people have been living in poverty for a number of years. It is the number of children who have lived in relative poverty in 3 of the last 4 years

8. Who is affected?
Source: HBAI dataset, DWP 2015/16

9. Projected child poverty rates: if we do nothing.......?
relative
absolute
combined
persistent
Source: Reed and Stark 2018[1]

10. Estimated loss from UK Welfare Reforms in £m per annum 2015 to 2020-21
Areas
North Ayrshire
£33m
East Ayrshire
£27m
South Ayrshire
£22m

11. 19,171 Percentage of Children living in Poverty (January 2018)
North Ayrshire
BHC = 18.6%
AHC = 29.3 %
East Ayrshire
BHC = 16.7 %
AHC = 29.4%
Total number of children, all ages, living in poverty AHC in Ayrshire and Arran (2018):
19,171
South Ayrshire
BHC = 15.4 %
AHC = 24.4%
End Child Poverty, Jan 2018

12. Child Poverty in North Ayrshire - After Housing Costs (Jan 2018)

13. Household Necessities Child Necessities
Children in families with limited resources across Scotland ( : A combination of living on a low income (70% of middle incomes) and being unable to afford basic necessities (3 out of 22 in list below):
Household Necessities
Child Necessities
Access to £500 to cover unexpected necessary expense
Make regular pension payments
Regularly save at least £20 for rainy days
Repair/replace electrical goods
Take part in hobby
Take part in sport/exercise
Home contents insurance
Afford dental work/treatment
House decent decoration
Damp-free home
Job interview clothes
Money to save
Holiday away from home 1/year
Day trips with family 1/month
Gets pocket money
Bedroom each child ≥ 10 y
Attend toddler group 1/wk
Access computer & internet
Garden/outdoor space safe play
Some new not second-hand clothes
Warm winter coat
At least 4 pairs trousers/leggings/ jeans etc...

14. Children in Families with Limited resources in North Ayrshire (Scottish Government Experimental Statistics, 2018)

15. What can we do to mitigate child poverty?
Increase income to families via employment (inclusive economic growth)
Increase income to families using benefits system
Reduce living costs to families

16. Pregnancy and Early Years
Cost of Pregnancy work
Extra Hours
Broaden Eligibility
Welfare Foods
Income Maximisation
Specialist services / LA
Joint LA/NHS services
NHS Referral Pathway
Benefit Automation
We are not starting from zero: lots of good work established and planned
Education
Cost of the School Day
Uniform Grants
Holiday Hunger Gap
FSM & Breakfast Clubs
Pupil Equity Fund
Attainment funds
Housing
Fuel Efficient Housing,
New Affordable Housing,
Homeless Children
Strategy & Policy
Children’s Services Plans ,
LOIPS,
SOA
Locality Planning
Strategic Priorities