More children are living in poverty than seen in the last 30 years

According to the latest figures, 4.5 million children in the UK were living in relative poverty in the year to April 2024, up 100,000 from the previous year. ¹

This is equivalent to 9 pupils in a classroom of 30. Of course, child poverty rates differ across the UK nations. In Scotland, the child poverty rate sits at 23%. Whilst lower than the UK average, this is still higher than its interim target of 18% for the 2023/2024 financial year and a long way from the legally binding target of 10% by 2030/31.²

The number looks set to rise following the Government’s latest proposals.

33% of children in a family where someone is disabled are living in relative poverty, compared to 29% where no one is disabled.³ This means that a child in a household where someone is disabled is at higher risk of living in poverty.

These statistics are deeply concerning, and the recent Spring Statement from the Chancellor did little to address them. With cuts to welfare support on the table, families already struggling are now at greater risk.

For example, 1 in 4 children living in poverty in 2023/24 were part of households receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP).⁴ Recent proposals to tighten eligibility for PIP, as announced in the Spring Statement, could deepen child poverty further.

As Magic Breakfast said in our response, this was ‘A chance missed’ and one that puts children’s futures in jeopardy.

Increased poverty means more children are at risk of being too hungry to learn.

The Department for Work and Pensions also reported that children living in households experiencing food insecurity has risen to 18%, the highest level recorded by the Government since their tracking measures were introduced in the year to April 2020.⁵

Over two-fifths of our partner schools said they have seen an increased demand for food aid with many schools providing food vouchers, food bank referrals, food parcels, or running food banks at schools.⁶

More children at risk of hunger means access to breakfast is needed more than ever.

72% of UK children in poverty are in working families, showing that work is no longer a guaranteed route out of poverty.⁷ Access to a universally free, nutritious school breakfast is more important than ever to support all families facing rising living costs.

In Scotland, this figure rises to 75% of children in poverty being from working families, showing that more work is needed across the whole of the UK to improve the standard of living and reduce the number of children going hungry each day.⁸