Living in Scotland, you may think that poverty is not prevalent. However I read some shocking statistics recently on child poverty in Scotland, which were publish by Save The Children in March this year.
Poverty is defined as a family of 4 living on less than £17,200 per year or £330 a week or a single parent living with 2 children on less than £13,500 a year or £258 a week.
More than 1 in every 5 children in Scotland are growing up in poverty – That’s 220,000 of children
130,000 children live in low income and material deprivation.
Half of Scottish local authorities have wards where over 30% of children live in poverty.
90,000 of these children are living in severe poverty.
Severe poverty is defined as a family of 4 living on less than £14,300 per year or £275 a week or a single parent living with 2 children on less than £11,250 a year or £216 a week.
Children growing up in poverty in Scotland are:
Missing out on the things other children take for granted
More than twice as likely as their better off peers to suffer developmental difficulties as they reach school age
Less likely to reach their potential at school
More likely to experience health problems
Less likely to reach their potential in adult life
I’m sure you’ll agree that in the 21st century, these are shocking statistics, these are unacceptable statistics.
What are you doing to stop child poverty today?
Statistics taken from savethechildren.org,uk
The Distinct Dot 