According to latest child poverty statistics from the government, almost one in three children in the North West are growing up in poverty.

That’s one of the highest rates in the country.

One year on from the release of our report, “If not us, then who?”, which revealed significant increases in child poverty among local school communities, these statistics are a reminder of the work still needed to address this pressing issue.

• Of ten parliamentary constituencies with the highest child poverty rates in the North West, eight are in our diocese.
• The highest child poverty rate in the North West is in Manchester Rusholme, where almost half of all children (48 per cent) are experiencing poverty.
• Three local authority areas in our diocese are among the ten with the highest child poverty nationally – Manchester, Oldham and Pendle – all with rates of around 40 per cent.

These figures clearly show that child poverty remains deeply entrenched across our communities.

Research we carried out last year showed the extent of child poverty within Catholic schools in Greater Manchester and Lancashire over the last three years.

42 per cent of head teachers and other school leaders said that more than half of the children in their school are affected by poverty related issues, with half of those responding stating that poverty affects more than 75 per cent of their pupils. 

This has a direct impact on the educational outcomes of pupils, as well as their health, wellbeing and future.

Schools are on the frontline in communities across the area every day, but at a time of overstretched public services, particularly social care and mental health support, schools are increasingly stepping in to fill the gaps.

As one headteacher said: “If not us, then who?” 

Read the report now