New statistics show that child poverty demands urgent action

New child poverty statistics recently released by the government highlight the extent of hardship facing too many children and families across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

The figures show that almost one in three children in the North West are growing up in poverty, with the region having one of the highest child poverty 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.

The new figures reveal the depth and breadth of child poverty within the areas we work in: 

• Of the ten parliamentary constituencies with the highest child poverty rates in the North West of England, eight are within the Diocese of Salford. 
• In over half of constituencies in our area, more than one in three children are living in poverty. 
• 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. 
• At local authority level, three areas in our diocese are among the ten local authorities with the highest child poverty rate nationally – Manchester, Oldham and Pendle – all with rates of around 40 per cent. 

As these statistics are produced retrospectively and relate to 2024/25, they do not reflect the lifting of the two-child benefit limit.  While we know that the removal of this limit will significantly improve the lives of many families, continued and sustained action is essential if child poverty is to be tackled effectively.  These figures clearly show that child poverty remains deeply entrenched across our communities. 

The report we published last year highlighted the direct impact of poverty on children’s lives, including missing school, struggling to engage with learning, insecure housing and homelessness, and harm to physical and mental health. 

Therefore, we remain committed supporting families experiencing poverty and hardship through our services, and calling for meaningful change to the policies and systems that pull children and families into poverty. 

Some of the changes we are calling for include: 

• An end to the benefit cap: without its removal, too many families will remain trapped in poverty, seeing little or no financial benefit from the lifting of the two‑child limit because their support will still be capped. 
• Free school meals for all primary-aged children: ensuring access to a warm, nutritious meal would help children concentrate in class, improve health outcomes, ease financial pressure on parents with low incomes, and reduce the stigma associated with poverty. Bishop John Arnold has recently shared about why we call for this change. 
• Increased Local Housing Allowance rates: with fewer than three per cent of privately-rented homes affordable for people receiving housing benefit, rates must be unfrozen and set in line with local rents.  

A year on from “If not us, then who?”, the message remains clear: child poverty needs urgent and sustained action.

We will continue to raise our voices to call for the lasting change needed to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. 

Help us see an end to child poverty by reading our report to learn more; raising awareness in your parish, school or community; look out for our monthly campaigning updates; or donate to support our work. 

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