Children in England battle severe poverty

The Children's Commissioner has warned some young people in England are living in an “almost-Dickensian level of poverty” as a new report reveals the “real hardship” facing some families.

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Black mould in a bedroom and rats in a kitchen were among some of the examples given by young people for the commissioner's review, as the government prepares to publish a child poverty strategy in autumn.

The latest official estimates, for the year to March 2024, suggest there were a record 4.45 million children living in poverty in the UK, according to The Independent. While some feel a sense of shame over their situation, Dame Rachel de Souza said it is “society at large and decision-makers that should be ashamed of the fact that children don't have enough money”. A multitude of campaign groups have said the government's new strategy must contain a commitment to do away with the two-child benefit limit.