Number of children mired in child poverty continues to grow

THE North East has an average of over a quarter of children living in poverty and has some of the most deprived areas nation-wide with close to 60% of children in households facing the toughest circumstances.

- DAVID DUBAS-FISHER AND ADAM FOSTER Reporters

Across the North East - excluding Teesside - a total of 105,214 children aged up to 15 were living in poverty in the year ending March 2024 - the last full year under the Conservative government - according to the latest figures from the DWP.

That's up from 102,041 a year earlier and works out as just over a quarter of children (28%) in the region.

However, the situation is much more desperate for children in some parts of the North East than others.

In the Elswick ward of Newcastle, well over half (59%) of children were living below the breadline.

Meanwhile, in Arthur's Hill (Newcastle) 53% of children were living in poverty, in Isabella (Northumberland) it was 49%, and in Hirst (also Northumberland) it was 47%.

By contrast, just 4% of children in three wards in our region were living in poverty last year, the lowest proportions in the area Hexham West (Northumberland), Neville's Cross (County Durham) and St Mary's (North Tyneside).

NORTH EAST’S WORST WARDS FOR CHILD POVERTY

Elswick (Newcastle): 59%

Arthurs Hill (Newcastle): 53%

Isabella (Northumberland): 49%

Hirst (Northumberland): 47%

Woodhouse Close (County Durham): 46%

Ashington Central (Northumberland): 45%

Croft (Northumberland): 45%

Beacon and Bents (South Tyneside ):45%

Simonside and Rekendyke (South Tyneside): 44%

Hendon (Sunderland): 44%

Shildon and Dene Valley (County Durham): 44%

Byker (Newcastle): 44%

Monument (Neweastle): 43%