9,000 children living in poverty in Oldham

NEW figures reveal that 9,000 Oldham children live in extreme poverty.

Save the Children says their families have to choose between eating and heating — and go without things most people take for granted, such as celebrating birthdays and separate bedrooms for older boys and girls.

According to the charity’s figures, a lone-parent family with one child aged under 14 in severe poverty is living on an income of less than £7,000 and a couple with two children under 14 is on under £12,500.

In light of the research, the charity is calling on the Government to draw up an emergency plan to tackle the problem in the new budget, as the number of children living in dire circumstances in the UK remains at 1.6 million.

Save the Children bosses want the Chancellor to channel new jobs into the poorest areas, as well increase financial support for low-income families, by paying for more childcare costs.

With increasing unemployment and cuts in welfare payments, the charity fears that, without concerted action, even more children will be forced into severe poverty in the coming months.

Graham Whitham, UK policy adviser based in Manchester, said: “Oldham is the 31st worst area of 204 authorities researched in the UK for child poverty — with 19 per cent of children living in extreme poverty.

“The primary basis for Oldham’s figures is worklessness — this could be because of a lack of jobs in the area for parents, working hours that are not family-friendly or work that does not pay enough for adequate living.”

“The average number of children living in extreme poverty across the country is 13 per cent, so Oldham is well above that.”

Sally Copley, Save the Children’s head of UK policy added: “These children are hidden from official view and their plight unrecognised.

“If these children are to have a future, we must acknowledge their desperate need and urgently target government help towards them - no child should be born without a chance.”

The number of children living in severe poverty in the UK fell from 1.7 million 2007/8 to 1.6 million in 2008/9.