Young People and Poverty

Children and young people growing up in poverty are more vulnerable than their peers to a wide range of negative outcomes. This represents a huge injustice and waste of human potential. 

Growing up in poverty can have a profound and lasting impact on children's outcomes - income poverty and material deprivation are strongly associated with poorer outcomes for children and young people. This is not simply an issue of exclusion experienced as a direct result of a lack of material resources, but with a range of interconnected issues, such as stress and poor health.The causes and effects of poverty and inequality are complex and multi-dimensional, and require a range of interventions and responses. These must address the underlying causes of poverty, not just the symptoms. Poverty is about much more than a lack of income.

Evidence tells us that factors such as the quality of a child's home learning environment and their family relationships have a strong and direct impact on their later life chances. While many of these factors are strongly associated with poverty, income poverty is not insuperable and many children from deprived backgrounds go on to have positive futures. It remains vitally important to invest in eradicating poverty for children and young people and reducing inequality, including income inequality. Evidence tells us not only of the cost to individuals, but also of the great cost to society caused by young people in poverty making a strong economic case for shifting resources into early intervention and prevention.