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The Trussell Trust, an anti-poverty charity, has reported that a record-breaking 9.3 million people, including one in five children, are suffering from hunger and poverty in the United Kingdom. The charity’s recent report reveals that this number has increased by one million over the past five years alone. The most vulnerable age group were children under four years old, with almost a quarter of them suffering from hunger and poverty.
The report, The Cost of Hunger and Hardship, was conducted by the Trussell Trust in collaboration with WPI Economics, who analysed government data. Shockingly, the charity found that if no changes are made, another 425,000 people, including 170,000 children, are projected to fall into poverty by the year 2027. Moreover, the report states that employment is not a reliable route out of hardship, with 58% of people experiencing hardship living in a household where someone is working.
The charity is calling on the government to make essential changes, including ensuring that Universal Credit covers basic necessities. The charity also called for the Local Housing Allowance to remain in line with affordable local rents and wants the government to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which could reduce the number of people facing hardship by 9%, which equates to 825,000 people. The report also highlights that disabled families are still the most affected and that the rate of poverty is highest for Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British families at 28%, compared to just 11% for those who belong to White families.
Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at the Trussell Trust emphasised that it “should not be the case in one of the richest countries in the world.” Ms Barnard further reported “People are turning to food banks because they don’t have enough money to live on. But we know it doesn’t have to be this way.” Moreover, a government spokesperson said it was “taking action” through the newly established Child Poverty Taskforce, which is “developing an ambitious strategy to give children the best start in life”. The government has extended the Household Support Fund to help the most vulnerable in society this winter and committed to reviewing Universal Credit while working towards eliminating inequality across Britain
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