Women’s and Children’s Poverty: Making the Links

Child poverty is not just a statistic—it’s a crisis that affects millions of lives and holds back our society. Children who grow up in poverty face lifelong challenges. They are more likely to struggle with their education, health, and career opportunities, creating a ripple effect that costs the UK £35 billion every year. Reducing child poverty isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s an economic necessity. But how do we tackle such a complex issue? The answer lies in supporting mothers, addressing systemic barriers to women’s incomes, and investing in services that benefit everyone.

Why Focus on Mothers?

Mothers often shoulder the responsibility for their children’s well-being, yet they face significant obstacles to providing for their families. Around a quarter of children (23%) are growing up in single-parent households, with around nine in ten of those households headed by women. Of all children living in poverty, a third are living with a single parent. Even in two-parent families, women often act as “shock absorbers” of poverty, going without essentials to protect their children. By helping mothers earn more and gain financial independence, we can dramatically reduce child poverty.

Practical Solutions to Support Mothers

One of the most effective ways to lift children out of poverty is to ensure their mothers can access paid work. But this isn’t always easy. Here’s what needs to change:

• Affordable Childcare: High-quality, accessible childcare is a game-changer. It allows mothers to work and boosts children’s development. The government should create a universal childcare system, ensuring no child or parent is left behind.
• Better Transport: Reliable and affordable public transport is vital, especially for women in rural areas who need to travel to work. Local authorities should be funded to improve bus routes that connect homes, schools, and job hubs.
• Training Opportunities: Many mothers take career breaks to care for their children. Offering affordable retraining and upskilling programmes, along with childcare support during these periods, can help mothers return to the workforce and increase their earning potential.
• Social Security Incentives: Current benefit systems often discourage mothers from working more hours or taking better jobs. By introducing positive incentives, like a second-earner allowance, we can make work pay for low-income families.

Strengthening Social Security

Our social security system is supposed to be a safety net, but it’s not doing enough to keep families out of poverty. Benefits need to be more than a temporary fix; they should prevent poverty altogether. Here’s how:

• Adequate Support: Benefits must cover basic living costs for both adults and children. Policies like the two-child cap and benefit cap should be abolished, as they unfairly penalise larger families and single parents.
• Women’s Financial Independence: Women should have access to individual benefits that aren’t tied to their partner’s income. Child support payments should go directly to the primary carer to ensure they are spent on children.
• Support for Disabilities: Families with Disabled members face higher costs and greater barriers to work. Benefits must address these challenges with dignity and fairness.

Public Services: A Lifeline for Families

Access to essential services like housing, education, and healthcare can dramatically improve living standards for children in poverty. These investments don’t just help families; they strengthen society.

• Universal Free Childcare: A fully funded system of free early education and childcare would enable more mothers to work and give children a strong start in life.
• Free School Meals: No child should go hungry. Universal free school meals ensure that all children have access to nutritious food, improving their health and ability to learn.
• Affordable Housing: Housing is the largest expense for most families. Building more social housing and reforming schemes like Right-to-Buy can ensure every child has a safe and stable home.
• Community Support Services: Local programmes that address issues like domestic abuse and financial insecurity can help women and children rebuild their lives and achieve stability.

Addressing Inequalities

Child poverty doesn’t affect everyone equally. Nearly half of children from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds live in poverty, compared to a quarter of white children. Families with Disabled members or those living in rural areas also face unique challenges. Tackling these disparities requires targeted policies, such as addressing labour market discrimination and expanding childcare subsidies to include low-income and unemployed parents.

Why Act Now?

Children’s well-being should be a top priority. Investing in solutions to reduce child poverty benefits everyone—from improved economic outcomes to a stronger, fairer society. Imagine a future where every child has the chance to thrive, free from the constraints of poverty. By supporting mothers, strengthening social security, and investing in public services, we can make this vision a reality.

The time to act is now. The Government’s Child Poverty Taskforce will publish its child poverty strategy this spring. We want to see the Government invest in long-term solutions to reduce women’s and children’s poverty. Reducing child poverty isn’t just a moral obligation; it’s the key to a brighter future for all of us.

Read our report – Women’s and Children’s Poverty: Making the Links