Children's Charities Warn Of Rise In The Vulnerable

The number of children living in vulnerable families could rise to more than one million by 2015, three leading UK charities have warned.


Research for the NSPCC, Action for Children and The Children's Society suggests struggling families will be badly hit by cuts to tax and benefits. They want urgent action to ensure the next generation of young does not become "victim" of austerity. Ministers say welfare reform will lift thousands of families out of poverty.

The report by Landman Economics classed about 900,000 children as living in vulnerable households in 2008. This was using a more generous measure than the government's own classification of vulnerable families. Using that wider measure it predicts the number could increase to more than a million by 2011.

Researchers found a large number of families struggling with multiple problems like unemployment, depression and poor quality housing. The study also estimated the number of youngsters living in "extremely vulnerable families" could almost double, from less than 50,000 now to 96,000 by 2015.
Cuts to benefits and public services, and the recession, have been blamed for the potential rises.
 
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