REVEALED: The shocking number of children in Bolton growing up in low income households

Nearly a third of local youngsters are being raised in low income families

But Town hall chiefs said work was being done to increase prosperity in the town ­— and opportunities created to help disadvantaged children are able to improve their life chances.

Labour described high proportion of children growing up in poverty as scandalous.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) placed the town in the top ten boroughs where young people under the age of 16 are living in both relative and absolute ‘poverty’.

In Bolton, 32.2 per cent of children under 16 were living in families with relative low incomes in 2018-19, Department for Work and Pensions figures show.

This was one of the highest proportions in Great Britain, placing it 10th in the country, and an increase on the 32 per cent recorded the previous year.

A family is defined as low-income if they earn less than 60 per cent of the median income – a measure of average earnings which takes the middle point – before housing costs are taken into account, which is currently £308 per week.

In Bolton, 28 per cent are living in absolute low income households, placing eighth in the country.

Those who live in absolute low income households have a ‘household income below 60 percent of median income’ as compared to a rate fixed in 2010/11 and that only changes in line with inflation.

Dave Bagley from Urban Outreach said “something had to be done differently” to lift families in Bolton out of poverty ­— and said that with the impending recession the situation is set to get worse with more families likely to be affected.

Urban Outreach for many years has provided lunches over the summer holiday to families whose children are on free school meals and is now gearing up to help people whose livelihoods have been impacted by the pandemic.

(Urban Outreach putting together children's lunches in the summer of 2019)

Mr Bagley said: “It is sad when you see the figures but we have had the same statistics for a long time and it should push us to do something that we have not done before.

“If we have learned anything from the pandemic is that we need to things differently and change it ­— how we do that I’m not sure, we will have to be creative and kind.

“People have been supported by foodbanks and services which have mitigating some of people’s suffering. Since the crash in 2008 we have seen people impacted and we will see the same again after furlough ends and it is going to be a struggle for families.”

“The most disadvantaged will be impacted first,” said Mr Bagley, who stressed that falling into poverty was often out of the control of people, such as job losses and the rise in cost of living when wages and welfare payments remain static.

(Bolton Town Hall)

Cllr Anne Galloway, Bolton Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "The high proportion of children living in low income households in Bolton is one of the main challenges facing us in Bolton.

"It is disappointing to note that the figures show no improvement in Bolton’s position since 2010/11, and it should be acknowledged that this report is judging the last seven/eight years of the last Labour administration in Bolton.

"Labour may point to national issues, but they have to take responsibility for their actions, when during the same period other local authorities including neighbouring GM authorities were able to reduce the proportion of child poverty.

"As an administration we are determined to create the conditions which will help the most disadvantaged children improve their life chances.

"We are actively pursuing policies to help create prosperity in the borough by attracting investment in our regeneration projects and improving transport links which will bring jobs to the area and increase income levels. Education is seen a top priority to improve children’s potential and the pupil premium means that the poorest pupil can access extra funding for their school.

"The Covid crisis is causing added pressures to poorer households and the council has put in extensive resources in its humanitarian response to help the most vulnerable during the crisis. We know that children in these households will be at particular risk and will be prioritising early intervention initiatives in their health and development."

(Cllr Sue Haworth)

Cllr Sue Haworth, Labour spokesperson on poverty said: “It is scandalous that these are the levels of child poverty today. The reality in Bolton is about parents going without meals, juggling debts and trying to keep the stress off their children.

"This is against a backdrop of extreme wealth for some while more and more children are clearly being trapped in poverty. The effects of child poverty can last into adult life and it should attract huge government effort.

"The truth is there has not been the political will to fix this one iota these last ten years by the government.

“Austerity policies have produced wage freezes and reduced both out of work and in work benefits. Child poverty in Bolton is being caused by low pay rates for work, insecure work hours where not enough hours are offered every week, higher housing costs and lower benefit levels.”

“The reality in Bolton is about parents going without meals, juggling debts and trying to keep the stress off their children. This summer the government was going to cut the funding to the children’s school meal vouchers to a large number of deprived children until a footballer stepped up and pleaded with Boris Johnson to see sense; We should not have to live in a country like this.”

The DWP figures show huge variation across Great Britain, with 38 per cent of children under 16 in low income families in Oldham, the worst-affected area. Excluding the City of London, which is home to just a few hundred children, Elmbridge, in Surrey, had the lowest proportion at just six per cent.

A Government spokesman said the number of children and pensioners in absolute poverty has fallen by 200,000 compared to 2010.

He added: “This government is wholly committed to supporting the lowest-paid families and has already taken significant steps including raising the living wage, ending the benefit freeze and increasing work incentives.

“We’re giving councils an unprecedented package of support, including £4.3 billion of emergency funding during the coronavirus pandemic and we have injected over £6.5 billion into the welfare system, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by up to £1,040 a year.”