Lifelong "scars" on child's health

Health is the easiest target for poverty. It grabs children most severely and leaves lifelong “scars”.  Tamila Varshalomidze tries to find more about the effects of poverty on children’s lives.

 “There are very different kinds of impacts for children and families living in poverty,” says Joseph Rowntree Foundation Policy and Research Manager Helen Barnard.

“There are very basic physical issues in the sense that there are families where parents are missing meals so that they can try and give their children the food that they need; children are having quite a poor diet, because it’s difficult for their parents to find a good diet.

"What you then see when you look at people who grow up in poverty is that they are much more likely to have a lower life expectancy, to be more at risk of physical and health and mental health problems,” she adds.

The evidence to her words could be found in the doubled numbers of applicants for Bournemouth Food Bank that has been helping local people for several years, but has never seen such a big demand for free food parcels.

“We have already helped more than 2000 people since January 2008, but more upsetting is that there have been more than 543 children among them,” says Catherine Clark from Bournemouth Food Bank.

Moreover, Rachel Bhatia from Save the Children says health of the children in poverty could also be at risk because they are living in badly heated accommodation, particularly in winter when many parents can’t afford to put the heating on.

She also thinks that mental health of children in poverty is very much affected by the fact that they are excluded from their peers in some respect.

“We did research last year that showed that they can’t have a friend over for tea and that they can’t be as sociable as other children because they can’t afford after-school clubs. I think that must affect their confidence and their self-esteem and obviously they’re living in poor housing, poor diet so there could be risk too.”

DCSF Child Poverty Unit spokesperson Paul Campbell says that the government has done a lot during the last few years, but it will take time to see the effect of all those actions against child poverty. The increased tax credits and benefits are coming into action just in 2009/10 that will make a big difference to the children living in poverty.

“Our goal is a society where no child’s life is scarred by poverty and every child has the chance to realise their potential to achieve extraordinary things. This means shaping a fairer society by tackling the causes and consequences of poverty – so all children have a good start in life, enjoy a fulfilling childhood and have the capabilities and opportunities to flourish,” he adds.