Report Reveals UK Kids Face “Dickensian” Poverty

(MENAFN) A new report released Tuesday by the British children’s commissioner reveals that some children in the UK endure poverty levels likened to “Dickensian” times, living in harsh, unsanitary, and degrading conditions.

Dame Rachel de Souza has called on the government to abolish the two-child benefit cap, warning that the policy is worsening poverty among families.

"It really is Dickensian, and there are a huge number of children now who have dropped below what any one of us would think is reasonable," she told media.

The government-commissioned report, based on interviews with 128 children across England between January and March, exposes the grim realities faced by youngsters in the nation’s poorest regions.

Families described battling rat infestations, children considering bacon a rare treat, and others unable to properly wash themselves or their clothes.

The findings reveal children living in cold, unheated homes, lacking dedicated eating areas, without bathroom privacy, and often without safe routes to school. Many have come to normalize these dire conditions.

The report emphasizes how numerous children have resigned themselves to missing fundamental needs as part of daily life.

It outlines how families struggle to access essentials such as heating and food, with many kids residing in overcrowded, unhealthy homes and frequently forced to relocate. These hardships impact not only their education but also their mental health.

Two Critical Actions Urgently Needed
Testimonies describe homes plagued by mold and rodents, cramped sleeping quarters, and children enduring long, exhausting walks to school.

The report also highlights stark disparities in access to food security and healthcare, complicated government support systems, and inadequate transportation as key obstacles for vulnerable families.

“I had one child tell me about his shame because he couldn’t have his friends round as in the night, rats came and bit his face,” Rachel said.

In a united plea, children’s commissioners across the four UK nations demanded the government take two immediate steps: abolish the two-child benefit cap and increase all child-related benefits annually.

"Children cannot afford to wait," the statement stressed, condemning the fact that in 2025, many children still go without essentials such as food, clothing, safe housing, and heating.

The report arrives as the UK government prepares to launch its child poverty strategy this autumn. A government spokesperson said the plan would include "fully funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty."

Earlier this year, officials announced a £1 billion ($1.28 billion) initiative to boost crisis support, including efforts to prevent hunger among the poorest children during school holidays.

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