(Title Image: Wales Online)
Research by Loughborough University – commissioned by Children in Wales – has found that Wales was the only UK nation to see a rise in relative child poverty during 2017-18.
According to the figures, 29.3% of children in Wales were living in a household with an income below the poverty line – an estimated 206,000+ children in total.
The highest concentrations of child poverty were in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wrexham and Cardiff communities, with innercity Cardiff districts having the highest numbers of children living in poverty and communities in RCT and Wrexham having the highest percentages of children.
The Welsh Government blamed the UK Government, saying: “Analysis by a range of respected organisations has predicted a significant rise in levels of poverty, including child poverty, in the coming years as a direct result of the UK government’s tax and welfare reforms.”
The UK Government blamed worklessness despite record high employment levels: “Children growing up in working households are five times less likely to be in relative poverty, which is why we are supporting families to improve their lives through work.”
