Child Poverty in the UK

This report investigates the significant causes and impacts of child poverty in the United Kingdom. Utilizing a descriptive research design and qualitative research techniques, the study analyzes secondary data to identify key factors contributing to child poverty, including low wages, unemployment, high expenses in low-income families, single parenthood, and teenage pregnancies. The report further examines the detrimental effects of child poverty on children's education, health, and overall community well-being. The findings highlight the urgent need for government intervention and suggest strategies such as targeted campaigns on education and health, improved social care provisions, and the development of protective policies to alleviate child poverty and its negative consequences.

TO IDENTIFY THE MAJOR CAUSES AND
IMPACTS OF CHILD POVERTY IN
UNITED KINGDOM

ABSTRACT
Child Poverty is considered to be a situation where children of society are facing extreme
scarcity of financial resources. I will identify the major causes and impacts of child poverty in
United Kingdom that is the major aim of current investigation. For attaining this aim, I will focus
on the major concepts of child poverty, risk factors and effects of child poverty on child’s
education, health and communities. I will use secondary data collection method for collecting
appropriate facts and figures. In addition, I will use descriptive research design, qualitative
research technique, secondary data collection method and thematic analysis for conducting
investigation on child poverty. Throughout my research, I have found that low wages,
unemployment and low income families’ high expenses are the major reasons which create
problem of finance and leads to poverty. Along with that, single and teenage parents are also
considered as the major causes of child poverty. Further, study has also concluded that all these
causes increase child poverty which has negative impacts on education, health and communities.
So, government of UK needs to pay attention towards resolving the issue of child poverty.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..................................................................................................................................6
Background..................................................................................................................................6
Aim and Objectives......................................................................................................................7
Research questions.......................................................................................................................8
Rational........................................................................................................................................8
Timescale.....................................................................................................................................9
Literature review............................................................................................................................10
Introduction................................................................................................................................10
Defining Child poverty..............................................................................................................10
Causes of child poverty..............................................................................................................12
Risk factors of the child poverty in UK.....................................................................................13
Effects of child poverty..............................................................................................................14
Ways for reducing the level of child poverty.............................................................................15
Research gap..............................................................................................................................16
METHODOLOGY........................................................................................................................16
Research Philosophy..................................................................................................................17
Research Design.........................................................................................................................17
Research Approach....................................................................................................................17
Technique of Research...............................................................................................................18
Data Collection..........................................................................................................................18
Data Analysis.............................................................................................................................19
Ethical Consideration.................................................................................................................19
Limitation of Research...............................................................................................................20
Results and Findings......................................................................................................................20
Thematic analysis.......................................................................................................................20
Discussion......................................................................................................................................23
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................24
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................25
References......................................................................................................................................26

INTRODUCTION
Child poverty refers to a process by which children have to live below poverty line. It
ions applied to the children that come from poor families as well as orphans who are raised in
limited or even absence of resources.
. UK is one of the major nations which is also facing the problem of child poverty
(Taylor-Robinson and et.al., 2013). It is applied to children who belong to poor families and
living their lives with limited and absence of necessary resources. Due to this problem, most of
the children cannot meet their basic requirements of living. There are different ways by which
child poverty can be measured. Easiest way to quantify the child poverty is to set a monetary
threshold and line of poverty. If any family is not capable to earn the amount of monetary
threshold then children of that family will be considered as poor. It affects the social, education
and physical development of children living in UK. So, it is one of the major issues for these
nations (Aldridge and Kenway, 2014).
The research is based on child poverty in UK (Child poverty facts and figures, 2015). It
will focus on determining the major causes and impacts of this issue. Further, it will also give
information on different risk factors which increases the level of child poverty in nation. For
conducting investigation in a proper manner, I will follow an appropriate process which will
comprise literature review, research methodology and analysis section (Child poverty, 2015). All
these stages help in resolving the research problem and in getting appropriate solution with
respect to the causes and impacts of child poverty in UK.
Government of UK and respective authority has declared that monetary threshold for
family with two adults and two children is £349 each week. It helps in living their life with
appropriate standards above the poverty line. Findings of the census survey of UK has reflected
that there are currently 3.7 million children living in poverty in UK in which 1.7 million children
are suffering from the problem of severe poverty. Overall, 63% children are living with the
difficulties of poverty in this nation (Child poverty facts and figures, 2015). Statistics and facts
have reflected that child poverty affects child’s education, health and daily lives of families and
entire community of UK. According to the data, only 48% children of the age of 5 years are
entitled for free school meals and effective level of development and rest of the children are
included in the group of poverty. Families living in poverty have £13 per day per person to buy
necessary things for living their daily life. Therefore, poverty affects the entire family and their
growth and development (Bradshaw, 2013). So, government of UK has introduced Child Poverty
Act 2010 to end this issue by 2020. But on the other hand, as a result of Coalition Government’s

policies, it is predicted by different research scholars that 1 million children will be pushed into
poverty by 2020/21.
Figure 1: Facts and figures for child poverty and household income below UK average
(Source: Child poverty definition to be changed, 2015)
So, statistical facts and figures have reflected that child poverty is a serious issue which
can affect the growth and economic development of UK. So, government needs to pay attention
towards the same.
Aim:
“To identify the major causes and impacts of child poverty in United Kingdom”
Objectives:
 To understand the major concepts of child poverty.
 To identify the major risk factors of child poverty in UK.
 To critically analyze the effects of child poverty on child’s education, health and
communities.
 To suggest appropriate ways for declining or ending child poverty in UK.

Research questions
1. What is child poverty?
2. What are the major causes and risk factors which increase the threat of poverty in UK?
3. What effects can child poverty have?
4. What needs to be done to end child poverty in UK?
Rational
Poverty is one of the greatest threats to the wellbeing of children and families in both developed
and developing nations. At present, UK is suffering from this crucial problem. It is affecting the
life of children and their families as well as entire communities Child poverty, 2015). So,
understanding the problem of child poverty in UK is one of the major research issues of current
study.
It is an issue because of various reasons such as most of the families are living their lives below
the poverty line and there are no working members. Along with this, low paid wages, inadequate
benefits, lone parents, large families and disabilities come under this. Including this, association
with the black and minority ethnic group is also considered as the major reasons of child poverty.
It is an issue now because percentage rate of child poverty is increasing year by year in UK
(Taylor-Robinson and et.al., 2013). This issue is affecting education and health of children and
their families as well. Including this, it increases negative effects on different areas of child
development such as social, educational and personal. So, UK government and other respective
authorities need to pay attention towards this issue for increasing future growth and development
of youth generation and nation (Aldridge and Kenway, 2014).
For resolving this issue, researcher has selected this subject for the whole investigation.
Regarding this, author should shed light on different concepts, causes and major risk factors of
child poverty in UK. Further, study should focus on determining major impacts of child poverty
on child’s education, health and communities. Overall findings of the current investigation will
help in suggesting appropriate ways for ending the child poverty in UK.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is the assessment of current articles and literature available through
secondary sources. It consists of substantial findings and theoretical knowledge of the theme
(Cribb, Hood, Joyce and Phillips, 2013). LR emphasizes on current findings of author in order to
get insight of the particular theme or subject. Review of literature basically consists of articles,
research paper, books and journals which have authentic sources. Child poverty is the state of a
child who is living below the poverty line or residing in a family which is subsequently low in
finances that is the topic of LR (Engle and Black, 2015). Child poverty is the major issue for the
government as well as for the society as it is impacting on country’s development (Dowler and
O’Connor, 2012). It is necessary to use literature review so as to assess the reasons that are
leading to child poverty and to formulate the strategies or recommendations to reduce its impact.
In order to achieve this, critical analysis of literature available on the topic of child poverty is
done (Wolfe and et.al., 2014). Critical analysis helps the researcher in finding out the major
factors that are leading to child poverty.
Poverty is considered to be a situation where the individual is facing extreme scarcity of
financial resources. Dowler and O’Connor, 2012 has stated that “child poverty is a hazardous
condition as it is impacting the future of new generation of economies” (Dowler and O’Connor,
2012). It is a state where children are facing problems of low finance or becoming extremely
poor. To support this, Taylor-Robinson and et.al., 2015 has found that “children faces a state of
extreme inferiority complex from the children who are potentially developed from the poor
child” (Taylor-Robinson and et.al, 2015). Poverty discourages individual potential to improve
his/her present condition. The definition of child states that any male or female below the age of
puberty i.e. below the age of 14 is a child.
On the other hand, Gornick and Jäntti, 2012 has said that “any child from a family who is
below the poverty line or not earning sustainable livable financial resources to support the family
is considered to be poor” (Gornick and Jäntti, 2012). However, Morrow and Pells, 2012 has
found that any family earning below £375 per week is considered to be below poverty line
(Morrow and Pells, 2012). The poverty line is an economic threshold that is used to define the
minimum level of income which is needed to secure the minor necessities of life. Barnes and
Wright, 2012 also defines poverty as the inability to purchase goods and services that are
required by each child (Barnes and Wright, 2012). Child poverty refers to the state of child living
in poverty or forced to live in such kind of situation. Minujin, 2012 states that child poverty is

depriving the child from major human rights of education (Minujin, 2012). It deprives the child
to receive education and to get developed in a well groomed personality. Poverty is a curse to the
society as it deprives the economy to develop and hampers the opportunities for growth of
individuals as well. Child poverty is the biggest threat to a developed nation as well as for a
developing nation. It has reduced the growth of economies which were entitled to harness with a
faster way. There are many causes that have led to rise in child poverty in different countries and
economies (Child poverty definition to be changed, 2015).

Poverty is one of the major issues of society and there are number of factors which
increase the level of this problem. These factors work together to degrade the condition of child
and results in increasing the condition of poverty among them. Brewer, Browne and Sutherland,
2015 has stated that low paid work or jobs are one of the main reasons of poverty” (Brewer,
Browne and Sutherland, 2015). It is the parent’s disability to receive substantial wages of their
work which leads to make their families poor. Low wages increase the risk of exploitation of
individuals and create issues for the survival. It is difficult for human beings to survive in a low
wage payment where they have to feed more than two people in a family (Engle and Black,
2015). On the contrary, Reasons for Child Poverty, 2013 profound that these are not the firms
that are paying low to individuals but it is low qualification of people that makes them eligible
for low payment in wages (Reasons for Child Poverty, 2013).
Eventually, the most developed countries have also fallen prey to this problem. Pre-
marital pregnancy or teenage pregnancy disrupts education and the teenagers or adults are forced
to discontinue their studies (Barnes and Wright, 2012).Along with that, they also said that the
income of a family does not reduce with the birth of a child. However, it is the same but, there is
only the proportion that changes which is known as the expense. After child birth, family’s
expenses increases which may lead to poverty. Apart from that, Arndt and et.al., 2012 argued
that a low income family will not be considered as poverty ridden but a family who is below the
poverty line or is regularly deprived with basic amenities of food, clothing and shelter are
poverty struck (Arndt and et.al., 2012).
Another cause of poverty is family with single parents or parents who are totally
unemployed. It is evident as Taylor-Robinson and et.al., 2015 has stated that if a house has single
parents and more number of children, it is difficult to maintain financial stability in that family
(Taylor-Robinson and et.al., 2015). Also, a completely unemployed individual will lead in
getting poor. , Dowler and O’Connor, 2012 has argued that families that are earning well but
have expenses that are considerably high or outside the basic necessary range will also become
poverty affected (Dowler and O’Connor, 2012). It is not the presence of low income that creates
poverty but the problem of expanding more than individual’s capacity that makes the entire
family poor (Morrow and Pells, 2012).
According to Bradshaw, 2013, it can be critically assessed that any family which do not
earn and even do not have enough to support for the expenses that come under the category of
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poverty (Bradshaw, 2013). There is also a concept of generation poverty because of which it is
difficult for the individuals to cure or to improve it. Lack of education is also one of the main
reasons behind this. Minujin, 2012 has identified that some stances of breakdown or tragedy in a
family may also lead to poverty (Minujin, 2012). For example, death of the main earner of
family may force the members to struggle for resources and this may lead to increase in poverty.
Cribb, Hood, Joyce and Phillips, 2013 has distinguished that many families are facing issues due
to substance abuse of alcohol or use of drugs (Cribb, Hood, Joyce and Phillips, 2013). It destroys
assets and creates mental issue for the family as well. Person wasting money and financial
resources for purchase of drug or alcohol will create shortage of funds that will lead to poverty.
These factors cause poverty whereas; there are factors which increase the risk of poverty among
household and children. Children are considered to be at greatest risk if their family or portents
fall into problems that will result into poverty.
Brewer, Browne and Sutherland, 2015 identified that there are families with single
parents or lone parents that are at a greater risk of poverty (Brewer, Browne and Sutherland,
2015). It is due to the fact that these single parents cannot provide sufficient amount of income
that is required for the expenses of a family. This is due to the reason that either they are
unemployed or are earning low then their actual capacity. For instance, a single parent with two
children requires at-least £375 for survival and they will not be counted under the poverty line
(Engle and Black, 2015). Gornick and Jäntti, 2012 said that if the amount of income earned by
family members must be more than their spending capacity only then they will not be in the risk
factors of poverty (Gornick and Jäntti, 2012). On the contrary, families with large number of
individuals are also prone to poverty. In these families, the members who can earn are low then
the total members.Thus, the amount of income will always be low then required. They struggle
to provide basic necessities to children as well as are in a greater risk to pay debt as well. This is
due to the amount of debt that they would have raised to remove the situation of poverty in their
family (Dowler and O’Connor, 2012). Physical disability is also considered as the major reason
behind poverty (Bradshaw, 2013). As per Barnes and Wright, 2012, it is obvious that families
whose adults or children are disabled will have to face huge expenses for medicines and for
curing their issues (Barnes and Wright, 2012). On the contrary, Wolfe and et.al, 2014 explains
that being disabled is not the reason to become poor but the inability of family of not supporting
the hospital expense struck (Wolfe and et.al, 2014). It is not just the problem of disabled that
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born with a disability will result in his/her family becoming poor. On the other hand, if the
members of family are able to support for the cost of medicines and hospital expenses then the
person’s health will be improved. But if the family is already poor due to hereditary issues, they
will not be able to provide support for his treatment expenses. The add-on in treatment expense
will further deficit in their present situation (Arndt and et.al., 2012).
It is clear that there are very harmful effects of child poverty on the society as well as on
the economy of a country. Child poverty is deprecating the rate of development of future
generation. Major effect of child poverty is on the personal development of children. They are
not able to get education which is their basic human right (Taylor-Robinson and et.al, 2015).
Minujin, 2012 has found that due to this, they fall to under development and lack in confidence
as well. Poverty generates inferiority complex and poverty struck child feels that he/she is
incapable to fit in the high standard of society (Minujin, 2012). Also, Brewer, Browne and
Sutherland, 2015 have analyzed that even society doesn't consider these children who are poor or
belong to a poor family (Brewer, Browne and Sutherland, 2015). They are treated as minorities
by the rich people of society and are exploited for their personal gains as well. Lack in proper
education leads to further unemployment which affects the family (Bradshaw, 2013).
On the contrary, Cribb, Hood, Joyce and Phillips, 2013 stated that inability of a child to
receive education is not the entire fault of him/her, but it is the backdrop for a country or
economy (Cribb, Hood, Joyce and Phillips, 2013). The country is also affected by the
phenomenon of child poverty. As the child poverty will increase, there will be low development
and per capita income will also get declined. This will indicate that the entire country is not
developing which is not considered as an ideal situation in terms of growth and maturation.
However, Morrow and Pells, 2012 said that it further adds to poor hygiene and deploys the
mental level and health of children (Morrow and Pells, 2012). It can be critiqued that even bad
health or unstable mental level will result in poverty as well. But this is not all; this is a
hazardous condition for the future generation. Children are considered to be the future of the
world if they are ill or have some or the other mental problem. These will possess a dangerous
impact on the upcoming generation (Engle and Black, 2015). The society is also affected as there
is high level of poverty in the country. It depletes the development of individuals that are living
in society. Society is affected if there is lack in education or more number of health affected
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individuals. It is not a good sign of fairly developed society (The impact of poverty on
educational outcomes for children, 2007).
Government and political authorities are doing great work in reducing the level of
poverty in society. They have formulated various campaigns and policies to remove the poverty
from society. Campaign aims to provide support to families and children that are affected by
poverty. Childcare facilities are given to the mothers in order to help them to raise their child in
an economic and sound financial way. Young teenagers and parents are provided with monetary
benefits to help them in improving their financial stability. Free school meals are given to the
children who are already poverty struck to allure them to get more involved with studying and
educating themselves (Child poverty definition to be changed, 2015). Housing facilities are given
to the family who has low income. Children are kept in these homes to provide them with shelter
and to motivate them to get employed and work in order to improve their situation.
Government has created programs especially for low income families or children facing
poverty. Main objective of this program is to lower the interest rates that are levied on the credit
amount (Dowler and O’Connor, 2012). This will improve their present financial firmness as they
will not have to worry to pay higher amount of interest rate which is a tedious task for these
families. Government has formulated child poverty act, 2010 which targets to eradicate the
poverty from society. This target of this act was to completely curb poverty by 2010. However,
they were unable to do this and thus, the new timeline is set for 2020. The political parties have
also increased the number of employment in country by providing job opportunities to the
individuals. It is necessary for the government to generate jobs so as to make them capable to
earn. This will automatically reduce the poverty if more number of individuals would be able to
generate income sources for their family (Taylor-Robinson and et.al., 2015). Along with this,
free education programs have also been created for rich and poverty ridden families. It is to make
the children able to provide help to their family. As education is the source to curb poverty, thus,
if the children will be educated, they would be able to perform earning responsibility to support
their families (Arndt and et.al., 2012).
This analysis can be defined as a process of determining gap between past and current
investigation on a particular subject which helps in deciding the current area of study. Findings
of literature review have reflected that there are large number of studies who have conducted
investigation of child poverty and its causes and effects. But, no one has conducted the study on
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the current scenario of UK. So, it is a research gap for the current study as it is one of the crucial
issues for country and no one has conducted study on such aspect. So, author has decided to
conduct the investigation on this subject.
METHODOLOGY
Literature search strategy:
It is a well-defined, systematic as well as ordered process strategy of search for getting
appropriate literature for conducting investigation in effective manner. It helps in selecting
historical research articles on the basis of aim and objectives of the investigation. This strategy
can be implemented by researcher after deciding a research question for the whole investigation.
This strategy plays important role in searching appropriate articles for understanding research
problem. Researcher will use the method of literature review in which research papers, articles,
blogs and view of the past scholars on the similar subjects will be included. Further, author will
also use other sources such as government reports, journals, articles, newspapers, magazines,
reports from charities, statistics and media sources, etc. These sources will be very beneficial for
getting appropriate solution for every research question (Goddard and Melville, 2004).
Data based used
In order to select various articles researcher have used number of database such as
CINHAL, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Emerald Insights etc. These different ways of
database have helped in gathering required information. With the help of this information
researcher is able to draw a better conclusion as well as findings associated with the same.
Table 1: Database used for literature search
Databases selected Description
CINHAL This source is considered as a most effective
and important source as it helps in getting
broad information. Researcher has used
CINHAL database as there are several articles
of this source or database is related to the field
of poverty, medical, general health etc
(CINHAL, 2016).
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Science Direct This is another most important database under
which data is related to the scientific topics
and included full text review. There are
mainly 11000 journals under which nearly
2000 books are also associated with the same.
Google scholar With the help of using this database and
scholar it is being founded that here
researcher can find out any type of
information as per the requirements. It can be
used by any individual on a freely basis. Here,
several articles of researchers have been
founded easily on each and every subject
matter (GOOGLE SCHOLAR, 2016).
Emerald insight This database source is known as a global
publisher under which almost 300 journals
and books on several cases as well as topics
has been enclosed. It is an online library for
any researcher to find out empathetic
information and literature about the related
topic.
Search terms:
Table 1: Search Terms
TERM 1 Causes, Impact, child poverty, United
Kingdome
TERM 2 Causes and impact, Child poverty on UK
Inclusion & exclusion criteria:
Researcher has decided some specific inclusion and exclusion criteria for selecting
research articles for conducing literature review in effective manner. As per the inclusion criteria
author has chosen only those research articles which have published after 2010 and published in
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professional English language only. Along with this, author has selected those articles which are
based on the research subject and title has included two or more key words of the current
research subject. But on the other hand, author has excluded all those research articles which
have published before 2010. Along with this, all those research articles which have used other
than English language have also excluded by researcher. Overall, inclusion and exclusion
strategy has helped in selecting most appropriate articles for the current investigation.
Quality assessment strategy
In order to maintain the quality assessment, Boolean operators can be used. In this
context, it includes NOT, OR, AND, etc. So as to exclude and to combine the search which has
been found by research can be done with the help of Boolean operators. Further, this is also
helpful in getting product and focused results in order to solve the questions related to research.
Moreover, it is also helpful in saving time and in making research for identifying the major
courses and impact of child poverty in UK. In this context, it also significant in reducing the
irrelevant and unnecessary articles involved in the investigation which are been conducted
currently.
Boolean operators
These can be defined as simple words such as and, not, or that are used in conjunction or
separately so as to make the search a proper one. This helps to make the result more focused and
leads to productive results.
child poverty or children
povery
child poverty and causes child poverty and Impact
child poverty and UK child poverty and United
Kingdome
UK or United Kingdome
Critical appraisal tools –CASP
It is regarded as a major responsibility of researcher to go through the appropriate evaluation of
critical appraisal of the findings and results of those articles before selecting research articles
from available. At this time, CASP tool is considered as a most important tool which helps in
keeping critical appraisal of varied articles as per the given subject matter. With the help of using
this tool researcher can assess the research articles as per the reporting standard and conclusion
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as well. This tool can also be applied in order to analyze several articles such as SR, Cohort, and
Case control and qualitative, etc
Data extraction strategy
It is the process of reading every article fully so as to identify its reason behind inclusion in
systematic review. This is a process which is used to retrieve data related to child poverty in UK.
In this research, the researcher has used data extraction strategy with the help of which extracting
number of research articles from different health and social care database. In order to resolve the
problem and in processing the data it is very helpful. As per the needs and requirements,
exclusion and inclusion criteria is very helpful for data extracting. In addition to this, search
conducted with the help of keyword is also essential technique as it helps to extract articles from
number of data bases. Thus, it can be stated that data extraction play vital role and it also
includes reliable and valid articles. It excludes unreliable and invalid for the conducting the
research.
Ethical Consideration
Considerations of research ethics is the most appropriate for accomplishing whole
investigation in an ethical manner. Every research is associated with different ethical issues so;
author needs to apply suitable strategies for resolving these issues. Major problems belong to the
data collection process. As per the above discussion, author will use secondary data collection
method for obtaining the facts and figures and at this process, plagiarism and manipulation of
data will be possible if researcher will not follow ethics. So, for overcoming this issue, author
needs to use all references and citations from where author has collected the facts and figures
(Li, Zhao and Chen, 2012). Therefore, this strategy will play a significant role in removing all
ethical issues of current investigation.
Limitation of Research, every research is associated with some basic limitations which
can affect the financial findings of investigation. Along with this, it can delay the whole research
also. Lack of time and cost is also the major limitation of current investigation because child
poverty is a very complex and large subject. It takes time to investigate in a proper manner. So,
for managing time and cost, author has developed a pre plan of each and every activity with
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specified duration. It will be beneficial for managing research limitations (Sobh and Perry,
2006).
RESULTS AND FINDINGS
Thematic analysis
Discussion of research methodology has reflected that author will use thematic analysis
for examining qualitative data on child poverty. Thematic analysis will help in analyzing the
entire subjective information by using appropriate themes on different objectives (Whiteley and
Whiteley, 2006). Findings of literature review helped in making different themes on child
poverty which are described as under:
Theme 1: Causes of child poverty in UK.
As per the research objectives, author wants to identify different causes of child poverty
and review of literature has helped the researcher in getting appropriate results for
attaining this objective. Findings of literature has reflected that there are different reasons
behind child poverty which include pre-marital pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, low
wages, low income families, high expenses in family, single parents and substance abuse
of alcohol (Dowler and O’Connor, 2012). Including this, any family which does not have
a single working person is also considered as the reason behind child poverty (Gornick
and Jäntti, 2012). Premarital and teenage pregnancy is considered as the social issues and
in this age, parents are not capable to fulfill their own needs and requirements (Minujin,
2012). Including this, teenage parents are not capable enough to handle a child and it
increases the financial needs for entire family. As per the facts and figures, rate of
teenage pregnancy is very high in UK (Brewer, Browne and Sutherland, 2015). So, it is
considered as the major reason behind child poverty in UK. Including this, I have also
found that low wages reduces the earning of families and due to this reason; these
families are not capable to satisfy their needs which leads to child poverty. Therefore, all
these are the major causes behind child poverty in UK (Dowler and O’Connor, 2012).
Theme 2: Major risk factors of the child poverty in UK.
To identify the major risk factors of child poverty in UK, it is one of the important
objectives of current study. Systematic review of literature has helped the researcher in attaining
this objective in an effective manner. According to the analysis of data on child poverty, I have
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disclosed that there are different factors which increase the risk of child poverty in UK. As per
the collected information, major risk factors of child poverty include lone parents, large families,
disabilities and social exclusion (Arndt and et.al., 2012). All these factors have a negative impact
on the income status or earnings of entire family and thus, children of UK face the problem of
money. So, these factors augment poverty in UK. Including this, study has also disclosed that
ignorance, apathy, dependency, dishonesty and poor health are also the major risk factors.
Ignorance means lack of education, knowledge and awareness reduces the chances of appropriate
occupation and career growth which affects the financial income of entire family and leads to
poverty. Further, summary of literature review has reflected that individuals of UK are suffering
from different diseases such as obesity, dementia, HIV, Aids and Cancer. All these problems
require huge amount of money for proper treatment and due to this, these families cannot fulfill
daily needs and requirements of their children (Engle and Black, 2015). So, these are also
considered to be important risk factors which can augment the level of child poverty in UK.
Theme 3: Effects of child poverty on child’s education, health and communities.
As per the research project’s findings, child poverty is not only a problem for a single
family that is facing these issues but also for the entire society of UK. According to the analysis
of secondary research, author has found that child poverty has ruined childhood. Along with this,
it also affects the education and health of children. As per the findings, child poverty increases
lag in all stages of education for poor children. Including this, due to poverty, parents of children
cannot make all arrangements which are required for academic development and growth of child
which affects the level of education, skill and knowledge of children (Minujin, 2012). Due to this
reason, poor children cannot make their career in appropriate fields which affect their own
income level and increases the risk of child poverty again. Similarly, findings of the current
investigation have reflected that poverty affects the mental and physical growth of children. Due
to poverty, family of child cannot provide appropriate treatment for different kinds of diseases
which increase the risk towards development of health. So, child poverty also has negative
impacts on children’s health. Further, children poverty affects the social, economic and entire
development of society. Along with this, due to low level of education and inappropriate health,
children cannot grow properly which has an adverse impact on the future young generation of
individuals (Gornick and Jäntti, 2012). Overall, it has been disclosed that child poverty has a
direct impact on education, health and society of UK.
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Theme 4: Appropriate strategies for ending child poverty in UK.
As per the research objectives, author wants to suggest appropriate strategies or ways for
reducing negative effects of child poverty in UK. So, as per the findings of investigation, study
has suggested that campaigns on importance of education and health for children will be one of
the best ways to end child poverty. This strategy will help in increasing the awareness of families
about education which will enhance the level of education of children of poor families. It will
also help in augmenting the skills and knowledge of children that would support in improving
their children’s growth (Taylor-Robinson and et.al., 2015). Including this, government of UK
needs to take appropriate facilities for all those families that are living under the line of poverty.
Regulatory authorities of UK should develop appropriate policies for improving the life styles of
poor families that will help in improving their level of education and health. It will improve their
overall development of children and society. Including this, government of UK needs to develop
appropriate facilities for education and health and social care aspect which will also play a
significant role in augmenting the level of development. Therefore, these are appropriate
strategies for resolving the issue of child poverty and its negative impacts on education, health
and communities of UK.
Overall, findings of thematic analysis have reflected that study has attained all objectives
in an effective manner (Wolfe and et.al., 2014). All these results have played a crucial role in
resolving the research issues as well as also described the causes and impacts of child poverty in
UK.
Discussion
Findings of the current investigation have reflected that child poverty is a crucial problem
for UK and it is affecting economic and social development of children, families, communities
and the entire nation. Interpretation of final findings has reflected that study has attained all
objectives in an effective manner. According to the study, there are different reasons which are
increasing the child poverty in UK. Low wages, unemployment, low income families as well as
high expenses are the major reasons which create problem of finance that leads to poverty. In
contrast, teenage pregnancy is one of the social issues due to which parents are not capable
enough to maintain their living standards above the poverty line. It increases the chances of child
poverty. Moreover, as per the research, poor families are not even capable to satisfy their basic
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needs and requirements (Cribb, Hood, Joyce and Phillips, 2013). For example, due to poverty,
child cannot get appropriate education due to which their skills and knowledge cannot be
enhanced as well as academic development cannot be done. Similarly, due to low level of
education, poor children cannot build their career as compared to those who belong to upper
level classes. On the other hand, due to lack of money, child cannot get appropriate treatment
and health and social care environment for managing their physical and mental health issues
which affect the growth and development of future young generation of the nation (Morrow and
Pells, 2012). Consequently, child poverty affects education as well as health of individuals which
has an indirect impact on families and the societies. So, government of UK needs to take
appropriate steps to resolve these issues and to reduce the rate of child poverty in whole nation.
According to the findings of research on child poverty, researcher has concluded that
government can develop appropriate policies, acts and regulations for providing rights and duties
to those people and children who are living their lives below the poverty line. On the other hand,
regulatory authority needs to start campaigns on the importance of education and health for a
child. All these strategies will help in ending the child poverty in entire nation (Minujin, 2012).
CONCLUSION
Determining cause and effects of child poverty in UK is the major aim of investigation.
Child poverty is a complex issue of UK which is increasing the development risk for child,
families and nation. So, author wants to conduct investigation on the impacts of child poverty by
which study can get appropriate findings to suggest suitable strategies to overcome this issue in
UK. Regarding this, author has used systematic review of literature which has helped in getting
appropriate research gap and also helped in formulating a research plan for investigation
(Gornick and Jäntti, 2012). Author has applied different tools and techniques of research for
collecting and analyzing the facts and figures on child poverty.
Review of literature has reflected that most of the researchers have conducted
investigation on child poverty but they focus on the entire world not a single country. But, at
present, UK is facing this problem at a high level so; it needs to pay attention on this issue. This
is the reason because of which author has decided to conduct investigation on this subject.
After completing this file, author has concluded that low wages, high expenses, low level
of income, unemployment, single and teenage parents and other social and cultural issues are
considered as the major reasons of child poverty (Taylor-Robinson and et.al, 2015). Afterwards,
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author has also concluded that child poverty decline the facilities of education for poor child
which affects the skills and knowledge of children in a negative manner. Lack of monetary
resources affects the health and social care for poor child at the time of any health issue. Poor
children cannot get appropriate treatment to overcome their diseases due to inappropriate money
for medical facilities. This impact increases the health issues and declines their physical and
mental health capabilities which affect their growth and development in a negative manner.
Overall, research has asserted that child poverty affects the health condition of different children
of UK (Morrow and Pells, 2012).
Along with this, child poverty increases other social issues in the entire community such
as for satisfying the basic needs and requirement, children can be diverted towards the wrong
network which can ruin the life of themselves and others. It has negative impacts on the entire
community and nation. So, researcher has concluded that child poverty has negative impacts on
the society of nation.
Consequently, by reviewing literature and using appropriate tools and techniques of
research, author has attained all the objectives of current investigation in an effective manner
(Wolfe and et.al, 2014).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Findings of literature has reflected that for resolving the issue of child poverty,
government of UK and other regulatory authorities are required to take some appropriate
actions. According to the researcher, political or respective authorities should conduct some
campaign on education and health. These will help in increasing the awareness of families about
the requirement of education in developing career and living lives with effective standards. After
these campaign, they will try to give best education to their children which will help in
improving their financial condition in future and would reduce the child poverty in UK as well
(Engle and Black, 2015).
In health campaign, government of nation needs to make appropriate arrangements for
free checkup and treatment for some specific diseases which will improve the physical and
mental health capabilities of children and entire family. In addition to this, communicating sign
and symptoms of number of diseases to society and poorer families will also play a significant
role in increasing their awareness towards different kind of diseases by which they can take
appropriate treatment for that. It will help in improving their health conditions also (Barnes and
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Wright, 2012). Therefore, health campaign is also one of the appropriate actions for reducing
child poverty in UK.
Further, government should develop some protection acts and policies for providing
appropriate rights to all those children and families who belong to poor families. Therefore,
study has suggested all these actions which will help in reducing the child poverty issue in UK
(Morrow and Pells, 2012).
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