A record 9.3 million people, including one in five children, are facing hunger and hardship in the UK, according to a recent report by the Trussell Trust, an anti-poverty charity. The number represents an alarming rise, with one million more people affected compared to five years ago.
Vulnerable Children at Risk
The report highlights that nearly a quarter of children under four are at the highest risk of hunger and hardship, making this age group the most vulnerable. The Trussell Trust, working with WPI Economics, analyzed government data to project that without significant changes, an additional 425,000 people, including 170,000 children, could fall into hunger and hardship by 2027.
The report, “The Cost of Hunger and Hardship,” paints a stark picture of growing inequality in the UK. It found that one in seven people across the country now faces hunger and hardship, with a 46% increase in the number of children affected compared to two decades ago.
Impact on Disabled and Single-Parent Families
Families with disabilities are disproportionately affected, with more than half of those facing hardship living in a disabled family. Additionally, 32% of single-parent families are experiencing hunger and hardship, a significant challenge for these already vulnerable households.
Having a job is not always enough to escape poverty. The report concluded that 58% of people facing hunger are in families where someone is employed, indicating that low wages and rising living costs are major factors contributing to hardship.
Racial Disparities in Hunger
The report also revealed significant racial disparities, with Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British families experiencing hunger at a rate of 28%, compared to 11% among White families. These findings underscore the need for targeted policies to address inequalities in the UK.
Calls for Government Action
The Trussell Trust is urging the government to take immediate action to prevent further deterioration of living conditions. Key recommendations include ensuring that Universal Credit covers basic living costs, aligning the Local Housing Allowance with affordable rent prices, and scrapping the two-child benefit cap, which could reduce the number of people facing hardship by 9%, or 825,000 people.
Helen Barnard, director of policy at the Trussell Trust, stressed that hunger in the UK is a crisis that should not exist in one of the world’s richest countries. She called for urgent action to prevent more people from being forced into poverty.
Government Response
In response, a government spokesperson highlighted the creation of a new Child Poverty Taskforce aimed at developing a strategy to reduce child poverty. The government also pointed to the extension of the Household Support Fund for vulnerable families and the ongoing review of Universal Credit as part of its broader plan to address inequality.
While these measures are in place, critics argue that more comprehensive and immediate actions are needed to address the escalating hunger and hardship crisis in the UK.