This article first featured in the March 2023 edition of The Methodist Newsletter.
Written by: David Gallagher (Council on Social Responsibility of the Methodist Church in Ireland). 

This is not an article from the Irish Christian Advocate published during the “hungry (19)30s”.
This is now: C21st Ireland.  

This is the real experience of far too many children today – north and south.  It is worth noting that Northern Ireland resides within the sixth largest economy in the world and that the Republic of Ireland is one of the richest European countries.  Yet both have residually high rates of child poverty.

In a much-publicised case involving the death of a 2 year old from Rochdale, Awaab Ishak, the Coroner, Joanne Kearsley, asked the question: "How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die as a result of exposure to mould?"  It may be fair to speculate that such horrendous incidences of poor housing conditions specifically, and poverty generally, have only got worse in the last two years. 

So, what are the rates of child poverty in both parts of Ireland?  What are the main consequences for a child experiencing poverty?  What can be done about it?

CHILD POVERTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Official figures in Northern Ireland rely on an income poverty measure only set at 60 per cent of median household income:

• Around 370,000 people are living below the poverty line (approx. 20%) of which nearly one in every three is a child.

• More than two in every three children in poverty live in households where someone is working.

Two-thirds of child poverty is made up of children who have lived in poverty for three of the past four years.

CHILD POVERTY IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Official figures in Ireland rely on both an income poverty measure is set at 60 per cent of median household income and an indicator of material deprivation.

• 661, 518 people in Ireland are living in poverty, of which 210, 363 are children.

• 133, 627 people living in poverty are in employment, the “working poor”.

• 781.794 are experiencing deprivation, of which 250, 956 are children.

The present Cost of Living Crisis will undoubtedly recede as inflation is brought under control and eventually energy prices fall.  Child poverty rates will fall when governments take the issue more seriously not least with more targeted support.  But there are many long-term consequences. 

Three are highlighted:

Health

Children growing up in poverty are at greater risk of poorer health outcomes than children from better off families. 

This can be seen amongst other indices and inequalities in 

• low birthweight

• risk of being overweight or obese

• teenage pregnancy

Mental health and wellbeing 

Recent government health surveys in both jurisdictions have drawn stark attention to the increase in mental health issues of adults as well as children.  Money is scarce and life-changing choices such as “heat” or “eat” are having to be made.  The pressures and stresses of struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis and the impact this is having on people’s health and wellbeing is obvious.

Children’s experience of poverty can also lead to bullying, or feelings of exclusion, as they may have fewer friends and less access to extra-curricular activities in school.  Indeed, school holidays further exacerbate financial pressures on families and social isolation for children and young adults.

Educational outcomes

Children from low-income households tend to have worse outcomes than better-off children in terms of cognitive development and school achievement.  

Its true that many children living in disadvantaged circumstances do well in school. Yet, from as early as pre-school right through to leaving school, children from deprived areas tend to do worse in terms of attendance, concentration, behaviour as well as essential skills such as numeracy and literacy and other measures of educational attainment.

Being exposed to some or all of the key factors above – and their interaction with each other - can adversely impact on children and lead into further adulthood disadvantage.

What can be done?

As congregations, circuits, Districts or individually:

• Support / volunteer / set up a local Baby Bank, School Uniform Bank, Breakfast Club, Homework Club, Summer Scheme

• Support / volunteer / donate to the 5 Methodist Missions work with children / families or donate to the Child Care Society.

As a Connexion, join with other stakeholders, to lobby government for change either:

• generally, such as the Children’s Rights Alliance Ireland’s No Child 2020 campaign in the Republic which called on the Irish government to ensure that no child should be: 
  hungry, homeless, be without timely, affordable healthcare, be blocked from having an education, be excluded from society, or:

• specifically, such as in Northern Ireland removing the two-child limit would mean 11,000 fewer children in poverty and introducing a £20 Child Payment for families eligible for means-tested benefits would lift a further 27,000 children out of poverty: a combined reduction of about 25%.

As Fintan O'Toole (Irish Times) commented:
“Its (No Child 2020 campaign) long-term success will depend on whether the shameful news stories continue to drift by on the fringes of consciousness or break through into anger, shame and a collective determination to end child poverty." 

Are we sufficiently angry, ashamed and determined to end this plight on so many of our children?

As our contribution to highlighting child poverty in Ireland, the Council of Social Responsibility has commissioned Play It By Ear who have produced an impactful monologue: 

The Crisis: Poverty

Read further information, featuring detailed research by Child Poverty Action Group, Save the Children (UK)  and SVP (Ireland) as well as the Methodist Missions on our Cost of Living resource page. 

Various Methodist and other churches, community organisations and local councils are opening or supporting local baby banks, school uniform banks and / or breakfast clubs amongst other activities.

You may wish to pray for and / or make a financial donation to any of the Methodist City Missions with their various outreach projects, not least those assisting those families who are vulnerable and in need.

Prayer Points:

• Pray for children and young people who are physically, emotionally, psychologically and educationally disadvantaged due to the economic circumstances of their parent(s)

• Pray for all those who try to offer support through baby banks, school uniform banks, breakfast clubs, homework clubs and / or summer schemes

• Pray for all those who are campaigning and lobbying for significant change and to eliminate the scourge of poverty

Possible Actions:

• Support / volunteer / set up a local Baby Bank

• Support / volunteer / set up a School Uniform Bank

• Support / volunteer / donate to the 5 Methodist Missions work with children / families

• Donate to Methodist Church in Ireland Child Care Society

• Donate to any relevant charity working to eradicate child, or any other form of, poverty

• For those who receive the Winter Fuel Allowance but don’t actually need it – donate it to one of the above

Learnings:

• Read more about Child Poverty Action Group, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Save the Children (UK) or Social Justice Ireland.