Child poverty rates over 50% in some areas of Gateshead, says report

Child poverty rate in some parts of Gateshead has reached more than 50% in some wards.

A Gateshead Council report has found that rates of child poverty in Felling are at 56%, followed by areas such as Bensham and Sheriff Hill at 43% each. In addition, the report revealed that of the 10,000 people supported by the Gateshead Foodbank, almost 3,000 are children.

While the report could not give exact figures on the percentage of people living with food insecurity, due to its "often hidden nature", it went on to say the council has seen a 97% increase in demand for food aid over the last year.

On a national level, The Food Foundation also calculated that as the cost of living crisis continues, the poorest fifth of UK households would need to spend 47% of their disposable income on food just to meet the costs of the Government's recommended healthy diet.

Coun Catherine Donovan, the deputy leader of Gateshead Council and the local authority's poverty lead said: "The percentages of child poverty reflect anecdotal evidence from community groups, schools and foodbanks, particularly in the ward that I represent which includes Bensham. Parents are struggling to keep their children fed, clean and warm. The cost of living crisis has had a deep and significant negative effect on many families in our borough.

"The Council has provided financial support via the Household Support Fund which has been allocated again this year by the Government. However, although the funding is welcome, it will not permanently solve the problems of low pay, high energy costs and inflation.

"Many families in poverty have at least one working parent and yet they are struggling to survive. Children who are poorly nourished, who live in poorly heated homes and don’t have the dignity of clean, appropriate clothes cannot be healthy, confident and ready to learn at school.

"Parents who are constantly worried about making ends meet cannot enjoy family life. This is not right for families and it isn’t right for our communities.

"In my opinion, the Government needs to remove the two-child cap as a first step which would lift 500,000 children out of poverty nationally.

"Finally, a wealth tax on some of the richest people in this country is long overdue. It would be a relatively small amount for them to pay and could make a massive difference to so many families living in poverty today. This I believe is the right thing to do.”

Since 2018, Gateshead Council has partnered with several local charity and volunteer organisations to help support community food networks including Gateshead Foodbank, Bensham Food Co-op, Vinnies Cafe, the Salvation Army, and Blaydon Methodist Church among others.

In September, the local authority also became a member of the food campaign organisation Sustain's 'Sustainable Food Places' which aims to tackle food poverty and illness related to poor diets. The council is now working towards bronze accreditation which can take between six-12 months to obtain, though it can take longer.

The council's report concludes: "Whilst Food Poverty exists in Gateshead; the Council continues to work together with the Food Partnership with a long term aim to reduce the impact of food poverty on local people. However, this is a huge theme of work and will not be solved quickly. It should be recognised that this will take several years, and significant policy and government intervention before meaningful progress and sustained change can be seen."

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