Inside the inspirational Small Heath community that helps 'keep children safe and out of trouble'

Brummies living in deprived wards claim child poverty is nothing new, it's been festering for years. The shameful wave of deprivation in children's lives affects everything including housing, health and access to youth services.

BirminghamLive's investigation revealed a devastating 20% increase in child poverty in the last decade. This has not stopped community projects and charities from providing for young people however.

Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA) for instance, have been supporting young people through sports and mentoring for years. But cost of living and the energy crisis has seen children struggling to even pay £2 fees.

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.

We spoke to people from deprived Birmingham wards on how far back child poverty goes. They also reveal what they think the root of the problem is.

Waheed Ayoob, 52, from Alum Rock has been a volunteer coach for BYSA for ten years. When asked if child poverty was getting worse in Small Heath, he said: "Yes, by how much is hard to say.

"I recall even ten years ago kids turned up unable to pay subs and we never asked why. We don't know if it's poverty or the parents cannot give it that week, but we are seeing it.

"Parents will have a quiet word and our standard procedure is 'not a problem!'

"Trainers need to be suitable and sometimes the kids don't have appropriate kits, parents are just unable to afford them. In my opinion there is much more unemployment in underprivileged areas as people are not highly educated to get high paying jobs.

"I have a day job but I love the time I can dedicate to the community. I love seeing the smiles on kid's faces, it is amazing if you can volunteer and give back.

"The main thing is lots of organisations have been set up and not just sports. There are food banks and youth groups.

"We can blame teachers or the government but nothing will change, unless we get up and do something about it."

Hussain Bigira, 21, unemployed, from Small Heath said: "I grew up here in the community and youth sports helps keep children safe and out of trouble. I have noticed some kids cannot afford to play sports, back then I was sponsored so I was ok.

"Most families in Small Heath have low incomes and this affects their children's education and sports so it needs to be fixed up. My family's situation is not alright but it's manageable as I cannot afford to pay for most of the football kits.

"Things like summer camps are great because they help kids know what to do in future."

Cost of living crisis, fuel poverty and rising energy bills have been cited as key factors in the rise in poverty. Birmingham City Council's decision to slash youth services, which saw reported cuts of £2.3 million, was slammed by parents and the public alike.