More children to be pushed into poverty in city-region without government intervention, study says

As the cost of living crisis continues to bite new research is set to show 'alarming' levels of poverty across Greater Manchester are deepening. Greater Manchester Poverty Action's (GMPA) 'Poverty Monitor' will be released on Wednesday (May25) and outline how the government's so called 'Levelling Up' agenda is failing the city.

The research outlines that more than one in four children are living in poverty across the region, with the number of foodbanks and other low income support providers meeting people's basic food needs doubling over the last five years. This is from data from key areas including child poverty, health, fuel and food insecurity, and education.

With these troubling figures, the GMPA is calling for urgent action to be taken, otherwise these inequalities will only worsen. Recent drivers of these inequalities that need to be addressed, according to the group, include the cut to the £20 Universal Credit Uplift, and the sharp rise in inflation driving the cost of living crisis.

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Some boroughs are seeing child poverty rates above 30 per cent while nearly all boroughs have more than one in 10 households struggling with food insecurity. Concerningly, the research also reveals specific wards across GM with the highest levels of child poverty. This includes Cheetham ward in Manchester at 51.2 per cent and Coldhurst in Oldham at 64 per cent.

While the average rate of child poverty across the region stands at a lower 25 per cent, GMPA describes these levels as 'shocking', and likely to increase. This is paired with an increase of 'in-work poverty' due to rising inflation and the removal of the £20 UC uplift, where many are having to turn to