Tackling child poverty priority families overview

An overview of evidence on the six priority family types identified as being at higher risk of child poverty. Slide deck can be found in the supporting documents.


Introduction

This evidence pack highlights key issues for the six priority family types identified as being at highest risk of child poverty: lone parent families, minority ethnic families, families with a disabled adult or child, families with a younger mother (under 25), families with a child under 1, and larger families (3+ children).

Families often belong to more than one priority group. For example, among children in relative poverty: 49% of children in lone parent families also have a disabled person at home; 50% of children in a family with a younger mother are also in a lone parent household; 49% of children in a 3+ child family are also in a family in which someone is disabled.

Children’s poverty is also intrinsically linked with women’s poverty. This is due to cultural norms around care of children, but also due to structural factors which impact upon all aspects of a woman’s life.

Evidence also tells us that there are other marginalised groups more likely to live in poverty. This includes: homeless families, gypsy/traveller families, families who are victims/survivors of domestic abuse, families of people in prison, families who are care experienced, and families seeking asylum or who have refugee status. 

There is a need for a holistic approach that addresses individual needs while recognising structural barriers, to avoid perpetuating patterns of exclusion, for those families at greater risk and with intersecting risk factors.

Findings presented here are based on the focus reports published for lone parent families, minority ethnic families, families with a disabled person, families with a mother aged 25 or under, families with a baby, families with three or more children, other marginalised groups at risk of poverty, and gender.

This pack provide an overview of the priority families concept, an overview of child poverty targets and a summary overview of each priority family and other marginalised groups.

Contact

Email: social-justice-analysis@gov.scot
Twitter: @EqualityPoverty
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