Rochdale ranks among the worst-hit constituencies for child poverty in the north west

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Rochdale ranks ninth among the worst-hit constituencies for child poverty

New research on local levels of child poverty, carried out by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, provides new information on child poverty across the North West.

Rochdale ranks ninth among the worst-hit constituencies, highlighting the local impact of this national issue. With nearly four in ten children in the region living in poverty, the disparity within the North West is stark.

The research reveals that 37% of children in the North West are living in relative poverty after housing costs. Alarmingly, 90% of constituencies in the region have a child poverty rate of at least 25%, underscoring the widespread nature of this crisis.

The gap between the highest and lowest levels of child poverty is a staggering 39 percentage points, with Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton suffering the most at 53.5%, while Altrincham and Sale West sits at 14.7%.

The End Child Poverty Coalition says that one of the critical factors exacerbating child poverty is the two-child limit on benefit payments.

This policy affects 13% of all children in the North West, pushing families deeper into financial distress.

Nationwide, this translates to over 200,000 children impacted, a figure significantly higher than the national average of 10%. The financial strain imposed by this policy is profound, reducing benefit payments by up to £3,455 per child (per year) born after April 2017.

Graham Whitham, CEO of Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) said: “The new data really illustrates the appalling levels of poverty we are seeing in the North West.

"For many, this means being excluded from activities like school trips and days out, not having clothes that fit them, going to school hungry, and in some cases sharing a bed or sleeping on the floor.”

The is urging all political parties to prioritise a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy in their election manifestos.

The manager of the End Child Poverty Coalition, Rachel Walters said: “Rising costs and stalling wages are making it impossible for families to make ends meet. Across the North West, parents are having to use food banks to feed their children, and babies are being born into homes where parents can't afford to keep their houses warm in winter.”

Both GMPA and the End Child Poverty Coalition call for the abolition of the two-child limit. Research indicates that lifting this limit could significantly reduce child poverty, potentially lifting 300,000 children out of poverty across the UK at a cost of £1.8 billion – a necessary investment considering the £39 billion annual cost of child poverty to public services.

At a local level, authorities and employers in Rochdale and beyond are urged to adopt measures that mitigate poverty’s impact. This includes paying the Living Wage and developing robust local anti-poverty strategies.