The recession is having a negative impact on the lives of children, says a cross-party group of MPs and peers. They highlight cuts to services, squeezed charity and community group funding, and increasing strain on family budgets.

Key points

• The main economic factors affecting children’s well-being are social class, levels of and changes in household income, and parental employment. The effects are all heightened during a recession.
• Where an adult has concerns over their financial security, their children are twice as likely to experience low levels of well-being as those whose parents/carers have few or no money worries.
• The recession could have a negative impact on children’s education, with increased poverty leading to more unequal educational outcomes.
• Children in the early years have also been affected by the recession, through cuts to children’s centres, childcare places and outreach services.
• Recession-linked factors are beginning to show up in the family courts, due to a ‘toxic mix’ of too much stress and inadequate support, with ‘worrying’ consequences for children.
• National and local governments need robust strategies for reducing child poverty and its effects on well-being, including measures to increase family income and tackle the root causes of poverty.
• Budgetary decisions by government – both locally and nationally – must avoid further harm to children’s social and economic well-being.

Source: Children and Recession, All Party Parliamentary Group for Children
Link: Report