Children & Young People

Version 3, March 2008

Proportion of children living in low income households

 

The Index of Deprivation 2007 includes income deprivation affecting children (i.e. figures on children living in low income households).  The figures show that almost one third (29.4%) of South Tyneside’s children are in families that are income deprived (i.e. in receipt of benefits like Job Seekers Allowance).  This is only a 3% drop since 2004, when 32.6% of children were in income deprived families.  This is above the national rate, where 22.4% of children live in income deprived families.

The map below identifies the most problematic areas for income deprivation affecting children – those in pink being in the worst 5% in the country, orange the worst 10% and yellow the worst 20%.

The map shows that very high proportions of children living in some areas are affected by income deprivation.  In 2004, an area of north Jarrow contained the most income deprived children – over 70% of the children there lived in families that were income deprived.  Now an area of the Woodbine Estate is worst: 65% of children there are income deprived.  However, now only 57% of the children in north Jarrow are income deprived – a substantial drop.

The Government is aiming to eliminate child poverty by 2020, and halve it by 2010.  However, 2006 saw a national rise in the number of people living in poverty, and many felt that the measures introduced by the government in March 2008 were too small, and will leave 700 000 children below the poverty line in 2020.

South Tyneside Borough Council is committed to achieving the goal of eliminating child poverty.  However, tackling this requires us to address the underlying issues, such as economic deprivation, rather than simply alleviating the symptoms of poverty.  It is estimated that almost 20% of children in South Tyneside live in areas classed among the most deprived 20% in the country.  In the worst of these areas, as many as 65% of children live in income deprived families.  This means that to eliminate child deprivation in South Tyneside we need to focus on the problems people are facing.  We need to improve the employment rate in the Borough, for example, so that families can lift themselves out of poverty, and raise educational standards to allow people to get better jobs. 

Income deprivation affecting children


Income (Children) - domain ranked nationally:

Violet box Least deprived (30)
Blue box Most deprived 30%-50% (18)
Green box Most deprived 30% (23)
Yellow box Most deprived 20% (20)
Orange box Most deprived 10% (6)
Red box Most deprived 5% (6)

Map graph showing Income deprivation affecting children, ranking of super output areas with new wards displayed.

Number of deprived children in each CAF:
CAF Name Total 0 -15's Total Deprived Children %  Deprived Children
Boldon Cleadon Whitburn 4,597 657 14.3%
East Shields 4,902 1,536 31.3
Hebburn 4,478 1,238 27.6
Jarrow 5,048 1,696 33.6
Riverside 5,983 1,901 31.8
West Shields 3,106 1,245 40.1
South Tyneside 28,114 8,273 29.4
North East 473,976 123,306 26.0
England 9,712,534 2,179,667 22.4
Source: DCLG,ONS & STMBC
Numbers of Deprived Children - Index of Deprivation 2007, DCLG
Total Numbers of 0-15's - Experimental Mid 2005 LSOA estimates, ONS

CAF numbers are based on a best-fit using whole LSOA's as calculated by STMBC

Source: ODPM website http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_urbanpolicy/documents/page/
odpm_urbpol_029257.hcsp
© Crown Copyright

Links to the Community Strategy

This information impacts directly on the following Community Strategy aims:

  • S1 - Reducing Financial Exclusion and Hardship
  • E7 - Helping disadvantaged and under represented groups into employment and self-employment
  • H1 Improving Life Chances for Children

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