ALMOST one in two children in Barrow's most deprived ward are growing up in poverty, according to new figures.

Forty-eight per cent of youngsters in the Central ward of Barrow live below the poverty line, with warnings that the roll-out of Universal Credit and cuts to benefits are pushing more families into crisis.

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Research from End Child Poverty found that 4,209 children live in poverty in Barrow after housing costs are taken away from family incomes.

Elsewhere in Cumbria, 3,289 children live in poverty in Copeland, some 22.6 per cent, with the figure down to 2,184 and 15.4 per cent in South Lakeland.

High proportion


Cllr Anne Burns Councillor Anne Burns, cabinet member for children's services at Cumbria County Council, raised concerns that Universal Credit was having a devastating impact.

She said: "Universal Credit is doing no good whatsoever because a lot of [children] are going to school hungry.

"It's government who are hurting all our budgets and we are less and less likely to target the resources. We need to life these children out of desperation."

'Absolutely shocking'

Councillor Alec Proffitt, a Labour representative for Central on Barrow Borough Council, said all the preventative work being carried out in the ward and surrounding areas was being "lost" because of the level of government cuts.

He said: "It's absolutely shocking that an area of a significantly rich nation has got one in two children living in poverty. We are seeing the effects of austerity.

"The positive impact of local initiatives are swallowed and lost because of the lack of funding from national government.

"For the people of Central we have got a prime example of why good quality nursery access and looking at holistic health and well-being is so important here."

Other wards in Barrow with high poverty ratios include Barrow Island at 32.7 per cent, Hindpool at 38.4 per cent, Ormsgill at 30.7 per cent and Risedale at 34.8 per cent.

End Child Poverty is calling on the government to use the upcoming autumn statement to end the freeze on children's benefits, and to reverse cuts being introduced to in-work benefits under Universal Credit.

There are also large pockets of child poverty elsewhere, with Ulverston Town ward at 28.7 per cent, and a ratio of roughly one in four in the southern part of Grange.

The calculation is the proportion of people below 60 per cent of median income after household costs.

Funding call


John Woodcock MP John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: "These deeply concerning figures show the government is failing to make progress in tackling child poverty and it is unacceptable that so many of our children are suffering in this way.

"It is hard to imagine what would happen to some families and individuals if they were not supported by our foodbank volunteers and the people who donate groceries to these lifelines.

"We all know that major investment is getting under way in our area and I will be focusing in coming months on bringing people together to make sure that the maximum number of people can benefit from this economic bounty."

How does your area compare

Barrow = 25.32%

Barrow Island = 32.7%

Central = 48%

Dalton North = 17.68%

Dalton South = 15.42%

Hawcoat = 5.68%

Hindpool = 38.39%

Newbarns = 13.31%

Ormsgill = 30.65%

Parkside = 15.79%

Risedale = 34.78%

Roosecote = 11.13%

Walney North = 14.57%

Walney South = 22.58%

Copeland = 22.59%

Bootle = 15.92%

Haverigg = 6.02%

Holburn Hill = 21.14%

Millom Without = 23.48%

Newtown = 27.15%

Seascale = 13.55%

South Lakeland = 15.6%

Ambleside and Grasmere - 11.21%

Broughton = 10.98%

Cartmel and Grange West = 12.04%

Coniston and Crake Valley = 0%

Grange North = 14.66%

Grange South = 25.18%

Hawkshead = 23.48%

Holker = 24.39%

Levens = 9.83%

Low Furness = 1.37%

Mid Furness = 10.39%

Staveley-in-Cartmel = 12.27%

Ulverston Central = 19.74%

Ulverston East = 26.97%

Ulverston North = 10.39%

Ulverston South = 13.03%

Ulverston Town = 28.67%

Ulverston West = 12.14%

Windermere Applethwaite and Troutbeck = 41.56%

Windermere Bowness North = 15.92%

Windermere Bowness South = 17.63%

Windermere Town = 13.99%