A report released today, produced by the End Child Poverty Coalition (ECPC), revealed that 26.6% of children were in poverty in Stockport in 2021/22, equal to 17,365 children.  

This figure is, however, below the national average (29.2%), the North West average (34.3%), and the Manchester local authority average (44.7% - the third highest in the country). 

Nonetheless, the ECPC described the national stats as 'shocking', and suggested that the figures could get worse in the next survey; this data comes from last year and does not cover the period of the cost-of-living crisis or of rising inflation in relation to the costs of food and fuel.  

The study measures the percentage of children below 60% median income after housing costs for 2021/22. It used administrative data on rents for local authorities, combined with household-level data. 

The reports adds: "By taking housing costs into account, we have provided a more accurate picture of the disposable income that families have available to meet their living costs."

It notes that in the North West, almost twice as many children in poverty are from a minority ethnic group. Meanwhile, 31% of children who have a long-term health condition or disability are in poverty, compared with 29% of those without such a condition.

There are more children in poverty from lone parent families (44%) than in couple parent families (25%). 

The report also argues that employment is not always a route out of poverty, with 71% of children below the poverty line coming from a family where at least one adult is working; 'low pay and insecure work remain major issues for many families who are unable to meet their living costs', it says. 

It also criticises the government's two-child limit, which restricts benefits for third and higher-order births, saying: "our findings emphasise that this policy is pushing many children into poverty, and that many families affected are already in work and therefore have little recourse to increase their income."

Whilst rates in Stockport remain lower than the national average, the ECPC predict that the situation is likely to worsen next year.

The full report can be read HERE.

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