Nearly two children in every classroom relying on food banks: 'A national emergency'

Around 6.6% of children in the UK are in a household which relied on a food bank in 2024-2025, new government poverty statistics show. That is almost two children in every classroom.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released its annual Households Below Average Income report on Thursday (26 March) – the primary source of poverty estimates in the UK.

A total of 1.9 million children were found to be in deep material poverty, meaning their families cannot afford the essentials they need to live like food and heating. That’s equivalent to 13% of children in the UK but is down by 1% on the previous year, a decrease of 100,000 children.

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Dr Philip Goodwin, chief executive officer of UNICEF UK said:  “It’s critical to remember that behind today’s figures are real children and families going without essentials, falling behind their peers, and making impossible choices just to get by.  

“Experiencing poverty can derail a child’s development, harming their health, happiness and future opportunities. The longer it lasts, the deeper the damage.”

Poverty levels overall are down on the previous year, but there are still four million children living in poverty. More than 13 million people overall are living in poverty.

Amnesty International UK‘s economic, cultural and social rights lead Jen Clark said it is “unacceptable and the result of years of irresponsible and deliberate political choices”.

“As world events trigger yet another layer to the cost of living crisis, the government must act with greater urgency and ambition to make tackling poverty a priority and reverse the trend of people being pushed deeper into poverty by overhauling the UK’s consciously cruel social security system, so it treats people with dignity and serves their human rights to food, housing and security,” Clark added.

John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, said: “With around a third of our nation’s children growing up in poverty, it’s time to treat this like the national emergency it is.”

The figures are released a week before the end to the two-child limit on benefits, which is expected to lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty immediately. Together with measures announced in the child poverty strategy will see half a million fewer children in poverty.

Pat McFadden, secretary of state for work and pensions, said: “This government is determined to turn the tide on poverty after years of rising hardship. Today’s statistics show that effort is beginning to make a difference – household incomes have risen 5% in real terms, food bank usage has fallen, and food insecurity is down. 

“But we know there is more to do. That is why we are raising the national living wage by up to £900 a year for a full-time worker, cutting average energy bills by £150 from April, and delivering our child poverty strategy which will lift 550,000 children out of poverty by the end of this parliament.” 

Bird added: “This government has good intentions. Ending the two-child benefit limit is a welcome start. It could be a first step to a more radical plan to cut the cycle of poverty being handed down from one generation to the next. But a national emergency demands more than tinkering.

“We need action on a scale not seen in Westminster since the creation of the welfare state. Until we unite all government’s energies and resources to truly prevent and cure poverty, we will continue to fail this next generation.”

There have been improvements to the DWP’s data collection process which has changed how some of the numbers are presented this year, with more accurate reporting on poverty levels in the UK.

Whereas the statistics previously relied entirely on people to self-report that they received a benefit or how much they received, the survey now largely relies on data pulled directly from their records with their consent.

“But whichever way you measure it, hardship among families with children has been getting worse for years,” said Lucy Schonegevel, director of influencing at Action for Children.

“Our frontline staff continue to see huge demand for emergency support with food, clothing, heating and other essentials from families using our services across the UK.”

Helen Barnard, director of policy and research at Trussell, said the data reveals a “heartbreaking injustice” with “appallingly high numbers of people across the UK trapped in the grip of severe hardship”.

“While the latest figures indicate that some people are getting back on their feet, the numbers of people facing hunger in our communities are well above pre-pandemic levels,” Barnard said.

“As we find ourselves yet again facing uncertain times, we know that progress can be too easily undone. People just surviving could once again be pushed over the edge if the price of food and bills fluctuates.”

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