Child Poverty Worst in North West, finds Church Urban Fund

~ Children's life expectancy up to 15 years lower than in other communities ~ 

Around two thirds of children living in parts of Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle are being born into poverty, according to new findings from Church Urban Fund, with life expectancy up to 15 years lower than in the least deprived communities.

Using published government data, Church Urban Fund found that, in parts of Manchester, such as Moss Side, child poverty levels were as high as 65% with life expectancy for boys as low as 69. In areas of Toxteth, Liverpool, the child poverty rate was at 64% and life expectancy for boys just 67.

Church Urban Fund, a Church of England charity working to tackle poverty in England, used its recently-launched poverty mapping tool to identify the communities in England where child poverty is at its most prevalent. Based on the CofE parish system, the tool allows anyone to calculate their local community's level of deprivation as well as its regional and national ranking, using a combination of Government poverty indicators including life expectancy and child poverty.

Paul Hackwood, the Chair of Trustees at Church Urban Fund said:

"The deep-rooted unfairness in our society is highlighted by these stark statistics. Children being born in this country, just a few miles apart, couldn't witness a more wildly differing start to life.  In child poverty terms, we live in one of the most unequal countries in the western world. We want people to understand where their own community sits alongside neighbouring communities. The disparity is often shocking but it's crucial that, through greater awareness, people from all backgrounds come together to think about what could be done to support those born into poverty."

Church Urban Fund works with the leaders of over 300 projects across England, helping the poorest and most marginalised in society.  The projects they support are focussed on the most deprived communities in the country and include fuel poverty advice services, debt counselling and youth education projects.