Below the breadline: A year in the life of families in poverty

This research follows 16 families (21 adults and 42 children) living in poverty in the UK supported by Barnardo’s and finds that low incomes result in families struggling to meet the costs of basic living.

While families fell into poverty for different reasons, they followed similar pathways into severe debt.

Poverty was exacerbated by low educational achievement, disability or ill health, unemployment, lone parenthood, having a large family, and having young children. Although parents wanted to work, they lived in areas of high unemployment and lacked the support necessary for tackling this sense of hopelessness.

Keywords: Poverty