Over a third of children in Waltham Forest are living in poverty, according to new statistics. The 35% figure equates to 20,769 children in the borough and was released along with nationwide data by the Children in Poverty Action Group (CPAG) last Wednesday.

The figure rockets to 46% in Higham Hill, where average weekly household earnings are £520 compared to a £690 London average, and drops to 24% in Chingford Green where the wage is £680. “I’m taken aback by this. It’s not something nice to hear while we live in the 21st century,” said Councillor Darshan Sunger, who represents Hale End and Highams Park, where, according to the report, one in four children live below the poverty line.
 
“As a parent that’s quite alarming,” he added. The report defines poverty as a family with £11 or less to spend on each member after housing costs. That includes basic items such as food and clothing even before paying for things like school trips and childcare.

A CPAG spokesman warned that these children cannot develop their full potential as they lack access to pre-school learning, computers and books. “It raises fundamental questions over whether these children will even be eating well,” said Errol John, acting director for London for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

“Poverty impacts dramatically on their life chances as they won’t have the same resources as those better off to get ahead at school or just to go out and socialise.”“We know living in poverty can have a significant effect on the lives of residents and we are working to tackle this issue,” said Waltham Forest Council's cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Saima Mahmud.

“We are working on a string of projects to increase the skills, training and education of residents to improve their prosperity. This includes projects such as the Construction Skills Centre in Leytonstone which will train 1,000 qualified construction workers a year, but will also include key regeneration areas in the south of the borough,” she added.