Mental health fears as 50,000 Bradford children living in low income households

MORE than 50,000 young people in Bradford are living in low income households – making it the second highest affected area in the UK.

The figures, published by the Department for Work & Pensions, looked at young people under the age of 16 defined as being in a relative low income household.

This is defined as a family claiming child benefit and at least one other household benefit – such as universal credit, tax credits or housing benefit – at any point in the financial year.

Pendle in the North West is the worst affected place in the UK – with Bradford narrowly missing being number one by 0.4 per cent.

In 2023/24, Bradford is home to 44.2 per cent of children who live with families struggling to make ends meet. This equates to 55,331 young people.

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe described the figures as shocking “in this day and age” and said the only way to create lasting change for families was rooted in good jobs, boosting skills, and better transport.

“The demand has never been greater,” said Mushtaq Hussain, founder of the Bradford-based charity, Inspire Futures Foundation, which feeds households in need.

Mushtaq Hussain, founder of the Bradford-based charity, Inspire Futures Foundation, alongside volunteers Mohammed Kadir and Nadeem Khan (Image: Newsquest) What started out as a way to deliver food parcels to vulnerable families in the Covid-19 pandemic has grown into a service used daily by those who have to choose between paying their bills and eating.

Despite the large number of community food banks in Bradford, Mushtaq said there’s still not enough to meet the public need.

“It’s difficult,” he said.

“We’ve seen the benefit and welfare cuts, so many people – even though they may be in work – because of the council tax, utility bills, it’s not affordable for them to have even the basic luxury.

The volunteers who serve Bradford’s communities in need by delivering food parcels and support (Image: Newsquest) “We’ve provided 1,000 meals this month alone as part of the Ramadan programme. We’ve been giving food parcels to about 100 families.

“The need is out there. The families really rely on the service.

“There’s so many isolated, hard to reach families who are not able to get out to these places [food banks] because of transport provision or shame. A lot of referrals we get are from family and friends.

“The criteria to assess who is below the poverty line is difficult to discern. We’ve got people working full time but they’re not entitled to benefits, but that is not enough to pay for accommodation or food.

Mushtaq Hussain, founder of the Bradford-based charity, Inspire Futures Foundation, alongside volunteers Mohammed Kadir and Nadeem Khan (Image: Newsquest) “There’s a lot of people who, even though they are working, they’re just slightly above the threshold.

“The reforms have made it very difficult for new claimants.

“On top of the council tax [going up to 9.99 per cent] you’ve got utility bills going up. Families are feeling despondent, that nobody really seems to care for them.

“They feel they’ve been left on their own.

“Bradford is one of the top 10 deprived cities in the country, we’re facing tax increases, and they’re struggling for every single penny. It’s going to affect Bradford more than anybody else.

“The Bradford district is going to fall below the threshold again.”

Mohammed Kadir of Inspire Futures Foundation (Image: Newsquest) It comes after the Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves would help to boost living standards and make people better off – despite analysis suggesting 250,000 could be pushed into poverty as a result of welfare cuts.

Amid warnings about the impact of the cuts, the Chancellor told Sky News: “I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work.”

Mushtaq warned families’ financial struggles could lead to a mental health crisis across the district.

Volunteer Nadeem Khan (Image: Newsquest) “The mental health issue, already from Covid, was a concern,” he said.

“Because of the financial position and choosing between eating and heating it’s a mental stress on them.

“A lot of them are in really dire straits – they say ‘we’re sorry to ask, we really can’t afford any food this week’. The mental stress is really building up, if something’s not sorted out soon there will be a greater pandemic.

“The free school meals, only certain pupils are entitled.

“It’s scary. These families are trying their best to get any employment, getting good jobs, but it’s just the circumstances they’re in, it’s just not possible. They’re just on minimum wage and really struggling.

“It’s huge and it’s something that needs to be considered.”

Bradford Council statement

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council Leader, said: “In this day and age it is shocking to see the figures which show so many children living in poverty in this country. And of course Bradford, with its very young population, is particularly highlighted. The figures released today are the final full year of child poverty statistics for the last Conservative government and show just why the country so badly needed a change.

“An extra 100,000 children in the UK were living below the breadline in the year to April 2024. And that was the third year running that child poverty had increased nationally and comes after more than a decade of austerity and falling living standards.

“We will continue to do all we can to support those children and their families to access support.  This help could be around debt, housing or welfare benefits. During school holidays we have our Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF), a government-funded scheme. Each club offers exciting activities and provides a free healthy meal for every child.

“We also support children through the DWP Household Support Fund. This includes a direct cash payment to families with children on the lowest incomes and in receipt of Council Tax Reduction with food and fuel, support for foster carers, care leavers, new and expectant mothers and more.

“But it’s not just about sustaining children and their families, it’s about providing them with a better future, out of poverty.  That is why it’s so vital that we are working hard to attract inward investment, increase skills, and get better transport connectivity because good jobs are key to lifting people out of poverty and giving the next generation more opportunities.”

For advice visit the Bradford Council website.