How much does it cost to raise a child in 2016? This annual research from CPAG and Professor Donald Hirsch, Director of the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, finds that parents working on the new higher minimum wage still cannot earn enough to provide an acceptable minimum standard of living for their children. Families with two parents working full time on the ‘national living wage’ are 12% short of the basic amount needed for a minimum standard of living – as defined by the public.
CPAG's annual research conducted by Donald Hirsch, Director for the Centre for Research on Social Policy, on the cost of bringing up a child found that parents both in and out of work are struggling to meet the minimum family costs.
Today we publish our third annual report ‘The Cost of a Child in 2014’, written by Donald Hirsch from the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University and funded by JRF. It draws on the Minimum Income Standard project (MIS) to establish how much families need to cover their basic needs like food, clothes and shelter, and to participate in society.
This report shows parents struggled more than ever to provide a decent standard of living for their families in 2013. This is the second in a series of annual reports on the cost of bringing up a child in the UK.
At a time when many families are finding it hard to make ends meet, how much does it cost to bring up a child to meet their needs to a decent minimum standard? This report from CPAG, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, answers that question to show for the first time in a robust way how much it costs to provide children with a minimum level of participation in society, as well as catering for their needs in terms of food, clothes and shelter.
Between 2017 and 2020 the Cost of the School Day team at Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland worked with schools and more than 700 young people in Dundee, to produce findings which supported actions like cheaper uniform suppliers, more inclusive homework policies, greater consistency in lending resources, breakfast provision, free ‘ready to learn’ packs, non-stigmatising approaches to fundraising, trip subsidies, and improved promotion of financial entitlements.
Shining a spotlight on some of the fantastic Cost of the School Day groups who are taking part in the Voice network and doing great work in their school communities around Scotland.
Coatbridge High School in North Lanarkshire ran an all day event focusing on the cost of living, with workshops during the day for pupils and a drop-in Cost of Living Fayre for families after school, which showcased the work of a range of organisations in the area and covered wide spectrum of supports for families.
When CPAG in Scotland and the University of Aberdeen organised a roundtable event at the Scottish Parliament to discuss school uniform affordability and the school clothing grant with MSPs, we knew it was vital to hear directly from young people.
At Wallace High School, better understanding of their catchment area and the challenges faced by families has been key to planning learning and support.