Children’s charities warn of dramatic rise in disadvantaged children and families

Action for Children, NSPCC and The Children's Society are warning that the number of children living in vulnerable families in Britain will rise markedly to over one million by 2015, unless critical action is taken urgently.

A report commissioned by the three charities ' In the eye of the storm: Britain's forgotten children and families [PDF, 3879Kb] ' calculates the impact of the recession and austerity measures on vulnerable children for the first time. It paints a worrying picture of a large number of families struggling with problems like unemployment, depression, poor quality housing and poverty.

The three charities are now calling on the Government to protect children better from the effects of the recession, sharp cuts to public services, and major changes to the tax and benefits system, so children are not put at further risk.

Andrew Flanagan, CEO of the NSPCC, said: "We all expect to bear some of the austerity but it seems the most vulnerable children are bearing the brunt. This will make the job of turning their lives around even harder. Our services are pioneering new ways to support the most vulnerable children but against a rising tide. We have to act to ensure that tomorrow's adults do not pay the price for today's mistakes."