This document discusses poverty, who experiences it, and why. It defines absolute and relative poverty. Key signs of poverty in modern Britain include not having a bank account, spending over 10% of income on energy bills, and poor access to opportunities. Certain groups are more likely to experience poverty, such as single-parent households, unemployed individuals, families with young children, pensioners, those who left school early, and women. Higher unemployment, income inequality, tax benefits for wealthy, longer lifespans, more single-parent families, and high housing costs have all contributed to increased poverty in recent decades.

1. What does absolute poverty mean?What does relative poverty mean?How do we know who is likely to experience poverty?By analysing a person’s incomeBy finding out if people lack items that are seen as a necessity by everyone elseBy asking people if they believe They are living in poverty?The Rowntree Foundation says the key signs of poverty in modern Britain include: Not having a High Street bank account

2. Having to spend more than 10% of income on energy bills

3. Poor access to transport, employment opportunities or healthy food

4. How people feel that they compare to their peers is also a key way of defining poverty. LO: To be able to identify who suffers from poverty (E-G grade)To be able to explain why certain groups are more likely suffer from poverty. (A-D grade)Experiences of Poverty?March 15th 2011

5. The National Poverty and Exclusion survey argues that more people experience poverty now than in the 1980s.WHY DO YOU THINK THIS MAY BE THE CASE?Increased unemployment in the recent recession = 7.9% of the population is unemployed, (2.49 million)An increase in pay gap between highly skilled workers and low skilled workers.Changes in tax rates which have benefitted the well off

6. Higher life expectancy, therefore more pensioners living longer, in poverty

7. More single-parent families, therefore less income coming into a family

8. High house prices for buying and rental, meaning more money spent on rent/mortgage

9. Research from Joseph Rowntree foundationhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4070112.stmDespite high levels of employment and government policies to combat poverty, the percentage of people living on very low incomes – defined as below 60% of the UK average wage - has stayed close to 20% throughout the past decade.Why is it so hard to find out who lives in poverty?

10. Those at risk of poverty include:Single-parent householdHouseholds with no paid workersFamilies with children under 11 years old.Single person households.PensionersChildren and young peopleThose who left school before the age of 16 with little or no qualifications.WomenHouseholds with 4 or more childrenWho is likely to experience poverty?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rmaEW3qIU0&feature=related

11. Grades A - DTask:Using the data on your tables write a summary about the incidence of poverty (5 mins)2. Why do women experience a greater amount of poverty?Live longer, so more older women pensioners living alone.

12. Women are less likely to have a pension from a job than men.

13. Women are more likely to head a single –parent family

14. Women, on average, earn less than men.

15. Women are more likely than men to work part time and therefore Earn less.

17. What are further causes of poverty?Not having a pension from a job and having to live off state pension only (£97 a week per person).Low social class – the more a person earns the more likely they will have paid into pension savings fund or had a pension through their job.Having a disability – those with disabilities (physical, intellectual or emotional) are more likely to be unemployed or on a low income. There may be extra costs for food, equipment, support, travel etc.

18. TasksPage 314 – Complete discussion activity, you have 7 minutes to discuss this, followed by 3 minutes to ensure you have written down your ideas.HOMEWORK: Describe one way a person is placed into a social class and why it may not be an accurate decision (5)Explain 2 ways in which poverty may affect children's life chances. (6)