1. Notes from poor kids BBC 7th June 2011-06-23
Documentary telling the stories of some of the 3.5 million children living in poverty in the
UK. It is one of the worst child poverty rates in the industrialised world, and successive
governments continue to struggle to bring it into line. So who are these children, and
where are they living? Under-represented, under-nourished and often under the radar, 3.5
million children should be given a voice. And this powerful film does just that.
Eight-year-old Courtney, 10-year-old Paige and 11-year-old Sam live in different parts of the UK.
Breathtakingly honest and eloquent, they give testament to how having no money affects their
lives: lack of food, being bullied and having nowhere to play. The children might be indignant
about their situation now, but this may not be enough to help them. Their thoughts on their
futures are sobering. Sam's 16-year-old sister Kayleigh puts it all into context, as she tells how the
effects of poverty led her to take extreme measures to try and escape it all.Poor Kids puts the
children on centre stage, and they command it with honesty and directness. It's time for everyone
to listen.When 10 year old Paige finally gets to live in a damp free house she seems most happy
that no one at school will be able to ridicule her for smelling of damp anymore .Shows clearly the
mental impact of relative poverty.
• A family is living under the poverty line if it has 2 children 1 parent and has under
1000 pounds per week .
• Bradford has one of the highest proportion of families on income support.
• when things change like a child reaches age of 16 and goes to college the benefit
often changes and this can often take time .such poor families can not cope with
loosing their benefit for up to 4 weeks so they may often avoid reporting changes
which in the long run may mean they loose out as they may have been entitled to
more .or may result in them being charged in a criminal way.
• low income families children skip meals regularly.
• Poor children 2 and half times more likely to suffer from a chronic illness.
• Poor children 5 times less likely to have access to outdoor play area.
• Inequality wider than at any time since the war.
• Dampness a real problem in many poor homes .
• 47 % of children with asthma come from the 10% of families on the lowest incomes
in Britain.

2. • Poor children 2 and half times more likely to suffer sickness and vomiting.
• 85% of children living in a damp flat suffer breathing problems.
• For every 5 people in Leicester there is 1 job .
• In some areas of Glasgow nobody at all has work.
• 1 million homes in the uk are unfit to live in.
• 1-6 poor people have considered suicide.