Why we need to rethink our approach to child poverty

“Poverty is not just a statistic. It is a child going to bed cold. It is a student falling asleep in class because they had to work after school. It is a teenager giving up on their education because survival is more urgent than ambition.” 

These are the words of Bigun, a student at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, who joined his classmates in Parliament recently to share their views on child poverty launching a report published by The Children’s Society in partnership with Oasis. 

As Bigun argues, child poverty is far from just a number. And perhaps the reason many of us talk about it in terms of statistics is because the reality—the sheer gravity and overwhelming tragedy of it—is too painful to fully absorb. 

Today, 4.5 million children in the UK are living in poverty. Of these, one million have experienced destitution, or what’s called “deep poverty”—meaning they have been unable to meet their most basic physical needs, such as staying warm, dry, clean, and fed. The scale of this crisis is staggering. It is also unacceptable. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve worked in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK and beyond to build stronger, more resilient communities that create inclusion and eliminate poverty. 

Through this work, we’ve learned a vital lesson: the most effective way to tackle child poverty—and to build a future where every young person can thrive—is through holistic, integrated, wrap-around support that cares for the whole person.  

Human beings are multifaceted which means we have lots of different needs. These needs include good housing, effective education, robust healthcare, healthy food, and much more. Without these basic building blocks working together, none of us can truly flourish. 

The challenge we face is that current systems—government and social services alike—are too siloed. While their work is essential, the lack of integration means too many young people slip through the cracks. A child might receive educational support at school, but if they return to an unsafe home, don’t have enough to eat, or lack proper medical care, then that support alone will never be enough. 

As Jacqueline, another Oasis student, shares in line with the report: “How can we expect children to thrive when they are too hungry to focus in class? Too exhausted from looking after siblings to complete their homework? Too anxious about money to dream of a better future?” 

At Oasis, we are taking action. Through our NO ONE LEFT OUT campaign, we are pioneering three exemplar Youth Hubs—innovative centres of support for young people at risk of exclusion, destitution, and exploitation. These hubs bring together local partners—from charities and the NHS to schools, faith groups and community organisations—to create an interconnected web of care.  

Our vision is to provide young people with everything from alternative educational pathways and after-school clubs to filmmaking, farming, and family support. Grounded in their local communities, these hubs are designed to help children thrive not only academically, but also socially and emotionally—based on their interests, needs, and potential. 

As Nial, another Oasis student, articulates: “Education does not end when the bell rings. If we are to break this cycle, we must invest in communities as much as we invest in classrooms.” 

Currently, Oasis runs 23 community hubs across the country, offering integrated support for children and families. These new Youth Hubs build on that foundation but focus specifically on young people—responding directly to Labour’s manifesto pledge to establish a network of Youth Hubs across the UK. 

But while youth hubs are becoming a government priority, we are not waiting for funding to become available. We’re building these pilots now. To learn more, please visit: https://oasisnolo.org/priorities/supporting-young-lives/  

Children are an investment, not a cost. But with child poverty rates as high as they are, it’s clear that our current systems don’t yet reflect that truth. We must shift from crisis response to prevention—from short-term fixes to long-term solutions. We need to care for the early stages of childhood before problems become entrenched. 

As Oasis founder Steve Chalke writes in his latest book, A Manifesto for Hope: “You can judge the wisdom of any society by the investment it makes in its children.” 

It’s time for us to live up to that wisdom. To see children not just as pupils, but as whole people. To invest in children, not just education in school time. To build a world where there is no one left out.