NEARLY a third of children are growing up in poverty-stricken families in some parts of mid-Essex, according to figures released this month.
The data from the End Child Poverty campaign, shows in the worst-hit areas the proportion of youngsters living below the poverty line, calculated as 60 per cent of the average income after housing costs, is as high as 29.12 per cent in the Marconi ward in Chelmsford, 29.26 per cent in Bocking South, and 27.61 per cent in East Maldon.
For some of those working on the frontline to provide emergency help to families unable to feed their babies and children, the figures come as no surprise.
Sue Bell, founder of Chelmsford-based charity Kids Inspire, which was able to purchase gifts for 250 children in poverty in the city last year thanks to their annual Christmas Appeal, said: "We have children who complain about being hungry, a lot of families who find it really, really hard to feed them.
"We provide a holistic service and so you become aware of things like children who have got no clothes or bed linen, we had one child, a 14-year-old girl, who had never, ever purchased her own bra.
"It impacts on their learning because if they're hungry, or cold, or thirsty it in turn affects their self-esteem, and their capacity to engage in activities."
Indeed in a report entitled 'Child Poverty in Essex', published in May this year, it was found that for the 49,020 children growing up in a low income household, there is a direct correlation with poor early vocabulary skills, lower achievements at school, and ultimately lower future earnings, as well as health issues such as stress and diabetes.
Yet, as highlighted in the Essex County Council-commissioned report, a paid job no longer guarantees an escape from poverty, with more than half of those children – 61 per cent – having parents in employment.
Cllr Dick Madden, cabinet member for children and families, told the Chronicle: "When you talk about low wages it's all about education of the parents, or guardians, of the children. If you can improve their skills and move them onto a more qualified role then the impact of that is felt on their children.
"Poverty costs emotionally, physically and financially, and while working for a low income may underpin it, there are also other areas that are engaged including health, education and isolation."
The growing levels of deprivation in some areas have been felt keenly by those volunteering at one of the many food banks across the county, with Chelmsford Foodbank operating four distribution centres across the city and predicting to supply food parcels to 1,000 children in 12 months, by the end of 2014, an increase of almost a third compared with 2013.
Volunteer Clive Pickett said: "I would say almost a third of everyone that comes in has a family, in most cases there are problems with benefits, family break-ups, or a low income.
"They open up and talk to us because we're not judgemental, they often tell us the story of why they are in the plight they're in. Food banks have become part of the social benefit structure."
Another recurring theme among those parents struggling to make ends meet is debt, with one in five households on an income of less than £13,500 per year, spending more than 30 per cent of their weekly income on repaying debts.
It's a situation that has left Chelmsford Citizen's Advice Bureau forced to establish a dedicated money advice team.
"The amount of debt appointments we have experienced in the last 12 months has increased," said operations manager Elaine Maguire.
"We have just gone through a recession where people have lost jobs, so people have had a change in circumstances, and even if they have managed to get a new one it might not be as good a salary, or they might have had a relationship break down and go into depression, and poverty just leads to more debt.
"We provide full debt advice and try to get finances into a state where they can see the way out."
Following the publication of a national Child Poverty Strategy in March this year, many regional authorities have sought to follow suit with more localised plans, which was what prompted Essex County Council to commission its own report. As a result it has now recommended the development of a Child Poverty Charter for the county, due to be presented at full council by December this year, and expected to include measures to help match people's skills more closely with the needs of local businesses.
Plans are already underway in some parts of mid-Essex to combat the wider social changes responsible for an increase in deprivation, with Maldon District Council moving forward on its proposals to regenerate the coastal tourist economy in the Dengie Peninsula, the 'Dengie Gateway Project', to mitigate the loss of a further 1,000 jobs at Bradwell power station by 2015.
The community of Southminster, where the loss of the major employer is most sorely felt, has 24.72 per cent of its children living in poverty according to the new data – one of the worst records across the district.
Rev Dr Jon Morgan, minister of the United Reformed Church in Southminster and Burnham, which runs a food bank in both towns, said: "We're beginning to work with the Parish Council and the District Council with their plans," he said.
"We want to see how we can be a partner because we are much aware that the character of Southminster has changed since the loss of labour for Bradwell station. There is a complete generation of people who feel quite trapped in the Dengie Peninsula because there isn't any industry left."
And in the Braintree district, where 29.26 per cent of children are living in poverty in the Bocking South ward, members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee have ordered a review into poverty, the perceptions of it, and what can be done to combat it, with residents being asked to fill out a survey available on the council's website, and the full report expected by May next year.
"It seemed to be the kind of subject that a caring council would seek to look at, and enquire into. The idea is that there may be something out of the findings that the council is able to do to ease the problems," said committee chairman Cllr Dr Robert Evans.
Yet Jude Deakin, Essex County Councillor and City Councillor for the Marconi ward in Chelmsford – which has the worst levels of child poverty in the city – feels that effective change cannot only come from local measures.
The Liberal Democrat councillor said: "I'm not entirely sure that as a local councillor I'm able to do very much about it at all, I think we have to look to national government.
"I know my party fought very hard to get the extra levels of £10,000 income before tax brought in and that needs to increase so that the young people and families that are out working but on a very low wage have an opportunity to have a bit more money to spend."
