Economic diversityEconomic diversity

ActivityActivity

• Compare your lifestyle with the Compare your lifestyle with the lifestyle of the Beckhams. What lifestyle of the Beckhams. What differences might there be and why?differences might there be and why?

Socio-economic factorsSocio-economic factors• The amount of income you have can The amount of income you have can

affect many aspects of your social affect many aspects of your social life and your health e.g.life and your health e.g.

Housing and area you live inHousing and area you live inSchool / educationSchool / educationDietDietHolidays and hobbiesHolidays and hobbiesMedical treatmentMedical treatmentSupport such as childcare, care for Support such as childcare, care for

elderlyelderly

PovertyPoverty• There are two ways of looking at There are two ways of looking at

poverty: ‘Absolute poverty’ and poverty: ‘Absolute poverty’ and ‘Relative Poverty’‘Relative Poverty’

• Absolute poverty is not having Absolute poverty is not having enough money to meet basic needs enough money to meet basic needs such as food, water, sheltersuch as food, water, shelter

• Relative poverty is used to describe Relative poverty is used to describe people who are poor in relation to people who are poor in relation to others e.g. those living on less than others e.g. those living on less than 50% of the median income50% of the median income

Absolute PovertyAbsolute Poverty

• A quarter of children around the world live A quarter of children around the world live in absolute poverty. Poor children are in absolute poverty. Poor children are more likely to die early or suffer from more likely to die early or suffer from disease, hunger and malnutrition. disease, hunger and malnutrition.

• They have less chance of living in They have less chance of living in adequate housing and getting access to adequate housing and getting access to basic services like healthcare and basic services like healthcare and education, and they're more likely to suffer education, and they're more likely to suffer from social discrimination and exclusion. from social discrimination and exclusion.

• (www.savethechildren.uk)(www.savethechildren.uk)

Relative PovertyRelative Poverty

There is no official definition of There is no official definition of poverty, but the two that are often poverty, but the two that are often used are:used are:

1.1.Claiming the benefit of income Claiming the benefit of income support usually because of support usually because of unemployment.unemployment.

2.2.Having an income of less than 50% Having an income of less than 50% of the national average income after of the national average income after housing costs are methousing costs are met..

Key FactsKey Facts• The proportion of children living in poverty has The proportion of children living in poverty has

doubleddoubled in the past generation. in the past generation. • The UK has The UK has proportionally moreproportionally more poor children poor children

than most rich countries. than most rich countries. • In 1999,In 1999, the Prime Minister committed to the Prime Minister committed to

ending child povertyending child poverty by 2020. by 2020. • In 2005, In 2005, 3.4 million3.4 million children were living in poverty. children were living in poverty. • 700,000 children700,000 children have been lifted out of poverty have been lifted out of poverty

between 1998 and 2005. between 1998 and 2005. • This is a This is a reduction of 17%reduction of 17%. The . The target was 25%.target was 25%.

Source http://www.jrf.org.uk/child-poverty/Source http://www.jrf.org.uk/child-poverty/

Affects of PovertyAffects of Poverty Our health is affected by our circumstances. Well-Our health is affected by our circumstances. Well-

being, a sense of control over your life, and being, a sense of control over your life, and optimism about the future is good for health. optimism about the future is good for health.

• Low income can make it hard to afford to keep Low income can make it hard to afford to keep your house warm or protect yourself and your your house warm or protect yourself and your family from fire and accidents in the home, such as family from fire and accidents in the home, such as buying smoke alarms or replacing faulty wiring.buying smoke alarms or replacing faulty wiring.

• Low income, deprivation and social exclusion all Low income, deprivation and social exclusion all influence smoking levels. It’s harder to stop influence smoking levels. It’s harder to stop smoking when you’re worrying about making ends smoking when you’re worrying about making ends meet. meet.

• If the nearest supermarket is miles away or the If the nearest supermarket is miles away or the bus doesn’t go there it can be difficult to buy food bus doesn’t go there it can be difficult to buy food that is cheap and healthy.that is cheap and healthy.

• If the street outside your home is busy with traffic If the street outside your home is busy with traffic or there are drug dealers in the park it is safer to or there are drug dealers in the park it is safer to keep the children in front of the television than to keep the children in front of the television than to let them play outsidelet them play outside..

Cycle of DisadvantageCycle of Disadvantage

Children can be disadvantaged whatever their ethnic background, Children can be disadvantaged whatever their ethnic background, religion, language, social class or gender; but for those who are religion, language, social class or gender; but for those who are members of social or cultural groups which are marginalised by members of social or cultural groups which are marginalised by society it is harder to break out of this cycle (Green, 2002 p64).society it is harder to break out of this cycle (Green, 2002 p64).

Health problems

Low educational achievementLimited employmentopportunities

Poor housing and low economic status

NutritionNutritionEating habits that are developed in childhood are Eating habits that are developed in childhood are

likely to be continued in adult life. There are likely to be continued in adult life. There are various conditions which may occur in childhood various conditions which may occur in childhood that are directly related to poor or unbalanced that are directly related to poor or unbalanced nutrition:nutrition:

• Failure to thriveFailure to thrive• Dental problems or tooth decayDental problems or tooth decay• ObesityObesity• Malnutrition such as anaemia which is due to Malnutrition such as anaemia which is due to

insufficient intake of iron etc.insufficient intake of iron etc.• Increased susceptibility to infectionsIncreased susceptibility to infections..

ActivityActivity

• Think about your placement and Think about your placement and consider how much poverty might consider how much poverty might affect the children you care for.affect the children you care for.

• What problems might the setting What problems might the setting have if it is in an area where families have if it is in an area where families live in or near the poverty line?live in or near the poverty line?

• How might you overcome this?How might you overcome this?