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The 365,000 children living in destitution across the UK

As thousands of families struggle to afford food, clothes, heating and other essentials – leaving 365,000 children living in destitution – action is demanded over benefit sanctions. Pete Henshaw reports

An estimated 365,000 children were in destitution at some point in 2017 – living without the bare essentials that we need to eat, stay warm and keep clean.

Destitution is described as lacking key essentials such as shelter, food, heating, lighting, clothing or basic toiletries.

The estimate has been made in a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), which reveals that 1.5 million people (including the 365,000 children) were living in destitution at some point in 2017.

This equates to the combined population of Liverpool and Birmingham.

One of the effects of this destitution is children arriving at school hungry, the report warns. The cost of school uniforms is also cited as a key problem.

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