In a motion asking for support for their campaign from the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) at the weekend, the Social Workers Union and Association of Educational Psychologists stressed the importance of Government action to tackle the long-term impact of the cost-of-living crisis on children and young people.
They drew on previous surveys and data showing how many families were unable to heat their homes last winter, resulting in cold living conditions, which, together with poverty, ‘saps mental capacity to deal with complex tasks’, according to the Association. Also, research showed that people in the UK aren’t eating as healthily as before the crisis, and that children in the poorest households are more likely to experience ‘severe mental health problems’.
General secretary of the Association of Educational Psychologists, Dr Cath Lowther, said, ‘Austerity has stripped away many of the conditions that children and young people need to thrive. Poverty has become entrenched and protective services have been decimated. Current conditions significantly jeopardise a future society of happy, well-educated, productive and successful adults.’
Calum Gallacher, assistant general secretary of the Social Workers Union, underlined that poverty levels which enforce significant disadvantages on future generations are unacceptable. He said, 'We are hearing from frontline social workers that there are increased self-referrals from families, including where there is one working parent, for support to access foodbanks and local authority financial contributions towards electricity.
‘Austerity is a humanitarian crisis robbing communities of humane and equitable treatment, and it is counterproductive to greater efficacy of public spending. Basic human needs should not be capitalised on as commodities, we need government insight and action to tackle profiteering on poverty.
‘Social workers will continue to challenge unjust policies which inhibit peoples’ rights and their access to equality and social justice. We now need adequate Government intervention so as to provide children with equal opportunities to grow, learn and thrive.’
