Our Lives exhibition: British children living in poverty - in pictures

"This area is bad. There are too many bullies here and it's dangerous after dark," says Nicola, 14, who lives with sisters Christine, 13, Stacey, 16, and Michelle, 20, in a three-bedroom house on a social housing estate. The children have big aspirations. But the odds are stacked against them. Money is so tight they have no table or chairs. They have to choose between doing their homework on the bed or on the floor. Photograph: Liz Hingley/Save the Children

One in four children in Scotland lives in poverty. This can mean parents having to choose between a hot meal and a warm home, or between a winter coat and a decent pair of shoes. The children in Our Lives are part of a bigger picture of poverty across the UK. The government has promised to end child poverty by 2020, but the number of children living below the breadline is set to rise. For every story you see here, there are thousands of other children facing the same challenges. Photograph: Simon Roberts/Save the Children

"Lots of places have shut down and lots of buildings are falling apart," says Samantha, mother to Chloe, nine, and Tia, six. The family, with dad Scott, live in a small council house in Wales with a hole in the roof. The rain came in three years ago and the council never repaired it. The house has an old boiler that eats up money. Most days they can't afford to put it on so they sit in coats and watch their breath linger in the air. Samantha has depression and is unable to work. Scott was working but is now a full-time carer for their youngest daughter Tia, who is on the autistic spectrum and needs constant supervision. Photograph: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Save the Children

"Right now my little son Gabriel needs shoes and my older son Mekhye needs tops and stuff like that for school. I can’t get them as I have no money," says mum Shoulana. Shoulana and her sons Mekhye, eight, and Gabriel, two, live in a two-bedroom social housing flat in one of the most affluent areas in London, one of the world’s richest cities. Alongside wealth and power there are children who don't have enough to eat, or whose parents skip meals to pay the bills. Mekhye is severely disabled and sleeps in a single bedroom, while Gabriel shares the double room with his mum. Photograph: Carol Allen Storey/Save the Children

"I don't get any presents for my birthday because it's just after Christmas and it's expensive," says Stacey, 16. Photograph: Liz Hingley/Save the Children

"I'd like to live in an area with a community, where I feel safe. Lots of bad things happen around here, especially on the main road," says Amal. Saamia, Ahlamm, Mahmoud, and Nasri live with their mum Amal and dad Nijab in a tiny council flat in Birmingham. There's only one bedroom, which the four kids share with their mum, while dad sleeps on the sofa. They do everything in the living room - play, eat, relax. There's no space for a table so they eat together on the floor. Nijab works part-time as a team leader. The family would love a bigger place where they can feel safe and with space for the children to play. Photograph: Liz Hingley/Save the Children

"Day trips, going on holiday – we can’t afford to do that. We save up the Tesco vouchers but it takes all year," says Samantha, mum to Chloe, nine, and Tia, six. Photograph: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Save the Children

In London, 38% of children live in poverty; this is the highest rate of child poverty in the UK. Photograph: Simon Roberts/Save the Children

"I wish I had a big, big double bed. I don't mind sharing a bed with Michelle, but I don't want to share with anyone else. Michelle is comfortable and my bed is uncomfortable," says Christine, 13, who lives with sisters Nicola, 14, Stacey, 16, and Michelle, 20, in a three-bedroom house on a housing estate. Photograph: Liz Hingley/Save the Children

"Aaron has had to use the same jacket for the past three years now. I keep saying to him stop growing," says him mum Tracey. Aaron, nine, lives with his mum in a one-bedroom council flat. Tracey has been unemployed for five years and is desperate to find work. Living in this kind of poverty, Aaron often misses out on things other children take for granted, such as school trips and hobbies. He shares the only bedroom with his mum, so even inviting a friend round for a sleepover is out of the question. Photograph: Laura Pannack/Save the Children

"We only have one bedroom. The two girls share a bed and our little boy has a cot. Nasri, our three-month-old, should be out of the sleeping basket now but we don't have space for him anywhere else," says dad Nijab. Saamia, Ahlamm, Mahmoud and Nasri live with their mum Amal and dad Nijab in a council flat in Birmingham. Photograph: Liz Hingley/Save the Children

"Living on a low income will impact on my children's future goals and aspirations. Things like play schemes, ballet lessons and drama clubs all cost a lot of money now but they didn't used to." Shoulana, mum to Mekhye, eight, and Gabriel, two. The Our Lives exhibition is at House of St Barnabas, London, until 30 October. Admission is free. Photograph: Carol Allen Storey/Save the Children