Children in Sefton are at risk of going back to school 'poorly nourished' as families struggle to cope during the holidays, according to a council report released this week.
The report also details how the cost of living crisis is affecting people very differently depending on where in the borough they live.
While Sefton as a whole is the least deprived of the Merseyside boroughs, in Linacre ward in the Bootle area, people are living in one of the most deprived wards in the country.
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A world away in Formby sits the borough’s least deprived ward, Harington, which is also among one of the wealthiest in the UK.
Residents in Harington live on average 10 years longer than people in Bootle. 10 times less children are in receipt of free school meals, the percentage of people claiming benefits is in single figures and crime is significantly below the Sefton average.
In contrast, 35% of people living in Linacre ward are claiming benefits, crime is well above the borough average and nearly four in 10 children are in receipt of free school meals.
For those living in Linacre ward and other deprived areas of south Sefton, the cost of living crisis threatens to exacerbate conditions that have already been challenging for some time.
According to a report produced ahead of a meeting of Sefton Council ’s cabinet next week, the situation for many has already been dire for years. This summer holidays, amidst already soaring price rises, some children in Sefton are likely to not have had enough to eat.
The report states that Sefton schools are expecting to see some “poorly nourished” children back in September after a six week break where many families will struggled to cover even the most basic of necessities.
Heaped on top of these existing challenges, the effect of the looming additional price and energy rises have the potential to bring a devastating impact for thousands of residents that “cannot be underestimated.” The report adds that those already struggling are likely to be “disproportionately affected”.
The report paints a devastating picture of the crisis to come, stating: “Thousands of local people face a tough winter and for some this will mean that they will need to choose between eating and heating, with many going without food so that their children or other members of their family can eat.”
For those making the decision between eating and heating, the report adds, the challenges of keeping warm are likely to be compounded by lack of access to funds to buy additional warm clothing and blankets.
In response to the crisis, the report makes several recommendations for Sefton Council, including preparing a fact sheet of support available and a new ‘cost of living’ council web page to help struggling families access advice and information.
Discretionary payments in addition to the energy rebate scheme are also proposed, which will include payments to households not previously eligible for central government support.
A child poverty strategy is also being developed, which will be presented to cabinet in October while the council vows to continue lobbying the government for further interventions.
Commenting on the release of the report, which will be discussed at a meeting of Sefton Council next week, communities and housing cabinet member Cllr Trish Hardy said: “With their gas and electricity bills set to rocket and inflation rising to the highest rate in 40 years, households and business across Sefton will be wondering just how they are going to get through the coming winter and beyond.
“While Sefton Council has no magic solutions and like councils across the UK is hit by the same rises in costs to run its operations and services, it is vital we recognise people’s plight and work with our partners to provide what support and advice we can.”
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