No mobile means poverty, say children

from The Guardian

Lucy Ward, social affairs correspondent

Almost half of children in some parts of Britain think that not having a mobile phone means a child is poor, according to a poll commissioned by Dare to Care, a new volunteering campaign aimed at tackling child poverty. Not being able to afford to go on a school trip is the next most telling indicator of poverty for 44% of children across Britain, and a similar proportion think that not having the correct school uniform makes you poor.

The survey, based on interviews with more than 700 children aged from seven to 16, suggests they are acutely conscious of everyday indications that they or their peers do not have enough money. They are also generally more aware of obvious signs of wealth such as a new uniform and school trips, or owning a mobile, than of the more hidden trappings of poverty, such as going to school without breakfast and not having a safe place to play nearby - both cited by just under a quarter of respondents.

Hilary Fisher of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, a coalition of 90 organisations which sponsored the research with the volunteering charity CSV, said it seemed the visible indicators of poverty were the ones children were most sensitive about. "Not being able to afford school trips or the correct uniform leads to uncomfortable questions from their peers and in some cases can lead to bullying."

The poll follows research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation indicating that missing out on trips and after-school activities can hold back poorer children despite a government focus on improving their education.