AROUND a fifth of children in North Cumbria are living in relative poverty, new figures show.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 3,451 children in Carlisle were living in relative poverty in the year ending April 2022.

In Allerdale, the figure stood at 2,890 children and there were also 1,900 children in Copeland – making up for around one in six children in the West Cumbrian district.

Cumbria County Council have said the number of children seeking free school meals within the county has increased by a staggering 4,000 since the beginning of the pandemic.

A county council spokesperson said: “As a local authority, we’ve done all we can with our limited resources and power to help people during and since the pandemic to make ends meet.

“Unfortunately, the number of children receiving free school meals has increased by almost 4,000 since the pandemic – in large part due to the rising cost of living.”

With one in five living in relative poverty in Carlisle, it means that 18.4 per cent of children in the area were in a family whose income was below 60 per cent of average household income and claimed child benefit and at least one other household benefit.

Since 2015, the figures have steadily risen for each of the six districts across Cumbria, with evidence suggesting that the number of those living in relative poverty is on the rise again as a result of soaring energy bills and inflation rates skyrocketing. 

Inflation rates hit 17.5 per cent in the month to March 19, up from 17.1 per cent in February - adding a potential £837 to annual household bills.

Cumberland deputy leader, Lisa Brown, who also set up Carlisle Community Help Group (an organisation that provides affordable food), said ‘food insecurity for families is the biggest crisis that’s facing us after the pandemic’.  

"Whatever you think, it’s not the child’s fault," she said. "We get as many people in work accessing the affordable food hubs as those on benefits.

"We’re seeing an increase in people accessing free food and signing up to support schemes.

"We always knew it was a problem before the pandemic, but it doesn’t seem to be letting go.

"Life might be getting back to normal for some people but for those struggling to feed families, the cost-of-living continues.

"It’s heartbreaking, we’re hearing in some schools with rising food prices, free school meal money isn’t enough to buy a hot meal, so they must have a cold meal.

"Hearing that makes us absolutely determined to do something about this,” she added.

If you'd like to find out more about the affordable foodhubs or buy credits, you can create an account via www.carlislecommunityhelp.co.uk