#1 Blog – Breaking Barriers
For my first blog, I would like to address my thoughts around the following article published this week in The Guardian – see the below link.
I thought this a very insightful article that highlights the persistent inequality in the UK, despite falling unemployment rates. While some politicians promote workforce participation as the solution to poverty, the unchanged Gini coefficient (a statistical measure of income, wealth, or consumption inequality within a population) reveals that income disparities remain entrenched. The experiences of children born into low-income families underscore the systemic barriers they face, impacting their future opportunities. If governments, regardless of the colour of their badge, had a long-term accountable strategy investing in equitable support systems, I am confident it would have ensured a more inclusive society.
This reflection prompts me to scream:
Why does it have to be this way?!
As a leader of a charity with two decades of experience working to support families in the community, and before that working in an Islington mainstream school as a tutor to Year 10 and 11 students—at the same time delivering 60% of their education to prevent permanent exclusion—it still upsets and frustrates me that there are still organisations whose values, and some of the individuals they employ, believe there is no poverty. Some see it as a chosen lifestyle or a matter of misplaced priorities, from spending limited income on life’s necessities to luxuries like Sky TV or personal consumption that has no positive impact on the family. As Oasis said, Cigarettes and Alcohol. These stories and evidence, amplified by the media and word of mouth, lead to a minority mindset becoming the majority view, embedding both conscious and unconscious bias.
However, in reality, this is just not the case. What is poverty? It is so very subjective. I know there are academics with PhDs who can quote and reference reams of text to define it for other academic bodies to box, label, and strategies about prevention (Gini coefficient 🫣). But in reality, does this ever help? Yes, I’m sure there is plenty of evidence on how this has helped people move out of poverty. However, when I look at the children, young people, and their families that I work with in my day job, or through the three schools where I’ve volunteered my time as a governor (two over 15 years), the gap between basic needs—food security, clean clothes, a place to call home, and a sense of belonging—has never been wider.
Yes, many of these families are working, often multiple jobs, just to maintain these basic necessities, which remain a stretching goal. We can then understand that their biggest “crime” is that millions of children miss the chance to harness their talents and thrive in an environment where opportunities might be visible, but are not accessible due to ignorance (not their fault) or barriers (lack of money).
I’ve mentioned numerous times in LinkedIn posts stretching back years how schools have been amazing at helping with all their might. Despite continually inspiring their children, their real-time resources devalue—much like the same loaf of bread trying to meet ever-increasing needs for decades—they have done their best. However, let me explain how poverty is now impacting these children’s opportunities to thrive. The growing inequality is creating a tiered system where vulnerable families are increasingly socially excluded from opportunities that wealthier families can afford.
If we examine CHEXS data from the families we have supported, we can categorise needs into four tiers:
Tier 1:
Families struggling to clothe, feed, and have a home, never mind the millions trying to maintain a warm home—if they have one.
Tier 2:
Families unable to cover the costs of enrolling their children in extended learning opportunities, such as music and drama lessons, sports clubs, and extra tutoring to catch up on age-related learning in subjects like maths and English, as well as dance, gymnastics, athletics, and more.
Tier 3:
Families unable to pay for private assessments for an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). Families that can afford private assessments can reduce wait times from over 70 weeks to about 20 weeks.
Tier 4:
Families unable to facilitate their child’s move into further education, preventing them from continuing their learning journey and potentially denying them the opportunity to develop and thrive.
So, please, let’s stop saying there is no poverty.
Yes, social mobility is possible—I am a living example of that, and I’m not being a hypocrite, as my own children have the opportunities to seize the things that will help them thrive. This could be the case for so many more millions of families if only we accepted that poverty is real.
Let’s commit to ensuring that everyone with the drive, values, and energy to contribute to this amazing country has the opportunity to thrive.
I know I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve seen firsthand how things can be done differently.
Thank you to anyone who made it to the end! See you next month for blog #2.👍
Many thanks
Pete Maiden – CEO CHEXS
