Help me out - poverty
Living in poverty means not having enough money to buy the basic things you need. It happens to lots of people for lots of different reasons, and can be stressful – but it’s not something to hide or be ashamed of.
What is poverty?
Most people know what it feels like to want something you can’t really afford.
But poverty is when a person or family struggle to have enough money to provide the things they need – like a safe and comfortable place to live, enough food to eat, or clothes which are warm and dry.
Sometimes people experience poverty for a short while, while others can go through it for longer, or even their whole lives.
Poverty is a problem for lots of families in the UK, but it also affects people all over the world.
Why do people experience poverty?
There can be lots of reasons why a family doesn’t have enough money to get by.
An adult may have lost their job, or find it difficult to find work; they maybe have a job which doesn't have regular hours or pay very much money, or they may have debt (when they owe money to another person or a company).
Sometimes circumstances can change quickly (for instance, if a person gets ill or someone has died) which mean that it’s not easy to buy all the things a family needs.
Even smaller things, like a washing machine breaking down and needing to be repaired, can make it difficult to afford other things as well.
How can it affect you?
When people are living in poverty, they may have to go without certain things which other people take for granted.
If it happens to you, you might not –
Have enough to eat, which makes it hard to have energy to play or concentrate at school
Have a safe or comfortable place to sleep, making you feel tired during the day
Be able to wash yourself or your clothes every day
Be able to afford to take part in activities, making you feel isolated from your friends
Experiencing poverty can be difficult for anyone, and you can go through a number of different emotions.
You might feel –
Stressed or worried (particularly if the adults in your family are also stressed, or argue about money)
Upset - it’s unfair that other people have things that you don’t
Embarrassed or concerned that other people will judge you
Frustrated that you can’t do anything about the situation
Guilty that you want things (even though it’s normal to want stuff)
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You might also be concerned because your parents or guardians might be anxious or depressed. This can affect how you feel too.
It’s OK to have negative feelings about living in poverty, but don’t keep them bottled up inside if you’re feeling down.
What can you do if you are experiencing poverty?
How much money your family does or doesn’t have isn’t something you can control, but there are things you can do to help deal with the situation.
If you are worried or upset, talk about your feelings with someone you trust
Surround yourself with friends who will respect you whatever your situation, and try to ignore anyone who uses poverty as an excuse to criticise or pick on you
Remember that you are not to blame for the situation, and you are not the cause of stress or arguments
If extra responsibilities like helping out at home are affecting your school work, let a teacher know so they can provide extra support
Lots of people will experience poverty and still go on to have happy and successful lives, so the situation you are in now doesn’t have to determine what will happen in the future.
There are also community organisations which can provide support (like food and clothing) to families who need it.
Poverty affects lots of families all over the world
If someone you know is experiencing poverty
There are lots of ways you can support someone if they are experiencing poverty.
One of the most important things you can do is not to judge them, criticise them or make them feel embarrassed. Just being a friend (like you would to anyone else) can be a big help.
When planning activities, try to do things which everyone can join in with (things which don’t cost lots of money), like playing in the park or dancing.
And if somebody doesn’t have the latest cool gadget or clothes, don’t make a big deal about it – be friends with someone because of who they are on the inside, not what they have.
If you are worried about a friend who might be experiencing poverty, talk to a trusted adult.
For more information about organisations which offer advice and support, check out the Advice Helplines page.