A recent report states that the UK’s social fabric has been significantly impacted by Covid lockdowns and that the most disadvantaged individuals have not seen any improvement since the financial crash.
According to a report by the conservative think tank, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), the nation is at risk of regressing into the societal divisions of the Victorian era. This is evidenced by a growing disparity between the majority and the most impoverished members of society.
According to the center, approximately 13.4 million individuals experience challenges in their daily lives due to issues such as unstable family dynamics, low income, inadequate housing, ongoing health problems, and crime.
The report from the Social Justice Commission of the CSJ, titled “Two Nations: the State of Poverty in the UK,” contends that the most marginalized individuals in Britain have not seen any improvement in their circumstances over the past 15 years. Additionally, it highlights the detrimental impact of pandemic lockdowns on the country’s social structure, particularly for those who are the most disadvantaged. The gap between the “haves” and “have nots” has been significantly widened as a result.
According to the report, there was a significant increase in calls to a domestic abuse helpline, a rise of 700%, during the period of lockdown. Additionally, the prevalence of mental illness in young people also increased from one in nine to one in six. There was also a noticeable jump in severe absence from school, which rose by 134%. Furthermore, 1.2 million more people began receiving working-age benefits and there was an 86% increase in people seeking help for addictions. The report also noted that prisoners were confined to their cells for 22.5 hours a day during this time.
The divide between those who are able to manage and those who are trapped at the bottom is increasing.
60% of individuals report that their community has a favorable quality of life, but this percentage decreases to less than 40% among those living in the most disadvantaged areas.
Two decades ago, only one out of every nine children were diagnosed with a mental health issue that was clinically identifiable. Today, that number has increased to one out of every five, and for those between the ages of 17-19, it is almost one out of every four.
According to the report, if current patterns persist, it is estimated that by 2030, approximately 2.3 million children between the ages of five and 15 may have a mental disorder, which would equate to more than one in four children in this age group.
According to Andy Cook, the CEO of the Centre for Social Justice, the contents of this report are unsettling to read.
The implementation of the lockdown policy exacerbated the existing challenges faced by disadvantaged individuals, and there has been no proposed solution that adequately addresses the magnitude of these issues.
This report highlights the importance of not just talking about redistributing finances, but also developing a plan to address the underlying factors of poverty such as education, employment, debt, addiction, and family dynamics.
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The study consists of a survey of 6,000 individuals carried out by JL Partners, with 3,000 selected from the general population and 3,000 from the lowest income group.
The commission also received input from over 350 small charities, social enterprises, and policy experts. Additionally, they traveled to three different regions in the UK, as well as more than 20 towns and cities.
According to the CSJ, individuals facing the most challenges are twice as concerned as the majority about the state of their housing and communities being destroyed by addiction.
The report stated that while crime rates have decreased, there is still a significant amount of violent crime. Additionally, only 6% of families are responsible for half of all convictions. The number of pending cases in crown courts is also increasing, leading to a lack of confidence in the justice system and empowering criminals.
“Out of all the victims, only 8% feel certain that they would be able to obtain justice if they report a crime. Additionally, only 17% of those who are most disadvantaged and rent in social housing rate their quality of life at a minimum of eight out of 10, while 52% of property owners do.”
Source: theguardian.com
