About Child of the North

Children in the North are more likely to live in poverty than the rest of England, and increasingly so as living costs rise – of which children in the North are amongst the least protected. Many families already have insufficient or insecure income to meet their needs and are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to cope with rising prices. 

Poverty is the lead driver of inequalities between children in the North and the rest of England. Rising living costs will lead to immediate and lifelong harms for children: worsening physical and mental health outcomes; undermining children’s learning, social wellbeing and education; and risking lower lifelong health and productivity. 

In January 2022, the Child of the North report was produced by the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) and N8 Research Partnership (N8), written by over 40 leading academics from across the North of England. The report painted a stark picture of inequality for children growing up in the North of England post-pandemic compared to those in the rest of the country. This was followed up by an All Parliamentary Party Group (APPG) Cost of Living report a year later in January 2023. 

You can read about our key findings and recommendations from the reports. 

Find out more about our APPG and the work they carry out to support children in the North of England.