West Cumbria Opportunities & Challenges 2025 14 15 Children and Young People in West Cumbria 19,800 children aged 0-19 live in Allerdale and 14,100 live in Copeland.3 Population projections for Cumberland suggest that by 2028 the number of 0–15-year-olds may decrease by -3,400 persons (-7.2% versus England -1.6%) and that the number of people aged 65+ may increase by 10,500 persons to 26.6% (England 20.7%).4 This reduction in the numbers of young people has a range of longer terms consequences for economic, social and community life in West Cumbria. These include for example emerging skills gaps for local businesses, potential closures of schools and a loss of vibrancy and energy. There are 10,395 families in Allerdale and 7,160 families in Copeland with 52.3% and 52.5% respectively being families that have two or more children.5 From 2011 to 2021 the percentage of lone-parent households increased slightly in Allerdale from 9.3% in 2011 to 9.7% in 2021 while in Copeland lone-parent households increased from 9.4% to 10.2% during the same period.6 Although West Cumbria is a great place to grow up for many children and young people, for those who grow up in poverty life can be harder, giving rise to many worrying statistics regarding their young lives. % Children ages 0-19 in relative low-income families 0.00% - 10.86% 10.87% - 15.31% 15.32% - 20.34% 20.34% - 27.11% 27.12% - 100.00% CHILD POVERTY There are 7,081 children West Cumbria aged under 19 living in relative low-income families before housing costs.7 While these figures are similar to UK averages (21.8%) the percentage of children is higher than in 2019. Now 22.5% of children in Allerdale and 20.1% of children in Copeland aged under 19 live in relative lowincome families before housing costs compared to 18.2% and 16.9% respectively in 2019. The map above illustrates the number of children aged 0-19 in relative low-income families in 2024.8 In recent years, the measurement of child poverty has been updated to provide a more accurate representation of the situation on an annual basis. Since the 2019 West Cumbria Opportunities and Challenges report was published, several factors have contributed to the significant rise in the number of children living in poverty. These include the introduction of the two-child benefit cap (affecting both child tax credits and universal credit), the national cost-of-living crisis, and the national fuel and energy crisis. Percentage 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Allerdale Carlisle Copeland Barrow Eden South Lakeland 4% 6% 22% 14% 9% 4% 4% 19% 9% 11% 2% 1% 26% 10% 8% 5% 6% 21% 8% 9% 3% 4% 20% 9% 6% 5% 4% 18% 8% District 3 Cumbria Intelligence Observatory: 2022 (citing Office for National Statistics Mid-2020 data). 4 “There is a lower proportion of residents aged 0-15 in Cumberland (Allerdale, Copeland and Carlisle) compared to England and Wales and a higher proportion of residents aged 65+”: Cumbria Intelligence Observatory: 2024 (citing Office for National Statistics 2020 data). 5 Cumbria Intelligence Observatory: 2022 (citing HMRC August 2021 data). 6 How life has changed in Allerdale: Census 2021, Office for National Statistics. https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000026/ and How life has changed in Copeland: Census 2021, Office for National Statistics https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000029/ 7 Children Aged 0-19 in Relative Low-Income Families - DWP 2024 - Local Insights report https://localinsight.org/ 8 Local Insight, 2025. 9 https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics#content 10 Family Wellbeing Data Analysis Summary: Cumberland Council, 2024. 11 https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/671/4674/17217/17219/4315312342.pdf 12 https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/671/4674/17217/17219/4315312342.pdf 13 Family Wellbeing Data Analysis Summary: Cumberland Council, 2024. FREE SCHOOL MEALS Across Cumberland in 2023/24, 21.2% of pupils (8,457 pupils) were eligible for free school meals. This represents just over a 3% increase since the previous year when the cost-ofliving crisis was at its most intense. Overall, the 2023/24 statistic is almost double that of 2018/2019 when 11.2% of children were eligible.9 Copeland has the highest proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (23.6%). In some areas of Allerdale including Moorclose and Moss Bay there is 53.5% eligibility.10 CHILDREN IN CARE AND CHILDREN AT RISK Both Allerdale and Copeland have higher rates of children who are looked after than national rates. Using figures from 2021/2022, Allerdale has a 94.2 rating and Copeland has a 104.3 rating of looked after children per 10,000 of the population compared to a national rate of 67.11 Similarly Allerdale and Copeland have higher numbers of children subject to child protection plans when compared with Cumbria as a whole and nationally with Allerdale standing at 60.4 per 10,000 of the population; Copeland at 68.5; Cumbria at 53.8; and nationally 41.12 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS The health and development of children was negatively affected by school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. Early development, psycho-social and language development are all cited as being negatively affected, and many of the public services that could help young children manage the negative impact of the pandemic have been dismantled. Challenges within the home environment, including not being dry at night or spending too much time on personal devices at home are manifesting in negative behaviours within the school environment notably anxiety and anger.13 Yet despite these challenges, school performance at both primary and secondary levels is commendable. According to Cumberland Council there are 93 primary, infant and junior schools in West Cumbria14 of which 96% have achieved an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding. Of the 13 secondary schools identified by Cumberland Council, 92% have achieved either Good or Outstanding classifications. There are also two special schools in West Cumbria: Branthwaite Academy (formerly Cumbria Academy for Autism) and Mayfield School which gained an Outstanding Ofsted result in 2023. Child appearing anxious Child appearing stressed/angry Family mental health problem affecting child Family physical health problem affecting child Displaying worrying behaviour Data from 1,692 responses between 01/06/22-30/09/22 12%
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