"Wales is a country that suffers in places from pronounced deprivation. Such areas suffer from poor standards in health, low educational attainment, substance misuse, benefit dependency and a dearth of employment prospects. Too many families experience the effects of poverty"  National Assembly for Wales Annual Report on Social Inclusion in Wales (2003).

*32 per cent of children in Wales are being blighted by poverty

Dafydd’s family is just one of them:

Dafydd’s** story illustrates the reality many children living in poverty in Wales face. Dafydd is seven. He lives with his mother and two siblings aged 10 and 11 years old. They live in a private rented house in north Wales. Dafydd suffers from asthma, which is made worse by the damp in the property. Mould grows on the carpets and the clothes - which consequently always need washing. Dafydd is having problems at school. He is often absent from school because of his health problems and suffers from stigmatisation. The kitchen units are rotting due to the conditions and this makes hygiene and cooking difficult. His mother is on income support and has to spend much more of the household income on heating the property than she should due to the disrepair. This has an effect on her ability to feed the family properly and for other essential items.  These poor housing conditions and other financial pressures are causing emotional and mental strain on the family.

* Based on figures from Household Below Average Income Figures (HBAI) for 2007/08.

** Dafydd’s story is based on recent real life case evidence provided by Shelter Cymru.