The Salvation Army has published a report which warns that a new generation of children risks becoming socially excluded and even homeless unless urgent action is taken to tackle poor and abusive parenting.

The report is based on in-depth interviews with nearly 450 people currently receiving help in its homeless centres across the UK.

The report found that a very high proportion of homeless people surveyed had a disruptive childhood, and suffered abuse and problematic relationships with their family and friends both now and in the past.

The report can be downloaded from the Salvation Army website.