Press Release – Too poor to learn: 43% of young people living in poverty think they will have drop out of education to work

Too poor to learn: 43% of young people living in poverty think they will have drop out of education to work

• 65% of child respondents reported that they felt their dreams and aspirations weren’t possible because of the financial hardship they face.
• With 43% sharing that they think they’ll have to drop out of their education to work.
• 55% of children and young people reported that they are sometimes too hungry to engage in education.
• 60% of parents and carers could not afford school shoes and 59% could not afford school uniforms.

November 21st 2025 – A major new report from Buttle UK, Growing Up in Poverty: Exploring the Education Gap, reveals the deepening education gap for children growing up in poverty has found that 65% of children facing hardship simply do not believe their aspirations are possible. 43% believe that they will have to drop out of education to start work.

Buttle UK surveyed over 1000, parents, carers, children and young people who had all experienced financial hardship and received support from the charity. This new research has exposed the national crisis in which poverty is undermining every aspect of children’s education and wellbeing. Shattering their ability to learn, attend school and thrive.

55% of children and young people reported that they are sometimes too hungry to engage in education and 59% of parents and carers unable to afford school uniforms, it’s no surprise that 73% of children and young people reported that they feel behind with their learning compared to their peers.

The report shows that poverty has a significant and measurable impact on children’s ability to learn and participate in education. Their aspirations suffer, they struggle with stigma, friendships, bullying and more:

• 70% struggle to complete learning tasks at home.
• 62% of parents say hunger and tiredness diminish their child’s capacity to engage in learning.
• Children in financial hardship are missing a day a week of school, with attendance being over 15% (78%) below the national average (93.2%).

Here’s what some children and young people had to say:

“It makes me feel like I won’t succeed in comparison to my peers. There is a lot of fear of going into higher education due to the financial struggles I will face. I don’t want to feel poor forever”

“Sometimes I feel like just giving up because I don’t have anyone who can help me when I’m financially struggling and that due to my circumstances, I don’t deserve it”

One parent said:

“It’s so frustrating seeing my children cry and not willing to go to school because of poverty hardship…[my son] has been mocked, bullied and disgraced in school by friends and staff”

Joseph Howes, Chief Executive of Buttle UK, comments:

“This report offers one of the clearest pictures yet of how deeply poverty is eroding children’s ability to engage in education in the UK. When children are too hungry, too tired, or too anxious to learn, the system is failing them. These findings must serve as a wake-up call, particularly at this time; without ending the two child limit, an ever growing number of children will be defined not by their potential but by their circumstances.”

For all media enquiries, please contact:

tarynr@buttleuk.org
Tel: 07922426277

About the research

The research was conducted by Buttle UK aiming to understand the impacts of poverty on access to education. Recipients of Buttle UK Chances for Children grants – all of whom have experienced financial hardship –were invited to take part in a survey. Over 1,000 responses to the survey were received including:

• 825 responses from parents and carers
• 53 responses from estranged young people aged 16-20
• 138 responses from children and young people aged 11-19.

Key stats

• 65% of child respondents reported that they felt their dreams and aspirations weren’t possible because of the financial hardship they face. With
• 43% sharing that they think they’ll have to drop out of their education to work.
• 55% of children and young people reported that they are sometimes too hungry to engage in education.
• 60% of parents and carers could not afford school shoes and 59% could not afford school uniforms.
• 73% of children and young people reported that they feel behind with their learning compared to their peers.
• 70% struggle to complete learning tasks at home.
• 62% of parents say hunger and tiredness diminish their child’s capacity to engage in learning.
• Children in financial hardship are missing a day a week of school

About Buttle UK

Buttle UK is all about giving children in crisis a fair shot at a better life. They provide grants to families struggling with the cost of living, helping to cover essentials like beds, school uniforms, household appliances, and even books or computers for school. Their Chances for Children grants make a real difference, creating stable homes and brighter futures. Plus, since their running costs are covered separately, every penny raised goes straight to children who need it most!

Download the report Download the press release