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1. Source: DWPs revised Household Income Survey 2005/6 (latest gures), based on 60% of median income
after housing costs where housing costs include rents, mortgage interest, buildings insurance and water
charges. This is a measure of relative poverty used by most researchers, the EU and the UK government
2. Source: End Child Poverty, www.endchildpoverty.org.uk
People dont choose to be poor
In the UK, people are trapped in poverty by low pay, caring
responsibilities, their gender, nationality, or because of
where they live.
Seventy per cent of children from the Bangladeshi
community in the UK grow up in poverty thats not a
choice.1 Nor do women working part-time choose to earn
nearly forty per cent less than men.2 Asylum-seekers do not
choose to be the poorest people in the UK.3
Oxfam is working to change attitudes in the UK.
Poverty isnt the fault of the individual. And, whatever
their background or circumstances, every individual has
a right to be treated with dignity and respect.
Home truths
Mrs Mushaka and her four children Mrs Mushaka is now an active
came to the UK after they were member of the Oxfam-funded
forced to ee from their homeland. Asylum Positive Images Network.
In the UK, harsh restrictions and It supports asylum-seekers and
racist attitudes added to her familys refugees in Scotland to share their
vulnerability. Asylum-seekers are not experiences with their communities,
allowed to work its the law. Her the media, and policy-makers.
family has to survive on very little, Attitudes towards asylum are now
and sometimes has been made to more positive in Scotland than they
feel uncomfortable and resented. are in many other parts of the UK.
People dont always understand that Pictured right: two young
asylum is protection for civilians who asylum-seekers use video to
Photo: Gareth Harper/media co-op
events, said Ondred Suha (pictured left) migrant workers to know their rights
and Josef (who asked for his name is the rst step making sure they
to be changed) explained the problem: are treated fairly.
Whatever it takes
How comfortable are you with what weve shown you?
Weve only scratched the surface. But, we hope weve told
you enough to make you think differently about daily life
for many in the UK where one person in ve doesnt
have enough money to live on.
Oxfam exists to bring an end to poverty around the world.
In the UK, no one need live in poverty. Were a rich country.
Attitudes and laws can be changed.
Were doing whatever it takes to end poverty in the UK
and you can help us. Tell friends, family, work colleagues that
one person in ve lives in poverty and its time this
shocking statistic is changed. And whenever you hear
anyone stigmatise people who are on low incomes,
please put them right.
For more information, visit our website. There you can
download our myth-busting factsheet, view our video
produced by young asylum-seekers, and nd out what else
you can do to help Oxfam tackle poverty in the UK.
www.oxfam.org.uk/uk
Looking forward
Photo: Chris Worrall/Oxfam