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File on 4: Cost of Living Forcing Children into Care

Cost of Living Forcing Children into Care

BBC Radio 4 - File on 4, Cost of Living Forcing Children into Care

An investigation finds the cost of living crisis will force more children into care.

Reporter Paul Connolly investigates how families across the UK are facing the prospect of losing their children to the care system because they can't afford to look after them.

The cost of living crisis is placing huge pressure on families across the country, many of whom were already living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet. 
Now social services say the pressure on parents is causing a significant increase in family breakdowns and the number of children being taken into care.
Reporter Paul Connolly speaks to parents who fear the cost of living crisis could see them lose their children and investigates whether enough is being done to prevent families breaking down. 
File on 4 hears from social workers on the frontline who say more and more children are falling into extreme poverty and face a daily battle to help their parents keep them safe. 
The programme uncovers new data which reveals the increasing pressure the cost of living crisis is placing on children's social care and asks what the future holds for a service already struggling to meet demand.

Reporter: Paul Connolly
Producer: Ben Robinson
Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford 
Editor: Carl Johnston

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