Dr. Eunan O’Neill, the director of public health for Cornwall, has published a shocking report warning of the levels of child poverty in the area. He calls it “a crisis we can’t wait to ignore.” His comments come on the heels of some pretty scary stats. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 22.9% of children are in poverty, higher than the average for England of 21.9%. This is urgent, especially since the problem is felt in “every domain of a child’s life,” as Dr. O’Neill explains.
In his report, called the 2025 Director of Public Health Annual Report, Dr. O’Neill shines a light on a troubling reality. He uncovers that there are over 27,000 babies, children and young people up to the age of 19 currently living in “relative poverty” in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Their leadership has been embodied in the urgent call issued by public health officials to address this growing epidemic.
Hilary Frank is the Cornwall Council cabinet member for children, families and schools. She half-jokingly but bravely kicked off by calling the reality of child poverty today an “uncomfortable truth.” She highlighted the importance of unified action to address this developing threat which affects so many families across the area.
Young people affected by poverty have spoken from the heart. They coined the phrase “a hard place to grow up” to describe what it is like to grow up in those environments. Despite the challenges, they noted that experiencing poverty “definitely makes you a better person… experiencing the harsh reality of life.” This feeling is representative of the grit that flunders of young people show when overcoming great odds to succeed.
Dr. O’Neill argues that child poverty does not have to be a fate we accept. He stated, “Poverty is not inevitable. It is shaped by policy, systems and choices and it can be changed.” This claim highlights the need for preventative action which is very much possible to be taken in order to combat poverty in Cornwall.
Public health officials are coming together in an extraordinary effort to respond to this crisis. First, federal lawmakers, state officials, and local civil leaders need to realize just how urgent the crisis in their communities. The ongoing work from local authorities and organizations will be vital in developing effective strategies to support vulnerable children and families.
