If you grew up poor, what minor/low level thing would have helped you?

[flowersintheatticus]

Obviously the solution is money, which isn't really an option. I'm involved in a very small scale community 'levelling up' project to help dc who are in the lowest socio-economic bracket. What practical/human resource might have helped you? The families already have access to food bank/heating vouchers, so it's more aimed at the children and their development, education and wellbeing. Any suggestions welcome.

A regular nice haircut.

A warm coat and shoes with a decent grip so I could have gone out in snow and ice.

As the previous poster... a warm, waterproof coat, waterproof shoes that fit. I was the kid with cardboard insoles to stop feeling the ground through the holes.

Either glasses (i wore ones that were broken most of the time) or like others said something warm whether that was heating or waterproof coat/shoes

Extra tuition for maths/ English

More support on further education or steps into a career- apprenticeships/ uni - I had no idea or guidance and ended up in a rubbish job and now trying to guide mine from making the same mistakes.

As a teenager fashionable clothes so I would not be laughed at. I also remember at my poorest (not as a child) I took some things to a second hand shop to sell. I was a regular and on that occasion the owner gave me a mars bar from the little sweet counter they had, as well as money for the items. A mars bar was an unreachable, decadent luxury for me at that time and it made such a difference to my day having a nice sweet treat to tuck into. So even though it's not "healthy", sweets or chocolate on an occasional basis.

Day trips to places that aren't accessible by public transport. So either nature based places or kid theme parks.

School uniform (or similar) that was the actual stuff rather than a cheap equivalent with the logo embroidered on my mum. Especially the non-necessary stuff.

Dm was great with making things do, and I never minded them mended/second hand etc. But I did hate it when she triumphantly produced a cheap equivalent that stood out a mile, and lovingly had done her best to try and make look vaguely similar. I never said anything because I knew she was trying.
I don't recall anyone ever saying anything nasty about it, but I felt odd one out.

Education mentoring.

I was encouraged to start full-time work at 16 because college and uni were for the rich. I don't think this was so I could contribute to the household. No-one ever took money from me and I left home at 17. I think my mother genuinely believed that further education was for the rich because it's what she had been taught.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Homework club. It can be difficult to do at home, if home is overcrowded, cold or lacks internet. Have nice snacks like cheese, as an incentive.

Pens and notebooks so I could do my schoolwork. Also yes, fashionable clothing that fit would have been amazing.

What did help me was access to the local library. It was warm, dry, quiet, filled with interesting books and ways to find more books. A real refuge for me as a child. Also had those helpful knowledgeable people, the librarians. What might have helped was hot running water. Even now many years later a hot bath feels like luxury.

Free art supplies and free instrument + music lessons for me personally,

I think all the answers are good and really the key is different children will dream of being able to have or do different things. There isn’t a one thing will help all or most.

Toiletries. Antiperspirant. As much sanpro as I needed (it was rationed in our house). Proper school uniform, as MargaretThursday said. A place to go. I remember so clearly aged 8 or 9, thinking 'the only private place is in my head."

I wish to a dentist had talked to me more about taking care of my teeth at least. There was one woman, my dentist for a year or so, who knew something was up and she kept asking me to write a food diary, and i kept just saying i forgot, because i was embarrassed. I wish she could have known. I wish she'd reported to social services with the info she had

I grew up with single mum on benefits, the parts of poverty I was mostly aware of / ashamed of was :
not enough school uniform
wearing damaged uniform
shoes that were falling apart and hurt my feet
mum Haircuts done badly
no money to go on the bus into town on weekend with friends
not able to go on school trips
shoddy clothes that were embarrassing
I could go on …. 😢

Same as @DrCoconut fashionable clothes to help stop the feeling of being the odd one out. Regrettably as a teenager I used to shoplift small bits from Primark to try fit in with what everyone else was wearing. Still hate the memory of that!

Yes, agree with this.
And like other PP, the library was a calm, warm, peaceful sanctuary when studying for exams. Free drinks there would have been great as I didn’t have money to buy anything in town.

Cultural variation.

tennis/cricket are not as easily accessible as footy and rugby for instance, but the child might excel at them.

museums, some families think they’re ’not for them’ and thus so do their kids

art and theatre

normalise higher and further education, via experience days or talks with lower socio-economic students

financial workshops. Maybe get them to run a small not for profit enterprise to learn money management

Obviously not as basic level of need as many things mentioned above, but access to cultural activities - like theatre trips, art galleries, museum exhibitions, science centres etc. Those activities should not just be for well off children.

After school club for homework and a nice warm snack of some kind. Well not necessarily warm but would be nice when chilly. Hard to get the relevant certificates etc for providing food though but things like biscuits are lovely but totally lacking in nutrition. A cheese toasty while doing homework would be really inviting!

Opportunity and exposure to people from cross sections of society. This could be through involvement with local sports clubs or community projects. Agree with many of the responses here; is there any society/community group/charity that you could connect with for perspectives, ideas and support? They’re often happy to share knowledge and help

I always wanted a space hopper.

I had a lot of hand-me-downs (from older siblings and cousins) and it would have been nice to have a few more things that I had first - eg a toy that none of them had, like that space hopper.

And perhaps some clothes that were new, Or at least new to the family (second hand would have been OK, as long as it came from somewhere else, not the siblings/cousins I could never catch up with)

Help to access free travel to get to extra curricular activities, art or sports clubs that are out of area
Access to art materials or hobby materials.
Help with accessing ‘alien’ cultural spaces like museums and art galleries - trips and visits.
A trusted adult to talk to - someone who could advocate for me and champion my interests and skills.
Tailored mentoring from someone who actually gets it!
Access to free sanitary products
Help with being able to buy a decent bra.
Help with getting a proper winter coat and shoes.