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.

I wanted to go somewhere where nobody yelled.
Cultural things - I would have loved to learn an instrument. Live theatre and music.

I'd have loved somewhere to wash and dry my clothes.

Oh, so would I. So much.

yes this. good quality winter coat and shoes.

Free music lessons/sports/hobbies (along with travel/equipment funding). It keeps kids busy, teaches life skills, builds confidence and social connections, gives them a sense of stability and continuity if they don't have that elsewhere.

I was reading an article today about uni students giving music lessons online to supplement their income. What an incredible skill to have at that young age.

I really don't think it works like this

Sanitary protection, rather than having to use folded toilet tissue

And some nice stationery so i could be the same as the other kids at school - I always envied their pencil cases, rubbers, pens, etc etc - I had nothing.

It's funny how the small things can be so important.

Skills such as riding a bike, how to fix the bike. Set up a bike fix and maintain scheme.

Access to school uniform, trainers and shoes. Even if second hand.

Period products.

Art, music and sport opportunities.

There is also lots of value in mentoring, buddying and advice.

Homework help.

I would have loved a nice friend

Big emphasis on education or a decent trade, a world more than the end of your street to get yourself out of that situation. Backing up what @Frequency and @ThisHangryPinkBalonz have written. Plus info on contraception I remember a few girls at my school not finishing exams as they got PG underage.

New school uniform, piano lessons

I wasn't poor growing up but now volunteer as a school governor at a school with a high proportion of disadvantaged students. One thing the school does is make sure they are all fully kitted out with school uniform, bag, coat, shoes, PE kit, stationery and scientific calculator at the beginning of the school year.

Oh, and new birthday/Christmas presents rather than secondhand

That’s easy, a nice, safe adult.

Some one who doesn’t shout or hit.
Someone who saw my worth, not make me feel like I’m in the way, annoying, worthless, stupid and thick.

A nice piece of clothing, something that feels nice.

Food/snacks and access to them without some making me feel greedy or grasping. I was fucking hungry ALL THE TIME.,

Access to sanpro.. One girl in our school had very bad hygiene due to lack of items and was badly bullied... Myself I needed proper uniform. All school pics I have non uniform wanna be stuff on.

Finance education. If I knew how to make what little money I had go further, I would have been in a better position that I am now.

Education mentoring, access to non judgemental dentist and like someone else said -cultural variation. As a child of immigrants we were oblivious to what could be available.Access to free washing & drying.

The Library was my sanctuary and it was a beautiful building. It felt wonderful to be allowed there and the only requirement was to be quiet.

I volunteer with a charity which aims to alleviate the impact of poverty on families. It has so many elements, but I haven’t seen this mentioned - a warm and comfortable bed for each child. It is such a basic and without it, it is really hard to be healthy and function properly.

If your talking older kids teens. Education around finances and future opportunities. I wasn't aware of options people in my area just left school and worked in shops and factories.

A mentor/tutor: a responsible adult who takes interest in my life and education and could have adviced on university and courses
access to cultural experiences

More school uniform items, so that I always had clean clothing for school.
Free access to sanitary protection and other hygiene products, eg anti-perspirant.
Extra tuition, particularly in maths & English.
A pair of warm, comfortable boots for the walk to school in winter. A quality, warm coat or jacket. And a pair of comfortable (but not ugly!) shoes for the rest of the year.
A mentor, I guess. An adult I could trust not to judge me, or laugh at my concerns.

Schools should teach kids how to keep themselves clean, incase their parents don't do it/ teach them to

Someone realising I wasn't lazy but dyslexic and needed strategies not constant berating. I did well at school but teachers thought I'd swung it easily rather than struggled to do homework given the issues.

Not having homework would have helped, I had detentions for whole terms because I struggled with homework added to worked 5 nights a week working 2 jobs, 1 an hours babysitting and another 2 nights a week and all day Saturday as well. I wanted to do normal teen things so earning money meant I never asked for pocket money, wouldn't have got it on a regular basis anyway, and bought my own clothes, cinema tickets, travel costs, lunch etc.

This.

I never knew university was an option for me.