Jersey's children's commissioner has sounded the alarm over child poverty on the island, stating that a quarter of children living in low-income households is "a huge red flag for any society".
Dr Carmel Corrigan, the children's commissioner, said that according to a report by the Jersey Community Trust, a quarter of households in Jersey are low-income, which she said translates directly into poverty.
"One of our principal concerns would be around the experience of child poverty in Jersey," Dr Corrigan said. "People are very uncomfortable with that term, and they talk about low income and low-income households – which in real terms translates into poverty.
"We know that a quarter of all children in the last household survey were living in households on low income and that should be a very, very big red flag for any society. We know for children, that affects things like access to education, the quality of their housing, their diet, food, their access to leisure – it affects a whole wide range of their rights."
The cost of living has emerged as a key election issue, with islanders expressing deep concern. According to Policy Centre Jersey, the cost of living is at least 10% higher than in the UK, with house prices slightly higher than London and groceries 14% more expensive.
Residents shared their struggles. Rose Le Motte, who has two children and a third on the way, said her family relies on her partner's single income. "We are on one single wage, so it just gets harder every year," she said. "We're finding that the wage is just not increasing like it says it is, so money is actually becoming less valuable. If it wasn't for Olio, scrimping and saving, and making everything from scratch, we would have double the costs."
Kim Neeson, another parent, highlighted childcare costs: "Nursery fees are almost the same as a mortgage, so you've got double mortgages when you're trying to be in full-time employment and also raising a child. It's too much for families, especially if you want more than one child. Even putting kids into private school is cheaper than putting kids into nursery."
Some islanders are considering leaving. Toby Cahill Le Brocq, 19, who works in a village store, said he loves Jersey but feels the future is bleak. "The cost of housing is way too much, the cost of food is way too much. For my future, I'm scared I won't be able to live here and will have to move away. It's home, but with the way things are going, it's not looking like a promising future living on the island."
Debbie Krupski, 49, echoed the sentiment. "It's getting more expensive to be here. I think I'm very invested in being in Jersey, but the conditions out there make me reflect on that. I'm one of the people who, in time, will need to leave unless I get some kind of miracle."
Carl Walker, head of Jersey's consumer council, urged the next government to explore solutions, such as reducing fuel duty and reviewing freight charges. "There are levers within the amount of duty on fuel that the government could look at to ease the pain. Any new government should immediately look at the contract with DFDS in terms of imposing a standard freight charge and get an independent analysis of its impact."