Financial worries as school summer holidays start

For many parents, the school holidays are an exciting time when thoughts turn to summer trips and activity camps for their children. But for others, the six weeks off school is a worrying time.

Two new sets of research have found two-fifths of parents are worried about the cost - both during the six week break and preparing to go back to school - while a foodbank charity says it's expecting demand to be at least as high as last summer.

Research by the Salvation Army, along with YouGov, shows that 43% of parents are worried that the cost of the summer holidays and/or preparing their children to go back to school after the summer holiday will put them into financial difficulty.

13% of parents reported being very worried they would not be able to afford essentials like food and utility bills.

Of those parents who were worried, when asked about their financial concern:

• half of all ‘worried respondents’ (50%) cited the cost of school uniforms,

• 3 in 10 (29%) of the same group said they are worried they won’t be able to afford food because they rely on free school meals during term time.

Unsurprisingly, those on the lowest incomes (less than £14,999 pa*) were most worried about falling into financial difficulty over the summer - but working parents are also struggling to make ends meet:

A quarter of all ‘worried parents’ in work (25%) were concerned about the cost of food over summer,

Almost 1 in 5 (19%) ‘worried parents’ in work were concerned about taking unpaid leave.

**we don’t want children to just survive summer holidays... we want them to thrive**

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Coke of The Salvation Army said: “Every year, Salvation Army officers see the strain that the summer holiday has on families as essential support like school dinners are suspended, and they also face school uniform bills for the new term.

“Despite statutory guidance for schools on affordable school uniforms, year on year we are seeing greater demand for our uniform banks with parents telling us that even ‘affordable’ uniforms are not an option if you have no money.

“The new government has the chance to rethink how public services and the welfare system can level the playing field for families marginalised by poverty; and invest in the services that will give families and children a chance to live life to the full. We’re calling on them to use the first budget to put families first so that they can get the help they need.

“However, we don’t want children to just survive summer holidays with three square meals and uniform that fits for the new term; we want them to thrive, play, explore and relax. Children being able to enjoy the summer should not be a luxury which is why The Salvation Army runs summer camps, play groups, drop-ins, and other summer activities. Children get to spread their wings and struggling parents get a little but much needed break too.”

Parents were also asked what would ease the strain during the school holidays:

46% said food vouchers or extra cash payments to help replace free school meals

55% want school uniforms to be more affordable

53% want more affordable childcare

46% want to make sure benefits cover the cost of living

Stats from the Trussell Trust

According to separate research, in the past, one in 12 children (8%) have had to miss meals due to financial pressures - a problem alleviated during term time by access to free school meals.

The summer holidays can also see children become less active and more isolated during school holidays with almost half (42%) of families saying their children will miss out on clubs and activities during the holidays because of the cost.

Last summer, Trussell Trust food banks supported 430,000 people with emergency food - 160,000 of whom were children, and the charity expects to see similar demand, or even higher, this summer.

To support children and families over the summer holidays, Tesco, which conducted the research, has launched new initiatives to support children facing hunger this summer.

As part of its Stronger Starts programme, the supermarket is donating £1 million to FareShare and the Trussell Trust, who work with thousands of charities, community groups and food banks across the country to keep children healthy and active. This is in addition to the supermarkets store-based grants programme, Stronger Starts, which aims to help schools and children's groups in local communities across the UK.

Pre-packed food donation bags that cost between £2 and £3 will be available in every large Tesco store and its Kids Eat Free scheme will run in its cafes over the summer. Customers will also be able to round up their shopping bill at the checkout.

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