South West families with young children struggle to access basic support services
UNICEF UK has released a report
A new poll has revealed almost 180,000 parents with young children in the South West are struggling financially or with their mental health, as almost a third struggle to get professional support.
The report released by UNICEF UK, which includes new polling from YouGov, reveals that 1 in 3 parents - over 1 million families - across Britain are struggling to get any professional support, with over a third (37%) struggling to get help when their child is unwell.
Across the South West, over half (57%) of parents who responded to the survey say they are struggling with their mental health and 67% have been negatively affected by the rising cost of living.
A smaller percentage (8%) of parents with young children living in the South West have even admitted to skipping meals to pay for childcare, as they're forced to make impossible decisions due to cost-of-living increases; while 4 in 10 have cut back on their electricity and gas usage.
The findings highlight how gaps in the availability of basic support services like health visiting, mental health support, affordable early education and childcare means families across the country are missing out.
Parents in the South West with young children cite a lack of support as a key factor in their struggle, with almost a third struggling to see a health care professional when their child is unwell, as services are stretched to breaking point following the pandemic despite the heroic efforts of overstretched staff.
Claire O'Meara is the Head of UK Policy and Advocacy at UNICEF UK, and says access to services is patchy - and in some cases, it's simply not there:
"We're talking about basic services: health visiting, mental health support, affordable childcare and early education, and that should be there for everyone but it's not. And that's not fair and there's lots of families and their children who are missing out."
The charity warns that the first years of a child’s life are critical, and the lack of basic support is putting children’s immediate and long-term wellbeing and development at risk, as Claire O'Meara explains:
"This is the time you build your skills for making friends, for forming long and loving relationships when you're older. It can determine how long your life is, how healthy your life is, even how much money you earn as you go forward. So this has to be a time where the services are there to support parents, to support their children."
Calling for revamp on young children services
The children’s charity UNICEF UK is calling for a re-think in baby and toddler services and improved support for them and their families.
UNICEF UK have launched its 'Early Moments Matter' campaign with a petition calling on the UK Government to introduce a 'National Baby and Toddler Guarantee'.
It would involve setting out the basic services that every young child in the UK is entitled to – whoever or wherever they are.
UNICEF UK's Chief Executive, Jon Sparkes OBE, said:
“Where you’re going in life shouldn’t be determined by where you live and the support and services your parents and carers are able to access in that location when you are a young child.
“Up and down the country, we’re hearing how the rise in the cost of living, expensive childcare, a lack of mental health support and a scarcity of basic, local support services, are affecting children’s life chances and pushing families to breaking point. We need to act now to support families and protect children’s futures.
“Every child has the right to a happy, healthy childhood. We know that the experiences in the first few years of a child’s life will shape their life chances – how long and healthy their life will be, whether they will make friends and develop relationships, even how much money they will earn.
“While measures have been announced to tackle GP waiting times and support for energy bills, targeted support for families and children must be at the heart of the UK Government’s response.
“We have a community of capable, passionate professionals and a nation of dedicated parents and carers – they need the right support to ensure the nation’s youngest citizens can flourish.
More information on the petition can be accessed here.