Almost third of working parents in Cornwall planning extra hours to cover cost of Christmas
A survey by Action for Children has found almost 75% are worried about money this year
Last updated 29th Nov 2021
As the country battles with what is reportedly the highest rate of inflation in almost 10 years, new research by Action for Children has revealed soaring energy bills and rising prices are the top financial concerns among working parents in the South West this Christmas.
Figures show nearly a third (32%) across Cornwall and the region said they plan to take on extra work or avoid time off over the festive period to cover the cost of Christmas and of these, over nine in 10 (92%) say they are likely to miss out on at least one key family moment like waking up on Christmas morning, unwrapping presents on Christmas Day or attending a school nativity play.
To launch its annual Secret Santa campaign to help the country’s most vulnerable children, Action for Children worked with Opinium on a survey of 2,500 working parents and 1,000 children (aged 8-17) across the UK to explore the financial burden facing families in the run-up to Christmas.
The survey found the top five money worries among working parents in the South West this Christmas were the rise in energy bills (78%), rising prices (74%), the price of food (69%), car fuel costs (64%) and affording warm winter clothing for their family (48%).
What did the survey reveal?
The poll of working parents in the South West found around three quarters are worried about soaring energy bills and prices in shops, with nearly a third planning to take on extra work or avoid time off to pay for Christmas.
Over a quarter (27%) of working parents in the South West said they are likely to gift their children everyday basics, such as school books, school shoes or a school coat for their main Christmas present this year.
The poll also found almost half (45%) plan to cut back on celebrations and parties, over a third (34%) will and save on presents for their partner and around three in ten (31%) will spend less on Christmas food and travelling to visit friends and family (29%).
This Christmas looks especially challenging for working parents on Universal Credit across the UK following the £20-a-week cut in October. Of these parents, nearly two in five (38%) are likely to cut back on heating, almost a third (30%) are likely to skip meals, nearly a quarter (24%) are likely to replace some meals with breakfast cereal or cut back on hot meals to save on energy costs (23%), and one in five (20%) said they will likely need to seek help from a foodbank over the break
With last year’s Christmas seen by many as having been "cancelled" due to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the poll also found more than a third (37%) of South West parents said they feel under more pressure to give their children a happy Christmas this year.
When asked about their parents’ biggest fears this Christmas, most children (63%) thought their mums and dads would be worried about making Christmas a happy time for their family, over half (53%) said they would be concerned about keeping their family safe and healthy from Covid-19 and a similar figure (49%) said they would be anxious about making sure everyone has presents and that they were able to afford everything they need to celebrate Christmas (47%).
Director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, Imran Hussain, said: "For most of us the festive season is a happy time but there are children all over the UK who face a very different Christmas. After almost two years of worry, isolation and poverty, many families are now at breaking point, struggling to afford the basics like food, heating and clothes.
"Our frontline workers see the impact the pandemic and cost of living crisis is having on children and families who are under pressure every day, but we also see the difference that can be made – that’s why we’re asking people to donate to help us make a life-changing difference to vulnerable children this Christmas and beyond.
"With your help this Christmas we can be a vital lifeline for even more UK children. We can make sure they have the basics, like hot meals and proper winter clothes and offer emergency support to keep homes warm and help families pay the bills".
Michelle's Story
Michelle, a mum of three based in the South West, is planning a cut-back Christmas this year following a difficult 18 months struggling to make ends meet.
Balancing the family finances became all the more difficult after Michelle’s husband Adam was made redundant from his supermarket manager role a few months into the pandemic last year. Michelle is unable to work as she has to care for her three daughters who have additional needs.
Michelle said: "Living on Universal Credit is tough. For the first year ever, Adam and I are not buying each other anything for a Christmas present – it’s depressing for us, but we wanted to make sure we’re making it as special as possible for the girls.
"They’ll not be getting the big presents they had previously but we’re trying to get them smaller ones this year".
Michelle has been careful to keep costs down this Christmas, shopping around for bargains, cooking meals from scratch and making sure all the bills are paid as soon as their Universal Credit payments come in.
She added: "But it’s the rising energy bills, fuel and food prices that mean it’s becoming more and more difficult to stretch what’s left every month.
"Action for Children have been amazing though – they’re helping organise some small Salvation Army presents for the girls, and a Christmas hamper delivery again this year – these little things mean so much to us".
Operational director at Action for Children in the South West, Rob Wyatt, said: "Day in, day out we're seeing families struggling to make ends meet like Michelle’s.
"Parents are worried about Christmas but more concerned about how they’re going to provide for their children with rising costs. They feel they’re letting their children down and sometimes it’s more about making sure their child has what they need, but then they themselves go without.
"Parents are embarrassed and too proud about asking for help when they’re struggling but they know this is the only way they’ll manage through these difficult times".
You can read more about the Secret Santa campaign and how to support it on the Action for Children website.