Families in Essex worried about the cost of summer holidays
New research has found 43% of parents are concerned about falling into financial difficulty over the summer holidays
A foodbank in Chelmsford is preparing for a busy few month, as more families worry about the cost of the Summer holidays.
New research by the Salvation Army has found over 40% of parents are concerned about falling into financial difficulty, while their children are out of school.
Data revealed around 13% of parents think they will 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’ cited the cost of school uniforms.
Around 3 in 10 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.
Ruth Leverett is the project manager at Chelmsford Foodbank.
She said: “Families who are on low incomes, their children will be entitled to free school meals during term time, meaning there's one less meal a day for the parent to worry about providing. So, once you get into the summer holidays, they're not going to be receiving the free school meals. That can be an issue.
“The other thing that families struggle with is the cost of uniforms. As the children grow out of whatever they've worn this year, they will need new stuff for the next year. There are more affordable options, but it just pushes some families over the edge.
“Obviously it's also the whole thing of having your children around for six weeks, wanting to do things with them and very often that does cost money. Those are the kind of reasons why I think families do find the summer tricky.”
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Coke of The Salvation Army said: “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.”