50,000 South Yorkshire kids 'affected by family's problem debt'
Problem debt is affecting over 50 thousand children across South Yorkshire according to new figures
Over 50,000 children in South Yorkshire are living in families struggling with serious debt, according to new figures.
The Children’s Society say one in six families in our region are struggling with it, having failed to keep up with household bills and repayments.
It's claimed it's having a big impact on children.
Mark Snelson's the manager of Doncaster Foodbank - he says it's causing families here to need their help:
"Debt is one of the reasons why people are using foodbanks. It may not be the primary cause - sometimes the primary cause is a benefit delay. It can be days, weeks - it can be months. And while that individual or family is without benefits, many are forced into borrowing money and getting into debt.
"Many of the people we see have anxiety and stress. Many are suffering from mental health issues. We are able to signpost people to agencies that can help them with the debt issues they face.
"It is worrying - i think what people sometimes don't understand is how easy it is to be in a situation of debt. Low incomes families that are hit by a crisis such as redundancy or something seemingly as small or unexpected as a bill."
Doncaster Foodbank says it's handed over 1,000 food parcels to children already this year - Mark says debt can have a huge impact on them:
"It can affect their ability to concentrate at school - it can affect their parents. It causes friction in households, stress, mental health issues."
The Children's Society are now calling for changes to how creditors treat families.
Rob Jackson - from the society - says it's a big issue:
"For children debt means they might be bullied at school because they might have old school uniform or they can't go on trips that other kids can. They might feel guilty because they can't do anything to help their parents and they can see how stressed their getting.
"This can impact the wellbeing and the mental health of children themselves which is a real issue today - and we know that can then extend into adulthood.
"We've heard from many children that they've been put in a scenario where actually they're the ones opening the front door and there's a bailiff or two that's demanding they let them in a take things from their house."
It's as Hallam's Cash For Kids has this week launched our Mission Christmas appeal to help disadvantaged children - you can find out how to get involved here.