A fifth of South West parents struggling to feed children

Families are struggling to keep the power on and the fridge stocked

Author: Lauren WattPublished 11th Sep 2024
Last updated 11th Sep 2024

Almost one in five parents in the South West have struggled to provide enough food for their children over the last 12 months.

That's according to research from children's charity Barnardo's who work to change childhoods and lives, so that children, young people, and families are safe, happy, healthy, and hopeful.

The survey also highlighted that 22% of parents in South West England with children 18 and under struggle to afford enough food for their children - with almost half of those surveyed (49%) saying they've attempted to reduce food costs.

Barnardo’s estimates there could be around 3.4 million children whose parents have struggled to provide sufficient food for them over the past 12 months.

In a further bid to make ends meet, 29% of the parents surveyed said they had reduced their spending on electricity, water and gas, while 19% said they'd taken on loans and used credit cards or relied on family and friends to help with paying their bills.

The charity's survey also revealed that use of food banks had risen by a third, from 6% to 8% across the country.

Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry said:

"Millions of parents up and down the country are struggling to feed their children – with even more families struggling now than two years ago. The cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, with families facing a desperate struggle to keep the power on and the fridge stocked this winter.

“Last month, we welcomed the government’s announcement of a Child Poverty Taskforce and stand ready to work with ministers to find lasting solutions. But families can’t wait any longer for support. We urge the government to use next month’s Autumn Budget to take bold steps – including a commitment to end the unfair two-child limit on benefits.

“Around nine children in every classroom across the UK could be about to spend the winter feeling cold, hungry and left out. That cannot be right. Children deserve immediate and long-term solutions to give them the best chance in life.”

More than one in four children in the UK are growing up in poverty. For a child, that can mean getting by without being able to put the lights or heating on, having hot meals or being able to contact your friends. It means worrying about where your next meal will come from and what the future holds.

In a statement, the Government spokesperson told us:

“No child should be growing up hungry – that’s why our ministerial taskforce is kickstarting work to develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty and give children the best start in life.

“We have extended the Household Support Fund to protect the most vulnerable this winter and we will roll out free breakfast clubs in all primary schools, while delivering on our plan to tackle inequality and make work pay.”

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