Concern cost of feeding children leaving North Yorkshire parents dreading summer holidays
Over seventy percent of families supported by charity Cash for Kids will go into debt over the school holidays
Struggling parents are 'dreading' the long school summer holiday because of the extra pressure it puts on their finances according to new research.
Charity Cash For Kids has been speaking to some of the families their fundraising supports to determine the impact of the summer holidays on vulnerable families.
The survey revealed the cost of extra meals over the holidays affects family finances, mental health and relationships.
84% of families surveyed skipping meals
Responses to Cash For Kids' survey uncovered a picture of spiralling debt, high use of food banks and community food groups and an increase in anxiety, depression and feelings of guilt amongst parents who feel as if they’re failing their children.
- 84% of the families they support are skipping meals once a week and almost a third are going without meals on a daily basis
- 80% are using a food bank or similar community food scheme in order to put food on the table
- Almost three-quarters expect to go into debt over the school holidays
- Around half can only afford to buy fresh fruit and vegetables once every two weeks
Cash for Kids Day, taking place this Thursday 2nd May, will be raising funds specifically to tackle the problem of holiday hunger.
With the cost-of-living crisis still impacting the UK’s most vulnerable families, the charity says that 72% of parents they spoke to expect to go into debt to cope with the added financial pressure of the summer holidays.
Colette Miller is from Forest Moor school in Harrogate who says the money they get from Cash for Kids means they can give out food vouchers. "How can you sleep on an empty stomach? It’s like how can you sleep when the house is freezing cold? It’s really, really difficult. Sometimes we see kids come in, have their breakfast and then have a nap so we are meeting two basic needs because actually they’ve now got a full belly, they can have a little nap and then they are in a better position to learn.”
“Think about it when we have to skip lunch for whatever reason, and the mood we go in towards the end of the day, it’s not conducive to learning or working.”
She says the money also means they can put together hygiene packs: “We have quite a few of our pupils where hygiene is becoming less important in the family home. Because if you have to make the decision between feeding a family and buying hygiene products people are feeding their family which is completely understandable.”
“I’m putting the packs together at the moment and I had a member of staff come in to me and say I’ve just seen all your toothbrushes and toothpaste. One of my kids said to me yesterday he hadn’t brushed his teeth in over a year and the pain that kids experience when they are not taking care of their teeth.”
Sally Aitchison MBE, Managing Director of Cash For Kids said: "What we have heard loud and clear from the results of this survey is just how hard families are still finding it to fund the basics and how much they are dreading the approaching summer holidays.
"What should be six weeks of fun, family bonding and a chance to for children to regroup before the start of a school year, is in fact an anxiety filled time of worry for many parents and children alike.
"We’re so grateful to everyone that is supporting Cash for Kids Day this year - their generosity gives us the chance to make a huge difference to the children we help."
Cash for Kids Day is coming on Thursday 2nd May 2nd to support schemes and organisations that are tackling holiday hunger. Find out more at hitsradio.co.uk/cfkday.