Barnardos Calls On Government To Set Up Hardship Fund For Children Living In Poverty

Thursday, 2 June 2022 09:17

By Caoimhe Harney

Over a third of families have had to cut back on clothes, a survey found.

There are calls for the government to set up a hardship fund for struggling parents, as nearly two-thirds of families are going without food, heat or electricity.

A survey by children's charity Barnardos shows more than a quarter of parents surveyed have either cut back or turned off the heat completely, while almost a quarter have gone without electricity.

One in six have cut back or missed medical appointments or medicines, due to rising costs.

Inflation is pushing families into real deprivation, with almost two-thirds having to go without food and other essentials to make ends meet, children’s charity Barnardos has found.

Its survey found 70% of parents said cost-of-living increases had negatively affected their children over the past six months, while one in eight parents (12%) reported a "significantly negative" impact.

Almost two-thirds of parents (63%) said children had to go without essentials such as food, clothing, and heating, over the past six months due to soaring prices.

Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly says the government must help those most at risk:

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