Quarter of mums and dads struggling to feed their kids

A quarter of parents in Great Britain with kids under the age of 18 have struggled to afford enough food for their children over the past 12 months, according to a new report.

Research by Bernardo’s showed the proportion of mums and dads finding it hard to make ends meet was up 5% on October 2022.

Bernardo’s estimates this means there are likely 3.4 million kids – that’s three times the population of Birmingham – who haven't had enough food in the past year.

The report also found 8% of the 2,000 parents surveyed had been forced to turn to a food bank in the past 12 months, up from 6% in October 2022.

How the cost-of-living crisis is affecting kids, families and young people

People working for Bernardo’s have harrowing tales to tell of the hardship children, families and young people across the country are currently facing.

One worker told of a young person who had spent time in care and went for two weeks without electricity or gas last winter. She hadn’t been able to shower, had hardly eaten and was in a state of deep despair.

Bernardo’s topped up her fuel meter and gave her an energy-efficient electric blanket to keep warm.

More than one in four children in the UK lives in poverty. Sonia has two young boys. She said:

“I’ve had to rely on food banks, especially towards the end of the month when money is running low, the food bank is all I have.

“The kids go to their dad’s house on the weekends towards the end of the month because I’m just not able to afford to feed them.

“That can feel embarrassing for me, but it’s the truth.”

Call for an end to the two-child cap on benefits

Lynn Perry, Bernardo's chief executive, is calling for the government to use next month’s autumn budget to end the two-child limit on benefits.

She said:

“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.”