Poor Kids

Nearly 1 million children under the age of 11 face a Christmas without a warm home or fresh food this year – the equivalent to three pupils in every state primary school classroom, according to new research.

A data analysis by Action for Children shows 983,279 – or more than one in 10 – children aged 10 and under are living in materially-deprived, low-income families and are likely to spend the festive season without the basics such as a heated home, fresh food or a warm winter coat.

Action for Children’s chief executive, Julie Bentley, said child poverty levels were the worst the charity could remember, with many parents having to put their children to bed early to keep warm because they can’t afford to heat the house, or rely on foodbanks. “While some families will spend the Christmas holidays putting their children to bed early to keep warm because they can’t afford to heat the house, for others it has become the norm to not have a winter coat, rely on foodbanks, or for their children to miss out on hot meals," she added.

These concerns are fuelled by separate research from the charity, based on analysis of the government's Living Costs and Food Survey, which shows parents below the breadline are able to spend on average just £2 a day per child on food.

With no free school meals available during the Christmas holidays, Action for Children warned that many parents would struggle to afford their children’s lunch, with a typical primary school meal in the UK costing £2.30 a day.

The findings come after research by housing charity Shelter found that 4,026 children in England were set to lose their homes before Christmas day, with 135,000 youngsters currently without a home or living in temporary accommodation this Christmas – a 12-year high.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/children-poverty-christmas-basics-warm-food-a9234646.html