Leading charities and children's experts have urged Andy Burnham to “step up” and help families struggling with the school holidays, as parents battle another summer plagued by the cost-of-living crisis.
The new Prime Minister's first days in power saw a rapid-fire list of cost-of-living announcements, including a £2 bus cap, a 20% business rates cut for pubs and a VAT cut to electricity bills from October. But experts warn extra holiday support is urgently needed for families, who are being forced to go without essentials like food and basic toiletries as extra summer costs hit their pockets.
Children's Commissioner calls it a 'disgrace'
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said it is a “disgrace” that more than four million kids are living in poverty across the UK. Dame Rachel, who is currently travelling the country speaking to youngsters, told The Mirror: “It is a disgrace that so many children continue to live in dire poverty – without a warm, safe home, suitable clothing, enough fresh food.
“I met a boy who had to curl up at night because his family couldn’t afford a big enough bed. I’ve spoken to children who are too ashamed to have friends over because of mould; another told me a rat bit her face. A girl said she was terrified to walk home from school at dusk because of poor street lighting. Poverty undermines every part of a child’s life – from education to health to their future opportunities.”
Dame Rachel is calling for free bus travel for school-age children - something that is currently in place for under 15s but just for the month of August - and for automatic enrolment for free school meals to ensure no eligible child misses out.
Families 'dread' the holidays
A mum-of-three, who works 32.5 hours a week as a teaching assistant, told The Mirror the summer holidays are a time so many parents “dread” because of the extra financial pressures. The single mum, who did not want to be named and is from Lancashire, said she relies on Universal Credit as her low wage of £1,400 is not enough to cover her rent, bills, childcare costs and other expenses.
She said: “I don't even just see it with just myself. I see it with the parents, the children I work with. They struggle. They dread the holidays because of the cost of extra things.” She said her money worries “massively” impact her mental health, adding: “I get low because of it. I wish I could give my kids a better life, so we weren’t literally living hand to mouth like we do.”
Charities demand benefit cap reform
Ahead of this autumn’s Budget, the Prime Minister faces calls from leading charities to lift the benefit cap and look at reforming Universal Credit to help those most in need. The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of financial support working-age households can receive from most state benefits.
Critics - such as Barnardo's - say the cap “limits the support available to some of the families who are struggling the most”. Other experts, including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, are demanding reform of Universal Credit with the introduction of an independent process to ensure all families can afford the essentials.
There were also calls for eligibility to be expanded for holiday support, such as existing programmes like the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme, which provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families.
Barnardo's chief executive Lynn Perry told the Mirror: "When schools close, many families face the loss of free school meals, additional childcare costs, the challenge of keeping children active during the long break and it can be the hardest time of the year."
She welcomed the Government having scrapped the two-child benefit limit, but added: “There is much more to do and we need to bring down the numbers living in poverty overall – including lifting the benefit cap which limits the support available to some of the families who are struggling the most. The Government should also set out plans to tackle holiday hunger, including extending eligibility for holiday food and activity support.”
Ruth Talbot, founder of Single Parent Rights, criticised that the benefit cap is the same for a single parent with children as it is for a couple, at £1,835 per month. She said: “Almost 60% of single parents (58%) who are benefit capped have a child aged 0-4, yet we know how hard it is to work with small children.
“The idea that a single mother with a baby is expected to earn the same as a couple combined to avoid being benefit capped is as cruel as it is self-defeating.” She added: “The government needs to step up and help families, especially single parents who are juggling life on one income.”
Peter Matejic, chief analyst at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "Families with children are more likely to be going without essentials like food, adequate clothing and basic toiletries compared to other families on low incomes. During term time, schools might be able to plug some of those gaps. We need to reform Universal Credit and introduce an independent process to ensure all families can afford the essentials, including in the school holidays."
Kate Anstey, head of education policy at the Child Poverty Action Group, said: “The PM has said tackling the cost of living is a priority. That has to mean more support for children in low-income families because their well-being and their life chances are on the line.”
More than two million children benefit from free school meals during term time, which means extra pressure on family shopping lists over the holidays. Plus, parents who need their children looked after while they’re at work are expected to fork out an average of £1,145 per child to cover the six-week summer childcare this year, CORAM Family and Childcare Trust analysis showed last month.
Government defends record
Responding, a Government spokesperson said: “We’re determined to turn the tide on poverty after years of rising hardship. Our recent statistics show that effort is beginning to make a difference - household incomes have risen 5% in real terms, food bank usage has fallen, and food insecurity is down.
“Our Child Poverty Strategy will lift 550,000 children out of poverty in 2030 – the biggest expected reduction in a single parliament. We’ve also cut VAT on electricity to give families breathing space, increased the National Minimum Wage and are delivering the first ever sustained above-inflation increase to Universal Credit.
“Alongside this, the government's £200m-a-year Holiday Activities and Food programme provides meals, activities and childcare to children from low-income families.”
