Survey Shows More Parents Are Struggling to Provide Adequate Food for Their Children

The percentage of parents having trouble providing adequate food for their children has risen in the past year, as families grapple with challenges in affording both food and fuel, as per a survey conducted by children’s charity Barnardo’s.

The charity’s professionals, who assist children, young individuals, and families in need, have noted that many parents are missing meals to ensure their children can eat. Simultaneously, households are struggling to cope with high energy prices, resulting in families residing in “cold and damp homes with black mold,” the survey revealed.

“Fuel poverty was the main issue we encountered. This, in turn, resulted in food poverty. The term ‘heating or eating’ was indeed accurate. I believe individuals were going hungry to keep their homes warm,” stated a practitioner in Northern Ireland.

Energy and Food

Energy bills are slated to increase by 10 percent in October, with the introduction of Ofgem’s new energy price cap. Moreover, escalating food prices, which surged by 30.6 percent between May 2021 and May 2024, continue to burden households already facing financial constraints.

Barnardo’s discovered that one in three parents has curtailed energy expenses in the past year to save money, a 2 percent increase from February 2023.

“As a result, young individuals are living in extremely cold residences, often dressed in multiple layers, able to see their breath, unable to dry clothes, or have warm showers,” mentioned Ellie, a Barnardo’s practitioner in Wales.