Family charities urge services to work together

Kids in the Middle's report published today, Crunch Time, shows that demand for support provided by the charities has increased throughout the economic downturn. It also calls for local means of support for families under stress to be protected during public spending cuts.

"There is no question that children are affected when parents are under financial pressure - whether that's witnessing arguments over unemployment or money worries, or feeling the effect of their parents' increased working patterns," said Duncan Fisher, director of Kids in the Middle. "We now want to see schools, PCTs and other younger people's services properly funded to ensure the support is there for families at this crucial time."

Two thirds of centres run by relationship charity Relate are seeing an increase in service demand, while a recent YouGov poll revealed that 25 per cent of families are arguing more due to money worries, according to the report.

The coalition, backed by a group of agony aunts and uncles, has produced guidance for families facing financial stress, Facing Hard Times, funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.