The annual Counting the Costs survey of more than 2,300 families found that 29 per cent have taken out loans including those from “quick cash” schemes and loan sharks to fund basic bills for food and energy, up four per cent since 2010.
For those families in work, one in seven are missing meals and one in six cannot afford to heat their homes.
For families not in work due to their caring responsibilities, almost a quarter are going without food and a third without heating.
The fear of future financial strain is also a problem for the majority of families with 58 per cent saying they worry their financial situation will worsen next year mainly because of changes to the welfare system.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
