Coronavirus: Families fear ‘going under’ during outbreak
Neil Puffett
Monday, March 23, 2020
A children's charity has launched an emergency appeal amid fears that vulnerable families will struggle to stay afloat during the coronavirus outbreak.
Action for Children said its frontline service workers have been "overwhelmed by the sheer desperation of frightened families" who are scared they won’t be able to properly feed children and babies.
Many sectors of the economy have been hit hard in recent weeks, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing on Monday night (23 March) that people in the UK must only leave their homes to buy essentials and to exercise once a day.
Thousands of people have been asked to take unpaid leave or have been made redundant as a result.
Meanwhile, due to the closure of schools and early years settings on Friday (20 March), many parents are unable to work because they need to care for their children.
The charity said that 4.1 million children (30 per cent) were already living in poverty in the UK in 2017/18 before the crisis hit, warning that the "unprecedented health and economic crisis" caused by coronavirus is "set to force even more families to choose between feeding their children and paying bills".
Based on telephone interviews with workers representing 60 frontline services across the UK, including children’s centres, services for disabled children and young carers, families are most worried about not being able to afford food, followed by electricity and gas, then nappies.
Other concerns raised included access to baby formula and uncertainty over help paying the rent if they could not work.
The vast majority (86 per cent) of frontline workers interviewed said they were already speaking to parents worried about having enough money to stay afloat during the outbreak.
Meanwhile, nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of frontline staff interviewed said they didn’t think the government was doing enough for children during the coronavirus outbreak.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced measures to help those who are unable to work including paying upto 80 per cent of emplpoyee's wages if businesses are unable to do so, offering help to renters and introducing a mortgage holiday.
Carol Iddon, deputy chief executive of Action for Children, said: “The coronavirus crisis has exploded into the lives of vulnerable children and families at a time when millions were already struggling to keep their heads above water – and now are terrified of going under.
“Action for Children’s frontline staff, who were running unofficial foodbanks to help those at risk of going hungry before the outbreak, are overwhelmed by the sheer desperation of frightened families who fear they can’t afford to keep children and babies warm and well fed. Some are even donating food from their own cupboards to help keep families from going under.
“Coronavirus has thrown all our lives, our communities and the UK into unprecedented crisis – families need to know they are not on their own. Our support workers will keep battling to help families come out the other side of this - but they need your help. We’re asking people to help a family hit by the coronavirus crisis and donate to Action for Children.”
