More parents facing struggle to feed their children as winter approaches, survey suggests

A larger proportion of parents are struggling to provide enough food for their children as the cost of living crisis “continues to bite”, according to new research by a charity.

A quarter of the parents surveyed by Barnardo’s said they found it difficult to put sufficient food on the table, up from a fifth two years ago.

The responses, from more than 2,000 parents of children under 18 last month, suggest more families are feeling the squeeze on their household budgets.

Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry fears as winter approaches, families will face “a desperate struggle to keep the power on and the fridge stocked”.

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The country’s attention has recently focused on the elderly, as the new Labour government has pushed on with its controversial decision to roll back the winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners.

But children’s charity Barnardo’s insists young people must not be forgotten and has restated its call for the government to commit to scrapping the two-child benefit cap in the autumn Budget.

The policy, which restricts child tax credit and Universal Credit to the first two children in most households, has faced widespread criticism since coming into effect under the Conservatives in 2017.

Among its opponents is the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who has branded it as “cruel” and “neither moral nor necessary”.

The government has seemingly ruled out scrapping the limit, claiming the country’s finances could not accommodate the estimated £2.5 billion of additional benefits. In July, Labour suspended seven of its MPs who voted against their party in favour of abolishing the limit.

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Barnardo’s research also found 8% of parents are turning to local food banks to feed their families as a direct result of the cost of living crisis, up from 6% in 2022.

The charity cited examples of a young care leaver having no electricity or gas for two weeks last winter, and another struggling to manage their tenancy with little money for food after rent payments.

Ms Perry said: “Millions of parents up and down the country are struggling to feed their children – with even more families struggling now than two years ago.

“The cost of living crisis continues to bite, with families facing a desperate struggle to keep the power on and the fridge stocked this winter.

“Last month, we welcomed the government’s announcement of a Child Poverty Taskforce and stand ready to work with ministers to find lasting solutions. But families can’t wait any longer for support.

“We urge the government to use next month’s autumn Budget to take bold steps – including a commitment to end the unfair two-child limit on benefits.”

A government spokesperson said: “No child should be growing up hungry - that’s why our ministerial task force is kickstarting work to develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty and give children the best start in life.

“We have extended the Household Support Fund to protect the most vulnerable this winter and we will roll out free breakfast clubs in all primary schools while delivering on our plan to tackle inequality and make work pay.”