Pressures mount as Christmas gets nearer

Struggling parents admit they would avoid celebrating Christmas if they could because of financial and mental health pressures during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new research.

A poll by the charity Action for Children found that 17% parents would "cancel" the festive holiday this year if they could – while 57% of children think their parents will be worried about making it a happy time for their family.

Nearly half (46%) of surveyed parents on Universal Credit said they were facing their first ever Christmas on the benefit – with 41% of these wishing they could cancel Christmas and 55% reporting plans to delay paying household bills, borrow money or sell belongings to pay for festive celebrations.

The findings come from an online survey, conducted by pollster YouGov between October and November, of 1,060 parents of children aged 18 and under and 1,031 children aged six to 15.

It also revealed the pandemic has heaped pressure on children.

Around half (49%) reported feeling anxiety, 33% felt lonely and more than a third (38%) said they were scared of falling ill or dying.

One in five parents reported their children having mood swings or panic attacks, while 13% of children admitted to suffering nightmares.

Carol Iddon, deputy chief executive of Action for Children, said: "Christmas should be the most exciting time of the year but instead children and young people are desperately struggling to get through this crisis, with parents wishing away the pressure of the festive season.”

She urged the Government not to reduce benefits payments next year.