Children’s growing fears over family finances
Nearly a third of children in the North East worry about their family having enough to live on comfortably as the cost of living crisis deepens, according to a charity.
The Action for Children survey shows 32% worry about their family’s finances.
It also found that 49% worry that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic will prevent them achieving their potential, the same proportion have concerns about their mental health and 47% say they feel too much pressure at school.
The survey of more than 5,000 adults and children aged as young as 11 from lowincome backgrounds set out to explore the biggest issues affecting childhood.
Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said: "Day in, day out our frontline staff support children grappling to see how they fit into our complex world – navigating big issues including financial worries, climate change and the pandemic.
"Sadly, since we conducted our research, intensifying money worries and the war in Ukraine will leave children feeling the world is a gloomier place.”
He added: "The likely fall-out of the conflict – even higher energy bills and inflation rates not seen for a generation – is a double blow for low-income families already locked in a crippling cost-ofliving crisis.
"The pandemic also continues to hang heavy, and its impact will be felt long into children's futures."
A Government spokesperson said: "The latest official figures show there were 300,000 fewer children in poverty after housing costs than in 2010 and we continue to provide extensive support to reduce this number further.”