Children bearing brunt of recession

Sep 5 2012

Children are bearing the brunt of the recession, according to a charity.

One in six youngsters from struggling families are going to bed hungry.

Around three-fifths of the poorest families in Scotland have had to cut the amount they spend on food in the last year, research from Save the Children reveals.

Two large-scale surveys were carried out, questioning both parents and children in cash-strapped households.

Almost 40% of parents in the worst-off families are stressed and constantly worry about how to make ends meet.

Around a quarter of low-income parents frequently skip meals and one in seven children in these families regularly do not get enough to eat.

In the face of rising food prices, around three-fifths of low-income parents have less than £30 a week to spend on food for their family, compared with a national average of £76.

The charity also says that almost half of the poorest families are short of money every week and nearly 30% have nothing left to cut back on.

One in six children in the most impoverished homes often feel run down or unwell because of poor diet and living conditions. More than a quarter of parents on low incomes are arguing more and over 20% say they are increasingly likely to snap at their children because of money worries.

Save the Children said witnessing the financial worries of their parents could place an impossible burden on children.