Summer Holidays: The Hidden Cost
As the school summer holidays are coming up, and for those in Scotland they’re already here, it reminded me of all our requests we have for children on our website. So, I went on to take a look. I’ve worked for Acts 435 for 10 years, and in some previous years, during the summer months, our website has had requests for families who couldn’t afford day trips, travel to a caravan holiday gifted by a church member, or outdoor play equipment.
But I’ve been struck that this year that, so far, there are no requests for these types of needs in our children’s category. All the requests for help are for much more basic needs such as clothing, food and household goods.
I think it’s a really stark reminder of the impact the cost-of-living, low incomes, and unsustainable benefits is having on children, as well as their parents.
The Food Foundation recently reported that 1 in 7 children are living in food-insecure households. This food insecurity gets even harder in the summer months as those families rely on the children's school meal to be their most substantial meal of the day, and one that they don't have to provide.
A government report published in 2024 also estimated that 1 in 7 children in the UK were in "deep material poverty", defined as lacking at least 4 out of 13 essential items like adequate clothing, heating and a safe, well-maintained home. This again, highlights the impact that the current economic factors are having on children in the UK, who are lacking the basic essentials.
As I write there are many requests on our website that highlight these desperate needs, which parents and carers are unable to afford. Here are just two;
One is for, as the Advocate writes; 'an amazing young man who thrives as best as he can despite his learning difficulties'. He is being cared for by Helen*. Their local authority normally sends out supermarket vouchers to cover the extra cost of food for the school holidays, but this year there is no funding for these vouchers, so Helen is worried about affording all the food he will need as an active little boy, and the Advocate has requested hep to buy a supermarket voucher.
The other request is for a bed, which will help meet an urgent need for a child who has experienced trauma. The request reads:
"This little girl has experienced early childhood trauma and doesn't feel safe sleeping in a typical bed. At present, she chooses to sleep in a cupboard as it offers her a sense of security and comfort. A tent bed would create a safe, enclosed space that better meets her emotional needs, helping her feel more secure in her room. It also offers a small play space, which would encourage her to spend time in her room in the day, helping her build a sense of safety that she can carry into bedtime."
These types of requests for basic essentials form all of the 27 requests in our children's category currently, which continues to strike me as a reminder of the difficulties currently facing families this summer, and for the foreseeable future.
