Families face ‘toughest Christmas for a generation’ says Barnardo’s

Families are facing the toughest Christmas for a generation as increasing financial pressures, spiralling debt and worsening mental health issues are set to take their toll over the festive season, according to a stark warning from children’s charity Barnardo’s.

The charity’s workers in Wales have seen increased demand for emotional and mental health support and practical help such as food vouchers in recent months, as the impact of lockdowns and job losses take their toll.

In a YouGov survey of more than 2,000 UK adults with children under 18, one in three parents (34 per cent across the UK and 31% in Wales) say they are in a worse financial position this Christmas compared to the festive period last year.

Around a quarter (24 per cent UK-wide and 21% in Wales) say they will be relying on credit cards or loans to help pay for the cost of Christmas.

In a separate survey of Barnardo’s frontline workers, around a third (35 per cent) said the children they support are not likely to receive any presents, while a similar number (32 per cent) say they will not have a Christmas meal.

Four out of five (81 per cent) of Barnardo’s frontline workers said the vulnerable children, young people or families they support are likely to experience an increase in mental health issues at Christmas and 74 per cent of those families expect to get into debt.

The charity recently launched its See, Hear, Respond service in Wales, specifically for families struggling to cope through the pandemic. Families can ring 0800 157 7015 or go tohttps://www.barnardos.org.uk/see-hear-respond-net for support. A UK-wide helpline specifically to support the particular issues facing children from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds is available on 0800 151 2605 or visit https://helpline.barnardos.org.uk.

Sarah Crawley, Director of Barnardo’s Cymru, said: “Vulnerable families need us now more than ever. Anxiety levels among children and their parents have increased since the first lockdown with a wide range of issues from bereavement to loneliness, domestic violence and financial hardship. We also believe children are at increased risk of online harm.”

One of the workers who responded to the survey said: “Without funding to charities such as ours, I have real concern with regards to the families who desperately need our help.

“Christmas always increases people’s loneliness and poor mental health as they put too much pressure on themselves and overspend, so I’m sure it will be worse this year with COVID.”

Barnardo’s is running a fundraising ‘Kidsmas’ campaign, to help support vulnerable children at Christmas.

The charity is asking people to create an online ‘Build a Kidsmas Snowman’ fundraising page. Through the platform, fundraisers can ask people to donate by throwing a ‘snowball donation’.

People can also support the campaign by hosting a virtual Kidsmas Party, conforming to local Covid restrictions, whether it’s at home, an online office party or via video call with local community groups. Anyone can sign up for a free Kidsmas Party pack which includes party games and fun festive fundraising ideas.

People can set up their own online Kidsmas Snowman fundraiser at https://www.barnardos.org.uk/kidsmas-party.