ALMOST A THIRD OF WORKING PARENTS IN WALES LIKELY TO TAKE ON EXTRA WORK OR AVOID TIME OFF OVER FESTIVE SEASON TO AFFORD CHRISTMAS AS COST OF LIVING SOARS

Rising energy bills and prices top financial concerns among working parents in Wales this Christmas, with many likely to miss out on key family moments, new research reveals

Poll of working parents in Wales finds more than four fifths worried about soaring energy bills and prices in shops, with almost a third planning to take on extra work or avoid time off to pay for Christmas. Of these, nearly all are likely to miss out on at least one key family moment like waking up on Christmas morning together or unwrapping presents together.

Working parents on Universal Credit across the UK plan to cut back on heating and eating, with nearly a quarter saying they are likely to replace some meals with breakfast cereal.

Children’s poll finds nearly two-thirds fear a difficult family Christmas, with their parents worried about making it a happy time. Many concerned about keeping family safe from Covid and ability of parents to afford presents and cost of Christmas.

As the UK battles with the highest rate of inflation in almost ten years¹, new research by Action for Children today reveals soaring energy bills and rising prices are the top financial concerns among working parents in Wales this Christmas. And nearly a third (32%) said they plan to take on extra work or avoid taking time off over the festive period to cover the cost of Christmas. Of these, nearly all (95%) say they are likely to miss out on at least one key family moment like waking up on Christmas morning together, unwrapping presents together on Christmas Day or attending a school nativity play.

To launch its annual Secret Santa campaign to help the country’s most vulnerable children, the charity worked with Opinium on a survey of 2,500 working parents, including 118 in Wales, and 1,000 children (aged 8-17) across the UK to explore the financial burden facing families in the run-up to Christmas.

With the governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey ‘very sorry’ that UK inflation is rising and biting on household incomes², the survey in Wales found that working parents’ top five money worries this Christmas were:

1. the rise in energy bills (85%)

2. rising prices (85%)

3. car fuel costs (75%)

4. price of food (73%), and

5. affording warm winter clothing for their family (55%).

Nearly three in ten (28%) working parents in Wales said they are likely to gift their children everyday basics, such as school books, school shoes or a school coat for their main Christmas present this year. The poll also found over a third (36%) plan to cut back on celebrations and parties, nearly three in ten (29%) will save on presents for their partner, a quarter (25%) will spend less on Christmas food and a fifth (21%) on travelling to visit friends and family.

This Christmas looks especially challenging for working parents on Universal Credit across the UK following the £20-a-week cut in October. Of these parents:

nearly two in five (38%) are likely to cut back on heating

almost a third (30%) are likely to skip meals

nearly a quarter (24%) are likely to replace some meals with breakfast cereal or cut back on hot meals to save on energy costs (23%), and

one in five (20%) said they will likely need to seek help from a foodbank over the break

With last year’s Christmas seen by many as having been “cancelled” due to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the poll also found more than a third (36%) of working parents in Wales said they feel under more pressure to give their children a happy Christmas this year.

Christmas seen by many as having been ‘cancelled’ due to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the poll also found more than a third (36%) of working parents in Wales said they feel under more pressure to give their children a happy Christmas this year.

When asked about their parents’ biggest fears this Christmas, most children (63%) thought their mums and dads would be worried about making Christmas a happy time for their family, over half (53%) said they would be concerned about keeping their family safe and healthy from Covid-19, and a similar figure (49%) said they would be anxious about making sure everyone has presents and that they were able to afford everything they need to celebrate Christmas (47%).

National director for Wales at Action for Children, Brigitte Gater, said: ‘For most of us the festive season is a happy time but there are children all over Wales and the UK who face a very different Christmas. After almost two years of worry, isolation and poverty, many families are now struggling to afford the basics like food, heating and clothes.

‘Our frontline workers see the impact the pandemic and cost of living crisis is having on children and families who are under pressure every day, but we also see the difference that can be made – that’s why we’re asking people to donate to help us make a life-changing difference to vulnerable children this Christmas and beyond.

‘With your help this Christmas we can be a vital lifeline for even more UK children. We can make sure they have the basics, like hot meals and proper winter clothes and offer emergency support to keep homes warm and help families pay the bills.’

Case study:

Action for Children’s Pembrokeshire Young Carers service supports Roxy Davies (12) from Johnston, near Haverfordwest who looks after her younger sister who is in the process of being diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC).

Roxy’s mum, Francesca Davies, said: ‘Covid and the rising cost of living is a real challenge for us.  My husband, Lee, works full time as a forklift truck driver, but the energy bills seem to rise on a weekly basis on our smart meter and is alarming with the cold weather and Christmas coming.  Lee doesn’t have the opportunity of extra shifts at this time of year and with four children in the house, we have to ensure everyone is warm.

‘It means that Christmas will be quiet, and we won’t be travelling anywhere or visiting anyone due to Covid and the cost of everything.  We will have a lovely time together and support from Action for Children has really helped us throughout the year.  We wouldn’t have managed without it, they have been so supportive and so amazing to us as a family in many different ways.’

Roxy’s Action for Children support worker, Vikki Phillips, said: ‘Day in, day out we’re seeing families in Wales struggling to make ends meet like Francesca’s. Parents are worried about Christmas and concerned about how they’re going to provide for their children with rising costs.  This has added to the continued anxiety caused by Covid and we are doing our best to support families through our Iceland Winter Fund and any extra help we can provide.  Families know they have to cut back and that this is the only way they’ll manage through these difficult times.’

Be a Secret Santa for a vulnerable child this Christmas text CHILD to 70607* or visit iamsanta.org.uk