Parents are feeling “overwhelmed” as over two thirds (67%) worry about paying for essentials such as food and petrol during the cost-of-living crisis.
Social innovation foundation, Nesta commissioned Opinium Research to survey 5,000 UK parents, which it believes to be the largest survey of this category since the beginning of the pandemic.
The survey which ran from 18-22 August found that among low-income households, this figure rises as 76% of parents are worried about paying for food.
As a result, Nesta’s fairer start team deputy director, Tom Symons has said the government must introduce free school meals for all primary school children in England.
The organisation is also calling for a lower energy bill cap as End Fuel Poverty Coalition’s estimation suggests that 42% of UK households will be hit with fuel poverty this winter.
In response to the survey one parent said: “I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed. Childcare is rare and too expensive anyway and I have to balance that with a job and rising cost of living. I don’t know how I’ll cope come the winter.”
This concern stretched across 74% of parents who admitted to being worried about paying for gas and electricity.
A government spokesperson said: “Countries around the world are grappling with rising prices but we recognise that inflation is causing significant challenges for families, which is why we are phasing in £37 billion worth of help for households throughout the year.
“That includes direct payments of at least £1,200 for eight million of the most vulnerable households alongside tax cuts and a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate to help people keep more of what they earn.”
Taking into account support announced by the government, End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates 28 million people in 12 million households will be in fuel poverty by January.
Other factors including affording rent, mortgage and credit card payments, personal loans as well as childcare are of concern to over 50% of respondents. For those living in London, this figure rose to 74%.
The survey also revealed 56% of parents are worried about the impact of the pandemic on their child’s mental health as school closures and missed social interactions had become more common.
“The cost-of-living crisis is a mental health crisis, not just a financial one,” Nesta chief executive, Ravi Gurumurthy said.
“Scarred by the past two years of Covid, lockdowns and school closures, parents are now anxious about the future and how they will feed their kids, pay their energy bills and mortgages, and afford childcare.
“Some families will have the resources and resilience to cope. But multiple crises are likely to leave millions struggling to get by, and will deepen inequality.”
