Vast majority of parents feel financial pressure every summer, research finds
More than 90% of parents in Northern Ireland believe the summer holidays bring both financial and emotional pressure for their families.
According to new research, 40% of parents say this pressure leads to stress on family life, with over half (56%) worrying their children will spend too much time on screens.
More than a third (35%) of parents feel anxious about the summer and its financial implications.
The statistics were commissioned by the charity Save the Children UK as part of its No Summer Break from Poverty campaign to highlight the reality of families’ experiences this summer.
It found 40% of local parents struggle to afford trips/days out for their children, 40% are stressed about the pressures of summer, and 29% are worried about increased bills over the holiday.
It also found a quarter of families (26%) save all year just to be able to afford summer.
Save The Children NI said it is working directly with families through partners in the region, where child poverty rates are at 22% (100,000 children), to ensure childhoods are not missed out on due to poverty.
Laura Feeney from the charity said many families are already in crisis.
“We know summer is a real strain for many of the families we and our community partners support through our family grants,” she said.
“These families are already in crisis, and the mental toll poverty brings them can get heavier at this time of year.
“We want to see real awareness, empathy and action from our political leaders.
“No matter what time of year, child poverty should be their top priority.”
Joanne Dougan from STEP Dungannon said many struggle without free school meals.
“When schools break up for summer, families struggle as free school meals come to an end,” she said.
“It’s not just those who qualify for support, many families fall just above the eligibility threshold, missing out on free school meals and uniform grants despite facing real financial pressure.
“With the high cost of childcare and extra household expenses during the holidays, many are left asking, where is the additional money supposed to come from?”
Louise McCullough, a mother from parents support group Elevate East, said: “Summer automatically brings that extra financial and mental stress. I know I feel the strain of it for months in advance.
“As a parent you do your best to give your kids the summer experiences and memories they deserve, but it’s so much pressure on my shoulders.”