Children shouldn’t have to bear the burden of the cost of living crisis. Yet again, this winter we’re hearing from parents and our partners in Wales how difficult things are for them with so many families struggling to afford basics such as food, clothes and to pay their bills
And for families who are already experiencing poverty, things are even tougher.
What we are hearing
Parents are telling us how they used to be able to save that little bit at the end of every month throughout the year to buy presents for their children. But every single penny now is spent on putting food on the table and making sure the house is warm during cold bites and paying ever-rising bills.
As one mum told us, “there’s just too much month at the end of the money” – and simply nothing left to cut back on which is causing so much stress to so many families who don’t want their children to miss out.
It’s not about buying expensive presents – parents know how to live within their means and make the most of their money – it’s about making sure children are able to enjoy the magic of Christmas and create precious childhood memories.
Gifts in kind
It's also the season of good will and we’ve been overwhelmed again this year by the offers of Christmas gifts in kind we’ve had from businesses, corporates and individual donors to help bring some festive joy during what is proving to be a very bleak winter for many.
Working with partners such as Valley Kids, Ely & Caerau Children’s Centre and local authorities, this outpouring of generosity has enabled us to support children across areas in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Cardiff, Neath Port Talbot, Newport and Carmarthen and provide hundreds of gifts donated by Amazon, with further donations from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as well as kind-hearted supporters and individuals.
This will be the fifth year that Phil Draper from Cardiff has supported the appeal with donations gathered from friends, family members and colleagues who came together to create individual gift bags to give to over 250 children. This year Glamorgan Cricket has supported the scheme with several players, coaches and staff members donating and helping to store, store and deliver the gifts.
Community spirit
We are also hearing wonderful stories of communities coming together to help those in need. Best friends Dominique Cook and Jodie Matthews who live in Bettws in Newport, an area where Save the Children runs its Early Learning Community project, know what it’s like to worry about the cost of Christmas. That’s why in 2020 during the pandemic they decided to help other struggling families by organising their own toy donations appeal, which is now in its fourth year.
According to the friends the need this winter is even greater with the soaring prices of food, clothes and fuel forcing parents to worry or to get into debt to pay for gifts for their children. That is why the whole community including a local radio station, local businesses, and organisations have rallied behind them and their toy donations appeal, to support the families most impacted with donations of toys, baby accessories, clothes and food.
Both also love to get their own children involved every year to help wrap the presents. And as Dominique told us ‘it’s about teaching them, we may not have a lot, but what we do have we can do something good with it to help others.’
Governments need to do more
But it can’t be all left to individuals, charities and communities - governments need to do more! And the Chancellor’s decision to increase benefits in line with September’s level of inflation in the UK Government’s Autum Statement should never have been in doubt. Parents need security in order to raise their children, and the uncertainty around this has placed enormous stress on families.
Equally Welsh Government have a role to play, especially if they are serious about tackling child poverty. We understand that Welsh Government funding has been cut and is currently under extreme pressures, as are local authorities, but we cannot have children going to bed in a cold house without a warm meal in their tummies again this winter. It’s simply unacceptable and a violation of their basic rights. And we all know that the long-term consequence of poverty is ultimately going to impact more on public spending if immediate action is not taken.
If Welsh Government is serious about tackling child poverty this must be reflected in the imminent Child Poverty Strategy along with clear targets and a funded delivery plan. It must also be a priority for the next First Minister when starting their new role in the spring.
