New Action for Children research finds around a third of children aged 8 to eighteen fear that a friend or classmate won’t get any presents (33%) or celebrate Christmas this year (32%) because their family can’t afford it.
More key points from the research:
- In 2021/22, there were 2.6 million children in the UK growing up in material deprivation – meaning their families can’t afford the items and activities considered essential to a happy and healthy childhood. That’s almost one in five children (18%).
- 1.5 million children in material deprivation are also in families with an income below the official poverty line (10% of all children) – meaning they are even more likely to be growing up in severe hardship.
- Over half of the children growing up materially deprived are under 10 (58%). That’s 1.5 million young children growing up deprived of the essential items and activities they need to get the best start in life – including 900,000 who are also living below the poverty line.
- Even before the worst of the cost of living crisis and energy price shock, there were 4.2m children in families that can’t save at least £10 a month, 1.2m children in families that can’t keep up with bills, and 800,000 children in families that can’t keep the house warm.
