Poorest UK families lack beds and sleeping on floor: Charity report
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Buttle UK, a charity supporting children and young people in crisis, surveyed 1,567 families living in poverty.
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A customer of the Coventry Foodbank centre in Queens Road Baptist Church sits with her one-year-old son before collecting her food parcel in Coventry, UK, undated. (AFP)
Families living in poverty in the United Kingdom are forced to sleep on the floor since they cannot afford beds, a recent report by a children's charity revealed.
The study conducted by Buttle UK, an organization supporting children and young people in crisis, found that most of the 1,567 surveyed families struggled to find money to heat and power their homes. Additionally, the cost of living crisis has strained parent-children relationships.
Parents sacrifice their basic needs for their children
“Many parents alluded to giving their bed to their child or sharing it with them at night, while others simply told us that they were all sleeping on the floor because they had no other option,” the report said.
“Parents and carers described high levels of sacrifice and self-denial to ensure that their children still ate. They themselves often went completely without, reporting the dire effects on their health and wellbeing,” it added.
The survey also revealed that most families had skipped meals, with one parent sharing that despite being diabetic, they only eat a single bowl of cereal a day to ensure their son "has the food he needs."
The black mold endemic in homes was another issue many families faced, making it difficult to remove due to cold and damp conditions.
“This mould was described as permeating their furnishings and clothing, leaving their children with coughs and poor health,” the report said, adding, "Families cannot afford to replace these damaged goods, and some cannot afford to clean them, either.”
Chief Executive of Buttle UK Joseph Howes stated that the cost of living crisis remains a prevalent issue, urging government intervention to prevent a worsening situation.
“The charity is calling on the government to lift the two-child benefit cap and significantly increase universal credit payments, as well as introduce a health strategy for young people in poverty and overhaul NHS children’s mental health services.”
Starmer warns of 'painful' financial decisions ahead in October budget
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned the public on August 27 about "painful" financial decisions that will be revealed during the government's traditional autumn financial plan presentation in October.
"There is a budget coming in October, and it's going to be painful. We have no other choice, given the situation that we're in," Starmer said during a speech, which was broadcast on his X account.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is set to address Parliament on October 30, where she will outline changes to taxation and budget expenditures as part of the government's financial plan.
According to The Telegraph, Starmer's speech is aimed at preparing the public for upcoming budget cuts and tax increases, which contradict his party's previous campaign promises.
