Published September 29,2023
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The cost-of-living disaster has led to “bed poverty” the place kids within the UK find yourself sleeping on previous mattresses on the ground as a result of households are having to prioritise cash for meals and heating, a charity has mentioned.
Barnardo’s mentioned as many as 6% of youngsters surveyed mentioned they had been sleeping on the ground as a result of not having a mattress of their very own up to now 12 months.
The charity mentioned issues like changing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten or damaged mattress are falling additional down the checklist on household budgets as mother and father wrestle to afford the necessities.
The YouGov survey commissioned by Barnardo’s additionally discovered that of the 1,013 kids aged between eight and 17 in Great Britain who took half, round one in 10 (9%) mentioned that they had shared a mattress with one other member of their household as a result of they didn’t have a mattress of their very own.
The analysis additionally noticed 1,049 mother and father of youngsters below 18 surveyed, and one in 12 mother and father (8%) mentioned their kids had been “tired all of the time” as a result of not having their very own mattress.
Barnardo’s chief govt, Lynn Perry, mentioned the 6% determine equates to “at least one child in every classroom” sleeping on the ground as a result of they don’t have a mattress of their very own, one thing she branded “unacceptable” in a rustic as wealthy because the UK.
The on-line surveys carried out in August are of individuals in Great Britain solely, and have been weighted and are consultant, the charity mentioned.
The charity took the survey outcomes and, assuming the scenario can be comparable in Northern Ireland, utilized the findings to give you estimates throughout the UK based mostly on Office for National Statistics inhabitants figures.
Barnardo’s mentioned this meant there could possibly be round 700,000 kids sharing beds and greater than 400,000 kids sleeping on the ground throughout the UK as a result of they don’t have a mattress of their very own.
The charity mentioned the estimates are borne out in its expertise on the frontline, having helped 7,200 households to purchase beds, mattresses, duvets, blankets and sheets between October 2022 and September 2023.
A current survey of 100 of its frontline employees additionally noticed numerous examples given of households unable to afford to switch or restore damaged beds, sharing beds, sleeping on the ground or a settee and utilizing damaged or soiled mattresses.
The charity mentioned employees had additionally heard from households utilizing insufficient bedding which didn’t present sufficient heat in chilly climate or bedding which was soiled, mouldy or dirty, together with cots.
Perry mentioned: “Bed poverty is just one aspect of child poverty, yet it starkly illustrates the challenges faced by families not having enough money to afford the essentials needed to raise happy and healthy children.
“Families in disaster are having to prioritise necessities resembling meals, heating and electrical energy over issues like changing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten or damaged mattress. Children are sharing beds and sleeping on the ground, all of which is affecting their growth, attendance at college and their psychological well being.
“The government must take urgent action to address these deep-rooted issues.”
A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “We know people are struggling with rising prices, which is why we are providing record financial support worth around £3,300 [$3,809] per household and driving down inflation to make everyone’s money go further.
“On high of this we’re supporting households with meals, clothes and different important prices like beds by means of the Household Support Fund and have raised advantages and pensions by over 10%.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr