Thousands of NI children at risk of living in cold, damp homes this winter as parents struggle to heat homes

Parents in Northern Ireland say they have rationed their heating in the past 12 months
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


An estimated 136,800 children in Northern Ireland could be at risk of living in cold, damp homes this winter as their parents struggle to afford to heat their homes.

That's the shocking finding of a new survey out today which reveals that over 4 in 10 (41%) NI parents have rationed their heating in the past 12 months compared to a UK average of 35%.

The National Parent Survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the parenting charity Parentkind, found that over a third (35%) of parents here are struggling financially with 19% worryingly getting into debt each month.

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Meanwhile almost a quarter (23%) are worrying about paying their rent or mortgage and 19% have reported skipping meals in the last 12 months to save money.

In this large-scale survey of parents, including many from Northern Ireland, the charity found that despite the current challenging nationwide attendance figures, attendance matters to parents here with the majority of parents (81%) confirming they believe that every school day matters and over half (54%) saying their child has gone to school despite being unwell.

The report also reveals that parents across Northern Ireland are struggling to afford the cost of sending their children to school with two thirds of parents citing uniforms (66%), school trips (46%) and school meals and drinks (32%) as causing the biggest financial challenge.

Northern Ireland has the highest number of parents concerned with the cost of regular voluntary donations to the school fund with almost one in three (28%) saying this was a concern compared to a UK average of 15%.

The National Parent Survey is the largest of its kind in the UK and also reveals worrying results about parents’ mental health and the impact this is having upon their life. Over 1 in 5 (22%) parents in Northern Ireland revealed they have had poor mental health over the last 12 months.

Support for universal free school meals is also high among parents from Northern Ireland with almost three quarters (71%) agreeing they should be free for all children rising to 76% for all primary school children only.

In addition parents remain worried about the amount of time their children spend on screens and the impact this is having on their life. NI parents whose child has access to electronic devices are most likely to be concerned about the negative influence social media has on their children with 40% confirming this is a concern compared to the UK average of 31%.

Parentkind CEO Jason Elsom says this large scale parent survey is an important insight into what is really going on with families across the UK and what parents really think.

“Too many parents tell us they are unhappy most of the time, with parent mental health concerns a big worry, parents are missing work because they are suffering with mental health problems. Many parents are struggling to make ends meet and have only a few hundred pounds left in the bank for a rainy day. It’s no wonder the cost of school worries parents, with all the little extras adding up.

“The amount of time children spend on screens is once again a big issue for parents and the National Parent Survey shows it is having a big impact on family life causing disagreements as some children are now spending seven hours a day on smartphones and tablets and it is stopping them from sleeping and ruining family time.

"The National Parent Survey is one of the biggest parent polls in the UK and is a wake up call to policy makers to put parents first, listen to their concerns and make life better for parents, we’ve put forward a plan to make this happen based on the voice of parents from across the UK.”

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