Blog
Cost of Living Crisis: The impact on children
12th December 2022
Thousands of children are in URGENT need of hope this winter. Their homes are cold. Their tummies are rumbling. 40% of families on Universal Credit are skipping meals, one in five are unable to cook and two-thirds are having to spend their first cost-of-living payment on food just to survive.
Food insecurity is a great un-leveller. It creates monstrous challenges for struggling children; meaning their opportunities disappear, their hope fades and their childhoods are marred by worry.
In homes like Harry (7) and Tommy's (5), food and heating are a stretch each month. Their mum, Aimee, worries about them picking up on her stress as she struggles to feed and clothe them.
“The rising costs are a daily challenge,” says Aimee. “We struggle a lot financially and it impacts us emotionally too. I’m not sleeping as much and it’s causing tension at home. And my children pick up on the worries.”
Little Harry understands that rising costs will have an impact on his family. “Food is getting more expensive and we can’t afford as much. It might be really cold this winter.”
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Aimee continues, “It’s hard trying to explain to the kids about not having the money. I hate it, you don’t want that for your children, they shouldn’t be worrying about money.”
The cost of living crisis is having a detrimental impact on their family as well as thousands of others. Children's physical and emotional wellbeing will see a colossal decline as families simply can't afford to live.
This winter is going to be a particularly challenging time, with millions of children feeling cold, hungry and worried. Providing those children and their families with support that they can count on is vital.
For several years, TLG has partnered with hundreds of churches across the UK to run Make Lunch clubs, offering children and families hot food, fun activities and lasting friendship in the warm surroundings of their local church family. There’s never been a time where TLG Make Lunch has been more relevant than now.
TLG’s Founder and Chief Executive, Tim Morfin, comments on the growing crisis. “We’re seeing how families are facing bigger and more desperate challenges every day. Over the 23 years that TLG has been spreading hope to struggling children, we’ve learnt how to make a real, lasting impact. But as prices keep going up, more has to be done.
TLG is running an urgent crisis response to increase our reach into new communities and new homes. Each new church we mobilise this winter will meet urgent practical needs and build lasting relationship with families.”
TLG won’t stop while there are still children facing the pangs of hunger and the bite of cold. But we need kind, passionate people to make this happen by giving to our urgent crisis appeal. Every pound given is vital and will put hot food on children’s plates. Without this support, the crisis will continue to grow.
TLG Make Lunch clubs offer families support when it’s needed most, operating during school holidays throughout the year. Thankfully, Harry, Tommy and their sisters Astarlah (3) and Ezmerae (1) all receive warm food in a warm and welcoming venue at TLG Make Lunch in Cleveleys.
“I suffer with quite a few mental health problems,” says Aimee, “and COVID left me quite agoraphobic. I didn’t want to speak to people. So when we were offered to come to Make Lunch, that was the only group I came to. It’s kind of changed my perception. The support we needed was financial. And a friend. I’ve been supported emotionally here to the max. I can trust them with my children. It makes me think I’m not alone anymore.”
Harry smiles, “The volunteers at Make Lunch are really nice. The church feels like a family. I feel happier now that we come to Make Lunch! I think that mum and dad feel less worried now.”
TLG's Urgent Appeal will provide the funds to reach many thousands more children during this heart-breaking crisis.
Want to make an impact to children like Harry this winter? Here’s how you can get involved.
If your church is ready to make an impact by partnering with TLG to run Make Lunch, find out more about TLG’s crisis response package for churches and get in contact.
Find out more about running Make Lunch
If you are able to give to TLG’s Urgent Cost of Living Appeal, you can donate on the button below.
