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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Patrick Butler Social policy editor

Poor families skipping meals and unable to afford heating, charity says

‘The worst pain and misery of the cost of living crisis is being felt by children in low-income families,’ the charity said.
‘The worst pain and misery of the cost of living crisis is being felt by children in low-income families,’ the charity said. Photograph: Jon Challicom/Alamy

Hard-up families are skipping meals, wearing coats indoors to stay warm, and living in the dark because they can’t afford to switch on the lights, according to a leading children’s charity.

Action for Children said in one case a boy it worked with had been off school with sore feet caused by chilblains. The boy told charity workers that the house was cold all the time because the heating was not on, and he and his siblings were wearing coats inside and sharing beds at night to keep warm.

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