Start of school summer holidays brings financial worry for parents

As the school summer holidays get underway, new research by the national charity Turn2us reveals the financial pressures parents will face during the six-week break. 

The findings show that over a third (36%) of parents are worried about the impact of the summer holidays on their ability to pay household bills and expenses, whilst over two-fifths (42%) are concerned about spending more money on food for their children during this time.

In addition, over a fifth (22%) of parents are worried about the additional childcare costs they may incur during the holidays, and as a result of these costs, one in six (15%) say they will have to borrow money through credit cards, overdrafts or loans over the summer.

Turn2us is encouraging parents who are struggling to check their eligibility for additional financial support. The charity’s free and confidential website – www.turn2us.org.uk - includes information on help with childcare costs and other support available to parents. It features a Benefits Calculator for people to check their entitlement to welfare benefits and tax credits and how to make a claim, and a Grants Search to check eligibility for a grant and other support from over 3,000 charitable funds.  

Simon Hopkins, Chief Executive of Turn2us said: “The extra financial costs that the school summer holidays bring will create added pressure for families who are already struggling with the costs of housing, food and other essential bills.

“Yet we know that people aren’t always claiming the support available to them, and shockingly, the latest statistics show that around £16 billion in welfare benefits goes unclaimed each year*. With 88% of parents who do claim saying the extra support has had a positive financial impact**, we would urge families struggling to make ends meet to visit our website to see what help could be available. It could make all the difference this summer and beyond.”

For more information, please visit: www.turn2us.org.uk

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For further information and interviews with Turn2us case studies or spokespeople, please contact Emma Lamberton, Communications Manager on 0208 834 9259

Notes to Editors

• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from an online poll conducted by ComRes in July 2016. ComRes interviewed 2,063 GB adults online between 1st July and 3rd July 2016. Of this group, 482 were parents of children aged 18 and under. Overall data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. See the ComRes website for full data tables for this research.
• *The latest figures released by the Department of Work and Pensions (2014-15) and HM Revenue and Customs (2013-14) 
• **Previous Turn2us research conducted with Research Now in March 2016. Total sample size was 1,512 adults with annual household incomes of £25,000 and less before tax and deductions. Results were then analysed for those who were claiming means-tested benefits and tax credits, and those who were not claiming any means-tested benefits or tax credits

About Turn2us:

• Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services – online, by phone and face to face through partners and volunteers
• The Turn2us website includes a Benefits Calculator to find out what welfare benefits and tax credits you could be entitled to, a Grants Search to find out if you might be eligible for support from over 3,000 charitable funds, and a range of information and resources to help people in financial hardship
• Turn2us can also provide direct financial assistance through a range of specific funds that are managed directly by the charity, including the Elizabeth Finn Fund which supports people from over 120 different professions
• For more information, please visit www.turn2us.org.uk