Barnardos Report: 20% of Parents Cut Food, 44% Skip Meals Amid Rising Costs
A Barnardos report reveals 20% of parents cut back on food for themselves or their children due to the cost of living crisis, with 44% of families skipping meals. The charity urges the government to implement targeted actions to protect families and reduce child poverty, noting one-parent families are twice as likely to be affected.
A new report by the children’s charity Barnardos reveals that one-fifth of parents, or 20%, have reported that they or their children have had to reduce food consumption or go without due to the escalating cost of living. The charity’s latest findings, titled «Cost of Living – Impact on Children 2026», indicate a concerning trend, with 44% of families now skipping meals, an increase from 40% a year ago, primarily driven by financial pressures.
Barnardos, which is conducting a five-year monitoring initiative on the impact of cost of living increases on families, has called upon the government to implement targeted measures to safeguard families and alleviate child poverty. The organization emphasized that increased support, particularly for the most vulnerable, is crucial if the government aims to achieve its ambitious child poverty target by 2030 and lift children out of deprivation.
The report highlights that one-parent families are disproportionately affected, being twice as likely to experience the impact of rising costs at 32%, compared to 17% for other family structures. Furthermore, the study underscores significant pressures stemming from escalating energy costs. Over the past 12 months, more than one-third of families, 36%, incurred arrears on energy bills at some point, marking a 4% increase from 2025. Additionally, one in five parents reported having to reduce or forgo heating, a slight rise from 18% last year.
To compile these findings, Barnardos commissioned Amárach Research to conduct a survey in May involving 1,000 parents or guardians responsible for children under 18.