Action for Children has said that recent research from its Family Fun showed that the food costs and energy bills are the biggest issues facing families who are in need of crisis support.
A charity has said it has helped over 600 people in Northern Ireland in the run up to Christmas as they struggle with the cost of living.
Action for Children has said that recent research from its Family Fun showed that the food costs and energy bills are the biggest issues facing families who are in need of crisis support.
It says that from June 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, it has gave out crisis grants totalling more than £800,000 to families across the UK.
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This included approximately £45,000 in Northern Ireland for 178 families to help with food, clothing, utilities, beds, white goods and other household essentials.
The research found;
- In Northern Ireland the biggest need for crisis support was for help with food costs (42% of spending), followed by help with fuel/energy bills (34%) and other household bills (14%).
- Almost a third of applications for crisis support here were for working families (32%) and one in seven were for families not claiming any means-tested benefits (15%).
- Almost two thirds (65%) of NI families applying for crisis support reported they were in receipt of Universal Credit, highlighting the deep inadequacy of the social security system.
Action for Children also surveyed more than 170 of its frontline support workers across the UK to find out more about the reality facing families this winter.
- 76% said the financial pressures on the families or young people they support was worse than last year – including 34% who said it is much worse.
- 69% said they were currently supporting a child, young person or family experiencing poverty or extreme financial hardship.
Lorna Ballard, National Director at Action for Children in Northern Ireland, said: “The Family Fund data lays bare the devastating impact financial hardship is having on vulnerable families – and that doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas.
“Our frontline staff are helping families every day who are trying their hardest and still can’t afford to put food on the table and keep their home warm. One in four children are now growing up in poverty in Northern Ireland – that is simply unacceptable.”
Despite inflation falling from its peak, the cost of living crisis is far from over. At 3.8%, inflation remains well above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Upwards pressure on food prices continues to be particularly challenging for families, with food inflation forecast to reach 5.7% this Christmas.
Ms Ballard added: “To enable every child to thrive, not just survive, we need urgent action. We need to see investment in children and families. The NI Executive must prioritise tackling child poverty, take note of the responses to the consultation on the draft Anti- Poverty Strategy and work together to deliver a final strategy with clear targets and funded actions.
“We welcome the recent move at Westminster to scrap the two-child limit, something we’ve long campaigned for. But we know there’s much more to be done to enable every child to have the best start in life.
“That’s why we’re asking the public to get behind our Secret Santa campaign to help us support our most vulnerable children, not just at Christmas but every day.”
To become a Secret Santa and donate to Action for Children visit iamsanta.org.uk
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