Despite careful budgeting, many families working in horticulture are finding it difficult to meet the everyday costs of raising a family.
According to a report by The Trussell Trust in May 2021, there was a 49% increase in the number of children supported by their food banks over a year from March 2018-19 and March 2019-20. The COVID-19 pandemic will have exasperated an already critical situation for many families as reported by The Children’s Society.
Government support can include free school meals, school uniform and financial assistance, but many parents are not aware that they may be eligible or how to access it. With significant variations in the system both across local authority areas of England and across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland parents also face a postcode lottery.
But help is available, and Perennial is here to help people working in horticulture to access the support they are entitled to. The professional and friendly team at Perennial can help families access government support and financial assistance, where at least one parent or carer works in horticulture.
Parents are encouraged to act now to ensure that they don’t miss out by calling the Perennial helpline on 0800 093 8543 or visiting their website to find out more about how they can meet the costs of child’s schooling and plan ahead for the future.
Looking ahead the government have announced the Education Act with the government due to set out new statutory guidance about the costs of school uniforms in the Autumn. The aim of the legislation is to keep the cost of school uniform more affordable for families.
Julia Hayne, Director of Services at Perennial says: “The cost of raising a family is rising but we’re not seeing wages increase at the same rate as essential outgoings and the situation has been made worse by the coronavirus crisis. We know many families are frustrated that, despite being in work and budgeting carefully, they are still struggling to meet the growing demands on their finances.
“We’re here to alleviate some of the pressure, taking the stress out of going back to school and helping families find financial solutions that will help them in the longer term.”
“We help families every day, often facing difficult challenges, providing a safety net for people working in any branch of horticulture. As your charity, we’re here to give you the help and support you need.”
Find out how Perennial can help at perennial.org.uk/SupportForFamilies.
