Sonia, a mum of two boys, who we’ve supported through our Cumbria LINK service, shares her experience of poverty and explains why she thinks the government should do more to support families who are struggling to make ends meet.
Sonia first got in touch with our Cumbria LINK service when her son was struggling at school with his mental health, but since then she’s also been supported through our LINK service to cope with the increased cost-of-living.
How we’ve supported Sonia and her family
“At first, I didn’t know that cost-of-living support was available through Barnardo’s,” Sonia explains. “Before getting the support, Nina (her son’s LINK worker) asked me what we were doing over Christmas and how I was feeling about it. I told her I was trying not to think about it too much and putting my head in the sand because I was worried about the cost of it all. That’s when she told me Barnardo’s could help.
“We were given gifts and games for the boys which was brilliant and made a big difference to our Christmas as a family. Nina also helped me get ALDI vouchers which meant I could do a food shop over Christmas and buy food for our Christmas dinner.
“The support we had from Barnardo’s meant we could do things that we wouldn't have been able to do normally, like get extra gifts and bits and pieces for the boys.”
"I have to choose between paying for the essentials and paying for things for the kids”
“I struggle with energy bills the most,” Sonia says. “My energy bill where I live now is only £20 less per month than my rent which is really difficult.
“At one point, we didn't have the internet turned on for three weeks because I just couldn't afford to pay the bill. Things like the internet are becoming a luxury for us. But when you have two kids in secondary school, you need the internet on for them to do their homework and access education. It often feels like I have to choose between paying for the essentials and paying for things for the kids.
“Everything the kids do nowadays is online. One of my sons has social anxiety and he doesn't leave the house often - he struggles to speak to people in person so having the internet is really important for him. But that obviously comes at a cost, and it can be really difficult sometimes.
“Things get even harder during the school holidays because the boys are at home every day, which means we’re using more energy and they're also eating three meals a day at home as opposed to having a free hot meal at school.
Things get even harder during the school holidays because the boys are at home every day, which means we’re using more energy and they're also eating three meals a day at home as opposed to having a free hot meal at school.
Sonia
“I’ve recently been able to get access to free school meals now. We got a little bit of help over the summer holidays - around £110. But by the time you've done one food shop at ALDI, it barely even lasts two weeks with two teenage boys.
“Often, I’ve had to rely on food banks as well. Especially towards the end of the month when money is running low, the food bank is all I have. The kids go to their dad’s house on the weekends towards the end of the month because I’m just not able to afford to feed them. That can feel embarrassing for me, but it’s the truth.”
What Sonia thinks needs to change so that families in poverty get the support they need
“I think the government needs to really recognise poverty for what it is,” she says. “I know there are things in place like free school meals for some which is great, but people shouldn't have to be relying on food banks.
“Energy prices are just unbelievable. I think even though the government are trying, I don’t think the support in place is fitting with the degree of poverty people are experiencing.”
Even though the government are trying, I don’t think the support in place is fitting with the degree of poverty people are experiencing.
Sonia
“I think there needs to be better signposting about the support available. Most of the time, I’ve found out about different bits of support accidentally – I didn’t even know we had a food bank in Brampton and how to use it until a friend of mine recommended it, and I didn’t know about free school meals or how to apply for them.
“I think it’s really important to speak about poverty, and I hope that by sharing my own experiences I can help to create some change to help other families who are also struggling.”
Get support if you’re a parent or carer
Caring for a child or young person can be hard. We’re here to help you make sure they can thrive. From running services across the country to providing useful online guidance and support, there are lots of ways we can make your role as a parent or carer a little bit easier.
How poverty makes it harder for children and young people to go to school
Rachel leads a team of mentors who offer one-to-one support for children and young people who are persistently or severely absent from school. We spoke with Rachel, and some of her colleagues, to talk about how poverty and other hidden issues can make it harder for young people to go to school.
Because when you change a childhood, you change a life
Right now, 1 in 4 children in the UK live in poverty because too many families are struggling to make ends meet. Together, we can help children and young people feel safer, happier, healthier, and more hopeful through our specialist services, raising awareness, and campaigning to change the way the system works for children, young people and families across the UK.