Research conducted by national charity Family Action has revealed the stark reality many families will face this Christmas. Results show that 1 in 7 parents/carers surveyed said they will not be able to afford to buy presents for their children due to financial constraints.
In addition, 25% of those surveyed said they will not be able to afford presents for their parents, while 24% said they will not be able to buy presents for their partner. Furthermore, 20% reported they will need to go without heating their house this Christmas.
The research also found that 54% agree* that Christmas will negatively affect their mental health this year due to financial worries, with 34% of parents/carers agreeing* they will need to seek external support. Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said they will be in debt after Christmas 2023, and 29% reported they are still paying off debt from Christmas 2022.
In response to these findings, Family Action is launching their annual ‘Make Theirs Magic’ campaign to support families facing hard times this Christmas. The charity will provide emotional and practical support to over 60,000 families across the country, and will also distribute thousands of toys to families through the Family Action Christmas Toy Appeal.
David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action, commented: “Every family deserves comfort and joy at Christmas, but with the high costs of food and utilities, many will find their holiday season stressful and difficult. We work with thousands of families across the country, and from the research findings and feedback from our frontline staff, we know only too well the challenges families are facing. It is a stark reality that one in seven parents won’t be able to afford gifts for their children this Christmas, and that for over half of parents/carers, they expect that their mental health and wellbeing will be negatively affected, due to the worry of financial constraints.”
He concluded: “By supporting our ‘Make Theirs Magic’ campaign, people can help with a special gift that could bring Christmas cheer to a child and their family. Together, we can keep the magic of Christmas alive.”
The research was conducted between 8th September and 14th September 2023 by Censuswide, who abided by the Market Research Society code of conduct. To find out more about Family Action or donate to their cause, please visit www.family-action.org.uk.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.