The Back-to-School Burden: A Critical Time for Families across the Country

As the summer holidays come to a close, families across the UK are getting ready for the new school year. However, for many, the back-to-school season brings added stress, as parents struggle to meet the financial demands of essential school supplies and uniforms.

The pressure for low-income families to provide for their children’s educational needs is increased by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which continues to stretch household budgets to the limit.

The challenge is even more pronounced this year, as new data from charity In Kind Direct, founded by King Charles III, reveals that 85% of their charitable network report the need for their services has increased and 61% of organisations supporting children and families in their network provide support during school holidays.

The demand for back-to-school essentials is at an all-time high, with many families unable to afford the basics needed to ensure their children are prepared for school or nursery.

The number of children growing up in poverty has risen to 4.3 million, meaning 9 out of 30 children in a classroom are affected. This harsh reality brings to light the importance of providing support to families in need as the summer draws to an end and the new school year begins.

That’s why In Kind Direct and Save the Children have joined forces for the third consecutive year to support children and families across the UK during the summer holidays and back-to-school period.

Save the Children has provided grant funding to their local community partners across the country, to organise fun activities during the summer for families experiencing low income. In Kind Direct has been working with its partners to secure product donations at the scale, of essentials like books, toys, sports kits and shoes. Ensuring children have access to the things they need for a Summer of Play and to go back to school or nursery, equipped and ready to learn.

To date In Kind Direct has supported over 1,400 charitable organisations in their network with products and Save the Children has supported over 30 local community partners with grants to run activities.

Rosanne Gray, CEO of In Kind Direct commented:

“Each year we understand the summer holidays and back-to-school period is becoming increasingly tough for many families across the UK, as the rising cost of living leaves many feeling they are ‘walking a tightrope’ to make ends meet.

“We’re proud to work with Save the Children, our charity partners, and continue to engage our corporate partners who donate much-needed products, so we can ensure every child has the opportunity to play this summer and go back to school ready to learn.”

Meghan Meek-O’Connor, child poverty policy lead at Save the Children UK, said:

“Families can really struggle with annual back-to-school costs and it makes the end of the holiday period a particularly stressful time. Books, sports kits, uniforms and stationery are the kinds of essentials that households on low incomes might find hard to buy so it’s great that In Kind Direct and Save the Children have joined forces to help children get back to school or nursery with the items they need to learn and thrive.”

If you’re a parent struggling with back-to-school costs, or a charitable organisation needing access to back-to-school supplies, visit: inkinddirect.org and click ‘Summer of Play’ for more information.

Find out more about Save the Children’s work across the UK here.