Skint families are sending children to school in dirty clothes, a charity says today.
A parent told Save The Children they made the drastic choice after their washing machine broke and they couldn’t afford a laundrette. Another mum washed her family’s clothes by hand.
One mum’s baby outgrew her cot but there was no money for a bed. Another had a rodent infestation but couldn’t afford pest control.
The stories came from some of 1,038 parents given the charity’s Early Years Grant, averaging £300, since January.
The crisis fund was set up during Covid but there has been “no let-up” in applications as prices rise.
Becca Lyon of Save the Children said: “The reasons parents have turned to us is heart-breaking.
“They are all families on Universal Credit, a system that’s supposed to support those on the lowest incomes.
"Money just isn’t stretching far enough.”
Save the Children demanded Universal Credit is raised by £10 per child per week as the October 1 price cap on energy bills is announced tomorrow.
Treasury officials are drawing up a paper with options for the next Prime Minister which is due to be finished next week.
But it is thought it will shy away from radical measures and whoever wins can reject any - or all - of the suggestions.
One source familiar with the plan said it could include choices like boosting Universal Credit, or extending direct payments that already exist to pensioners and the disabled.
That could be junked by Liz Truss who has slammed “handouts” and wants to cut tax as her first priority.
While she has not had formal meetings with the Treasury, Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi - a Truss backer - speaks to her on the phone.
Citizens Advice today warned it had referred a record 120,000 people to crisis support this year.
July saw the highest ever number of people unable to top up a prepayment meter - the fifth time the record was broken this year.
The Samaritans and 16 other charities sent an open letter to Boris Johnson warning the crisis risks more suicides.
Their plea today warned: “A squeeze on living standards, unmanageable debt and economic recessions cause a rise in mental health problems, demand for services and, sadly, are connected to a rise in suicides.
“We have the opportunity to learn from the past and address how to support people’s wellbeing to avoid repeating history.”
A poll found most voters (62%) want more targeted cash to help struggling households to pay their fuel bills.
That included 54% of Tory voters, said the survey for the Social Market Foundation.
