Recession hits kids hard

13/07/2009

Charity reports 50 per cent increase in grant aid for hard-up youngsters

A record increase in the number of young people applying to Barnardo’s Scotland for financial help has reached “unprecedented” levels, latest figures show.

The charity, which has given small grants to help under-25s cope with the cost of living for quarter of a century, saw a 50 per cent increase in grant-aid, the total given out north of the border rising from £43,000 in 2007/8 to £64,000 in 2008/9 financial year.

The recession and spiralling cost of living has been pinpointed as the reason. Barnardo’s Scotland head of children’s services, Sally Ann Kelly, said: “This is an unprecedented number of applications for financial help from young people. I am delighted we continue to make a difference to the lives of children, but remain concerned that in 2009 so many families live with incomes so low they have to rely on additional support to provide even basic living needs.”