Families losing out

It may be nearing the end of the great British summer, but it’s not necessarily been that great for many of our kids.

Shocking new research has revealed that one family in five is too poor for a day trip to the seaside.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s has published new research, showing the poorest 20 per cent of families simply don’t have enough disposable income to afford a city to coast trip, even after cutting out everything ‘but the basics’.

A day trip could cost up to ÂŁ172 from Aylesbury to Bournemouth; ÂŁ127 from Leicester to Skegness; and ÂŁ96 from London to Margate. This includes train fair, bought with a railcard meaning an initial outlay of ÂŁ30 to purchase the railcard, sun cream, fish and chips and ice-cream.

The incomes of the poorest families have plummeted in recent years. They have been hard hit by rising living costs and working and non-working benefits cuts.

Welfare reform has included steps that have severed the link between benefits and inflation.

“These new figures are shocking. They highlight the shameful hike in rail fares, fuel increases and inflation,” said Brett Sparkes, Unite South West Community Coordinator.

“Throw in the cuts made to benefits and pay freezes and it adds up to making a day trip unaffordable to one in five families.”

Working full-time on the ÂŁ6.31 hourly minimum wage would gross just ÂŁ13,124 in a year. The minimum disposable income for some of the poorest families is just ÂŁ39 a week after covering basic living costs.

“A trip to the seaside is a British family tradition and a happy memory every child should be able to enjoy,” added Brett.

“It doesn’t end with trips to seaside towns either. Countless local family attractions are also completely unaffordable to many families. A day out at Windsor’s LEGOLAND would set a family of four back £176.40, London zoo tickets up to £80.88 and London Aquarium £77.40.”

Tyrone Fowles, Unite Community co-ordinator for the West Midlands, agrees. “Unfortunately this is the reality for our most deprived communities in today’s society.

“With soaring costs, families are finding it hard if not impossible to spend family time away from their homes and communities.”

And Tyrone knows only too well what this means. “From first-hand experience of this, my family used to appreciate support from local organisations which would try and bridge the gap. But because of cuts, most of these local organisations have been closed. Family time should be affordable for all not just the few.”

A Unite mum knows the reality. “As a family of five struggling on low pay a day trip to the seaside is an expense we simply can’t afford,” she says.

“It’s hard. As a parent you feel guilty about that. But the reality is that times are hard for lots of families and there’s a lot of stuff we can’t do. Even travelling on public transport with all the kids is too expensive.

“We try and find free things to do with them. A trip to the park with a picnic, play dates with friends, a walk somewhere nice.

“But once the kids are school aged they realise what they’re missing out on. I just wish the government would do something to help families on low incomes and benefits.”

Brett adds, “While the government has little control over what these attractions charge people it does have control over how poor British families are. A good start would be restoring the link between benefits and inflation, introducing the Robin Hood tax and lowering the gap between rich and poor.”