A NEW report by the Childhood Trust has warned that vulnerable children could face further disadvantages this winter following a tough 20-month pandemic. 

The London charity’s Cold, Hungry and Stressed report shows the loss of a number of financial supports, including the furlough scheme and the weekly £20 drop in universal credit, could have devastating effects. 

It found that charities could see a massive increase in demand for service support, with an estimated 22,000 more families in need of support from campaigns this year. 

In the capital, more than 80 per cent of respondents were concerned about financial stability this winter. 

The report states: “Increased costs, reduction in household income and the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are impacting the lives of thousands of children across London and the UK more generally. 

“In this research, we found financial instability, food insecurity and fuel poverty are of huge concern, both for low-income households, and those that support them.

“To respond to these challenges, our findings suggest that reliance on community and voluntary sector groups will increase as greater numbers of vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people face poverty. These charities need further support to deal with the additional strain on their resources.

“No child deserves to go hungry or cold this winter.”

The report is published as the trust announced its Christmas Challenge 2021 fundraiser to provide books, meals and other items for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. 

It seeks to raise £3.5 million to help support an estimated 150,000 children in need in London. 

Labour shadow child poverty secretary Wes Streeting said the government’s unfair tax hikes, the £20-a-week cut to universal credit and failure to do anything about out-of-control bills means this is set to be a particularly difficult winter for many. 

He said: “Britain should be the best place to grow up, but instead hundreds of thousands of children will go without the essentials this Christmas.

“Labour’s plan to ease the pressures on families would see VAT on household energy bills abolished through the winter, universal credit replaced with a fairer social security system, and better pay and security for working people.”