Parents 'feeding other people's neglected children'

Parents are feeding other people’s children or inviting them to stay during the summer holidays, fearing that they are not being fed or looked after properly in their own homes, according to research.


A poll by the charity Action for Children, found one in seven parents were so worried about other people’s children being neglected that they gave them food, while one in 10 offered them a bed Photo: ALAMYBy Tim Ross, Social Affairs Editor

7:00AM BST 05 Aug 2011

A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 parents found a quarter of parents thought children were more likely to be neglected in the holidays than term time, when they can receive meals and supervision at school.

The poll, commissioned by the charity Action for Children, found one in seven parents were so worried about other people’s children being neglected that they gave them food, while one in 10 offered them a bed.

The charity said an 10% of all children in Britain are neglected, which is defined as being deprived of the right care and attention, including food, clean clothes, safety and security, warmth and love.

The charity’s chief executive, Clare Tickell, said: "No child should ever feel lonely, hungry or worthless, but once the school gates have closed for the summer holidays that is exactly how many of the 1.5 million neglected children in Britain are left feeling.

“The Government must help to tackle neglect within families, and give councils a clear signal not to cut play schemes and activities for children in the summer holidays - they may look like easy cuts to make but they are vital for our most vulnerable children, and their families.â€