YouGov poll finds 27% of British families ‘just about coping’

National charity 4Children is challenging all political parties to embrace a step change in ambition for children and families by committing to overhaul its services in every aspect of family life.

The call comes as a new poll finds that half of voters want politicians to do more for children and families, with 27% describing themselves as just about coping and half saying family life is harder than it was 30 years ago.

4Children commissioned a YouGov poll to coincide with the launch of its manifesto for the next Parliament, ‘Making Britain Great for Children and Families’ which sets out the bold commitments required to give children and families the support they need.

The survey found 49% of people said political parties should do more for children and families.

4Children Chief Executive Anne Longfield OBE said:”All the main political parties know that the family vote will be key at the ballot box next year. With half of people calling for more support for children and families, it is clear that the scale of ambition needs to radically change.  Families are looking to all the parties to set out what they will do to make Britain great for children and families.

“It is time for a real shift of ambition to give children and families the support they need to flourish. Families are our country’s most valuable asset and political parties need to invest in them.  We need to redesign public services to meet the needs of modern family life. During a changeable time in politics and with a crucial general election just months away, families are clear that the time for politicians to act is now.”

In the poll, more older people than younger people said family life had become harder during the last three decades and more older people think the future for children and young people will be a lot worse than young people themselves predict.

• Almost half (46%) of all respondents think family life is harder than it was 30 years ago; 29% think it is easier and 15% think it has stayed about the same. More people aged 60 and over (51%) think family life is harder than 30 years ago compared to 36 per cent of 18-24-year-olds.
• Half of all respondents (49%) think the future for children and young people today will be worse than their own; while 18% think it would be better and 22% think it will stay about the same. Nearly four times as many (25%) of people aged 60 and over think the future for children and young people today will be a lot worse, compared to 7% of 18-24-year-olds.
• However, 39% of people aged 18-24-years-old, the youngest age group polled, described themselves as optimistic about their life.

Anne Longfield said:”All families need support from time to time but too many are struggling to cope with a complex mix of health, financial and social issues without the support they need.

“Families tell us they need help early when problems arise but public services are not available until crisis hits. Ensuring families receive the support they need before their problems overwhelm them rather than having to pick up the pieces afterwards is of benefit to everyone.”

Life for children and families has changed dramatically over the last 30 years but public services have often failed to keep up to the particular detriment of the most vulnerable families.

• A fifth (21%) of people polled said help and support for children and families should be one of the issues at the centre of political parties’ manifestos for the general election.
• Almost a third (28%) of respondents want a greater commitment from political parties to do more to support families who are struggling with daily life.
• When asked about their own life now, 27% of people described themselves as just about coping; 18% said they are struggling and 10% said their life is deteriorating.
• Almost a quarter (23%) of people said they would like a greater commitment from political parties for better joined up local services.

In the autumn 4Children will set out a new vision for Children and Family Community Hubs which deliver and coordinate services for children and families – from early intervention to social care. These hubs will build on a tried and tested approach in Children’s Centres, bringing local resources and support together to provide universal services for all families in the area, plus targeted help for families who need extra support for multiple or complex needs.

In the survey, a fifth (20%) of respondents said they would like a greater commitment from political parties for more affordable and high quality childcare. In its manifesto 4Children calls for political parties to require schools to open up their buildings between 8am-6pm to allow the provision of breakfast clubs and after school care. It also highlights the need for the amount of childcare to be extended to 25 hours a week for all children aged between one and four during the next decade.

Anne Longfield said:”Childcare is a daily challenge for many families, especially for single-parent families and those where both parents work. Other parents are prevented from working because they do not have the childcare they need. All political parties need to sign up to a universal guarantee of quality, affordable childcare for every parent of a 0-14-year-old who needs it.”

Download the Making Britain Great for Children and Families manifesto here.