London, 25th February- Save the Children has today (Friday) warned of the impact rising gas prices caused by the conflict in Ukraine will have on low-income families in the UK.  

The escalation of hostilities – which has left more than 7.5 million children in the Ukraine facing grave danger – has seen UK natural gas prices rocket by more than 30 per cent.

Dan Paskins, Director of UK Impact at Save the Children, said: “The prospect of energy price rising even more than has already been forecast is incredibly worrying for households on low incomes. Millions of parents will be wondering how they will be able to keep their families afloat in the months ahead.

“This brings home the desperate need for sustained investment in the social security system to lift children out of poverty and insulate families from rising costs.

“We’re already seeing families having to make impossible choices between heating their homes and feeding their children. Parents we work with say they just don’t know what they’re going to cut back on next. A further increase in energy bills will leave even more children living in cold and damp homes, going to bed hungry, and missing out on the opportunities they need to grow and thrive.

The best way of supporting families through this crisis is by making sure benefits keep up with rising costs – but right now, they’re on track for a real terms cut. The UK government must act to support families and make sure benefits increase in line with inflation.”

ENDS

For further enquiries please contact

Robbie McIntyre: r,mcintyre@savethechildren.org.uk

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409