A majority of young Scots are worried the cost of living will make this Christmas a more anxious time for their families, a survey has found.
More than 400 youngsters aged 11-21 were asked by the Action for Children charity for their views on spending over the festive season.
The poll revealed that 78 per cent of respondents felt financial pressures would make Christmas an anxious time, including one in 20 kids who said December would be an “extremely anxious time”.
A third of the youngsters surveyed also said they were concerned that a friend or classmate they knew would not be able to afford presents.
Three-quarters said Christmas should be less about spending and more about helping others, while the same proportion is willing to sacrifice a present to another child they know without one.
The survey was published as Action for Children launches its annual Secret Santa campaign, which aims to help some of the most vulnerable children across the country.
The charity has helped people such as Hugh, a father of two young daughters under 10 years old, who lives in the north of Scotland.
Following a family crisis he suddenly became a single parent and full-time carer for both children with little support network around him.
When a welfare officer at their school spotted him having a tough time taking on the responsibility, he was referred to an Action for Children support service.
The support targeted at families with children aged 0 to 12 offers practical and emotional support, alongside activities like clubs and groups for parents and children.
Hugh said: “To tell you the truth I was just struggling along – the welfare woman in the school put the support worker in touch with me. But up until then, I was staggering around in the dark really.
“I had no the idea Action for Children existed before I needed their help.”
He added: “I was on the wrong kind of benefit, and I had no idea. Once Action for Children found that out, I got changed over to universal credit including child support payments.
“There was lots of things my support worker did to help me – things I had no idea were even there, like the Scottish Child Payment and things.”
Fiona Steel, national director for Scotland at Action for Children, said: “It’s easy to think that poverty happens elsewhere, but our research shows we face an ongoing cost of living crisis in Scotland and need to hear the words of young people about supporting others this Christmas.
“We know missing out on essentials, such as food or a warm bed, can have life-long impacts on children. With front line workers supporting children every day, we’ve seen children without a bed sleeping on the floor with just blankets, or parents getting in touch without money to feed their children.
“Until every family has enough to keep their child warm and well fed, we will continue to support and advocate for them. That’s why we’re asking Scottish communities to get behind our Secret Santa campaign to help us support our most vulnerable children, not only this Christmas but every day.”
It comes after retailers warned shoppers may spend less in the run-up to this Christmas after the fall inflation slowed.
Shop prices fell by 0.6 per cent in November, compared with a fall of 0.8% in October, according to the the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and research firm NielsenIQ.
The slowdown in deflation was driven by non-food goods and a slight increase in fresh food prices.
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