Parents fear for children raised in cold homes as they battle high energy bills | Personal Finance | Finance [Video]

Allowing children to be raised in cold homes because of high energy costs is a potential “humanitarian crisis”, say UK academics.

Some 72 percent of parents cut back their energy use over the winter period due to high bills with the figure a higher 80 percent among those on low incomes.

A new study found parents are torn as they cannot afford to pay the high energy bills but are also concerned they are negatively impacting their children’s health and wellbeing (75 percent).

It also found that 62 percent were concerned that it was having a negative impact on children’s schoolwork.

These concerns are backed up by expert studies with University College London’s Institute of Health Equity who described the spectre of the health and education impacts of children stuck in cold homes as a potential “humanitarian crisis.”

The research was commissioned by the climate group Parents For Future UK. Its co-founder, Rowan Ryrie, said: “This winter’s sky-high energy bills pushed parents …