Single Parents feel the Strain

10th July 2006

Three quarters of single parent families could be living in inadequately heated housing according to research out today.

The research from the not-for-profit Home Heat Helpline, a free telephone service that offers advice and help to people worried about their heating bills, reveals three quarters (73%) of the single parents polled admitted they set their heating at a lower temperature to save money.

Over half (55%) also said they heat only selected rooms to reduce their bills. However two parent families fare far better with only half 51% setting heating at a lower temperature and 37% only choosing to heat selected rooms.

The Home Heat Helpline research found that overall single parents were under greater financial pressure than their co-habiting counterparts with 74% saying they have to juggle their monthly expenditure so they can meet the financial pressures they face on a daily basis. This compares to only half (51%) of co-habiting parents.

And whilst rising energy prices may be a growing concern for many Brits, it seems single parents are more worried than their cohabitating counterparts, about paying heating bills, with nearly seven in ten (68%) saying they worried about bill payments compared to only 43% of two parent families.

Furthermore, 4 in ten single parents are concerned that not heating their homes adequately could affect the wellbeing of their children compared with only 28% of two parent families.

But keeping the heating down doesn’t always solve the problem as lone parents are more likely to have overdue bills. Just over a quarter 26% confessed to paying their energy bills late due to pressure to buy something for the children such as clothing and toys This is compared with only 12% of two parent families who do the same.

Gwen Vaughan, Chief Executive of Gingerbread, the UK’s leading support organisation for lone parents comments ‘Its no surprise to us that single parents are finding it harder to juggle their home heating bills as this mirrors our experience that single parents are often under greater financial and psychological pressure than two parent families. Our mission at Gingerbread is to help lone parents help themselves by providing advice where needed. The Home Heat Helpline means our members and other vulnerable groups have access to vital help and advice if they are having trouble paying their fuel bills.’

Single parent and Gingerbread member Amina from Kingston-upon-Thames comments on her experience:
‘I have two daughters aged 8 and 10 years old and so I struggle to make ends meet and find I am always juggling my finances. My fuel bills have always been one of my biggest worries as I struggle to find the money to pay for them. For the last few months I’ve had to turn to my brother to help me pay the bills but I hate doing this as he has his own family to worry about. When I called the Home Heat Helpline, I found out that I was entitled to 15% off my bills each month which has made a huge difference. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this before and the extra discount has made all the difference. The best bit was being able to speak to someone independent from my energy supplier, who really looked after me and told me exactly that I was entitled to.’

Duncan Sedgwick, Chief Executive of the Energy Retail Association which runs the Home Heat Helpline adds: ‘Lone parents are often under greater financial pressure and therefore an increased risk from fuel poverty. In fact our research shows that over half (55%) of single parents would like more advice on paying their home heating bills but a similar amount (48%) are not sure who to turn to. We are keen that more people in danger of fuel poverty know that by phoning the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) they can have immediate access to the help and advice for all their energy needs.’

The Home Heat Helpline is hosting a series of family fun days at children’s centres in London, Leeds and Cardiff where parents can get advice on their energy bills as well as enjoying entertainment including juggling lessons and free goodie bags. Campaign supporter, singer/actress Suzanne Shaw, a single parent herself, will be meeting other single parents when she attends the family day at Early Years Centre in Brixton London on July 10th.

The Home Heat Helpline Research also found:

- A quarter of married or cohabiting parents say they never worry about paying their heating bills, sadly only 14% of single parents can say the same

- And although 97% of single parents across the country said their home heating bills were top of their priority list of household expenses alongside groceries, a quarter of single parents (26%) said they had chosen to pay heating bills late because they felt under pressure to buy something for their children. Only half the amount of co-habiting or married parents (12%) found themselves in the same situation.

- Many children in single parent families are going without treats because their parents worry the extra spending would leave them unable to pay household bills. Nearly half (49%) of single parents said their children went without treats compared to only 21% of co-habiting parents

The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) is a free help line which has been set up to help anyone worried about paying their heating bills. Callers can talk to specially trained staff who can provide help and advice with their home heating bills including grants to make homes more energy efficient, arranging alternative payment methods to suit their circumstances, accessing a priority service team of specialist advisers and providing links to other support agencies.

For more information about Home Heat Helpline please visit: www.homeheathelpline.org

-ends-

Media Contacts:
Please contact for further information and interviews with case studies, Suzanne Shaw, Home Heat Helpline spokesperson Duncan Sedgwick and Gwen Vaughan Chief Executive of Gingerbread. B roll footage is also available:
Jan Singleton or Karen Tait, Good Relations: T 020 7861 3811 / 020 7861 2521
Suzi Darsa at the Energy Retail Association: T 020 7930 9174
Out of Hours contact number: 07887 523 522

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Regional Statistics - Number of parents who keep their heating at a lower temperature

REGION : SINGLE PARENTS : MARRIED/COHABITING PARENTS
North East : 76% : 57%
North West : 72% : 46%
Yorkshire & Humber : 75% : 53%
East Midlands : 67% : 50%
West Midlands : 75% : 48%
East of England : 77% : 49%
London : 67% : 57%
South East : 73% : 50%
South West : 77% : 58%
Wales : 70% : 57%
Scotland : 77% : 50%

1. Survey carried out on behalf on the ERA by YouGov and polled 1347 GB parents between 1-17 May 2006
2. The Home Heat Helpline operates from Monday to Friday (9am-8pm) and from 10am-3pm on Saturday. There is a free minicom number (0800 027 2122) and the Helpline also has access to interpreters for those callers whose first language is not English
3. The Helpline is operated by The essentiagroup and is staffed by expert advisers, including former health professionals, who are trained to give advice on how to stay warm during the cold weather. They are also trained and authorised to deal with intermediaries calling on behalf of vulnerable customers, such as friends, carers, social workers or health visitors
4. The Home Heat Helpline was launched by the Energy Retail Association which was established in October 2003 and is the only dedicated trade association for domestic energy suppliers in the UK. The Energy Retail Association’s mission is to identify areas where its members can work for the common good without competitive advantage.

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