Family Law

The recession is having a severe impact on families' lives to the point that 10% of parents believe that concerns about money are putting them at greater risk of separation or divorce, a survey commissioned by parent support charity Parentline Plus has revealed.

According to the survey into the effects of the recession on families parents with children under 16, 88% of parents have made cut backs due to the economic climate and 19% of parents have less time to spend with their family because they have to work more to make ends meet.

Worryingly, the survey also shows that a significant number of families believe the financial strain and insecurities due to the recession have affected their children's quality of life (39%).

Conducted by YouGov,Parentline Plus released the findings as the charity launches a major campaign to help ease the pressure on families who are suffering hardship and risk family break up due to the effects of the recession.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has given £150,000 to the charity to ensure parents struggling with the emotional stress of the recession are aware of the support that Parentline Plus can offer.

Parentline Plus will be launching a local radio advertising campaign on 85 stations across England; distributing a free recession pack to callers to their free, 24-hour helpline and sending one million leaflets packed with tips and information on beating the recession to schools, children's centres and other places that parents visit.

Parentline Plus Chief Executive Jeremy Todd said: "These survey results are extremely worrying. They show that families across the country are under real strain and the recession is impacting on all aspects of family life."