Yorkshire Children’s Charity has experienced a 156% increase in demand for support from schools. Applications jumped from 1,940 in 2024 to 2,373 this year. Charlotte Farrington, founder and CEO of the charity, believes that this surge reflects a troubling connection between poverty and school attendance.
Seacroft’s Grange Farm Primary School was the most recent recipient of a crucial delivery of winter clothing. The organization donated coats, shoes, hats and scarves to ensure the students were warm and comfortable. Through this effort, we hope to lessen the strain that all too many students from low-income families experience, especially in the winter months. Sophie Powley, the Deputy Head Teacher at Grange Farm, stressed how important this support had been. It has had a noticeable impact on improving attendance rates in the school.
Charlotte Farrington stands outside in a pink sweater and blouse with long, wavy blonde hair. On that note, she really preached the necessity of meeting this moment. She stated, “No parent wants to be in a position whereby they are going to a charity to ask for shoes and coats and bedding for their children but, unfortunately, needs must.”
Teachers are already noticing that children who received help from the charity have better attendance. Farrington pointed out that adverse conditions, such as wet shoes or lack of heating at home, can discourage children from attending school. She remarked, “They go to put their shoes on for school [the next day] and their shoes are still wet and it’s just the icing on the cake in terms of, ‘fine, don’t go in’.”
As a charity they are well aware of the increasing pressures on young people who need support. Improving bedding quality for children They need more than clothes, they need bedding support. The charity’s pledge to help 122 schools across Yorkshire — many more than they ever expected to — shows it’s a demand that extends far and wide.
Jade Woodhead, a parent at Grange Farm Academy, said she was “delighted.” She really appreciates all the support that the foundation has given her. She mentioned how getting the assistance had removed some financial stress from the holiday time. “Even though I work part-time, I sometimes struggle to make ends meet and I was already panicking a little bit because it’s coming up to Christmas, wondering how I’m going to budget everything,” she said.
Dame Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner, recently concurred with these fears. She noted that the most recent census data showed that enrollment and poverty were the “number one issues” for teachers. “No child should be missing out on time in education because of circumstances beyond their control,” she stated.
As the government prepares to publish its child poverty strategy later this year, Charlotte Farrington expressed hope for a comprehensive approach to tackle child poverty head-on. “I want to see a clear and ambitious child poverty strategy from government that tackles child poverty head on, so that families are not having to rely on the goodwill of schools and local projects,” she said.
