A temporary cut to VAT announced by the Chancellor will make it cheaper for families to visit paid attractions this summer.

However, Advice NI is highlighting that for many families, it is simply impossible to budget for trips during the summer holidays. It says that visiting places like the cinema, the theatre, and the zoo is not a priority for the many parents struggling to stretch their household budget far enough to pay bills and put food on the table.

The charity has joined with a wide range of community and voluntary sector organisations, and a large cross-section of civic society, to back the ‘Holiday Hunger Payments Bill’ introduced by Sinn Fein MLA, Danny Baker.

Kevin Higgins, Head of Policy at Advice NI, said, “This Bill is important in addressing the serious issue of ‘holiday hunger’ experienced by up to 90,000 children in low-income families. It aims to secure financial support in lieu of Free School Meals during the school holidays.

“Cheaper access to attractions isn’t what many families want. People need support with essentials. The school holidays come with a distinct and compounding financial pressure. The additional cost of feeding children who would otherwise receive a free school meal arrives at the same time as other increased holiday-period costs such as childcare, holiday schemes, and the huge burden of clothes, shoes, and school uniforms experienced more over the summer months.”

Advice NI is urging people to make their support for the Holiday Hunger Payments Bill known. People can express their views directly via the NI Assembly’s Call for Evidence, contact their local MLA, or sign the petition for the Bill to be introduced.

Rising household costs, persistent inflationary pressures, and stagnant incomes are leaving many households increasingly vulnerable to financial stress.

Fiona Magee, Interim Chief Executive of Advice NI said, “The proposed Holiday Hunger Bill is a practical and targeted proposal that recognises the reality families are facing by providing support to families who lose access to free school meals during school holidays. It has received support from schools, community organisations and anti-poverty groups who continue to report increased demand for assistance during holiday periods.

“Many parents describe the summer as one of the most financially difficult times of the year. School holidays should be a time children look forward to, not a period of additional financial stress and anxiety for parents. While measures to support tourism and leisure are welcome, families remain under significant financial pressure and for parents already managing rising household costs, the loss of school meal provision over the holidays creates an additional burden that many simply cannot absorb.”