A record number of children are at risk of sexual and criminal exploitation this summer because families will be unable to afford activities over the holidays, Barnardo's has warned.
It follows a poll by the charity which showed many parents will struggle to afford clubs, take time off work or go on family outings over the six-week school break because of the cost of living crisis.
One in 10 parents and children in the survey were worried about criminal gangs in their area, while the same proportion were concerned about not having anywhere safe to go in their neighbourhood over the summer.
Barnardo's points to 'devastating' cuts to youth services with free or affordable activities becoming increasingly rare.
It says 760 youth centres have closed since 2010 and real-terms expenditure by councils on youth services has fallen by more than 70%.
In some areas, such funding has been obliterated entirely, with seven councils admitting that no money had been allocated to youth services in 2020–21.
Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry said: 'Children are particularly at risk this summer. Through our frontline work, we know that the cost of living crisis is increasing the risks of child exploitation.
'The Government must invest in nationwide access to help, such as therapy and counselling, so that all children experiencing abuse and exploitation have the best possible chance to recover and rebuild their lives.'
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