HORTICULTURAL charity Perennial is providing support to hard-hit families in the industry to help them get the support they are entitled to.

Despite careful budgeting, many families working in horticulture are finding it difficult to meet the everyday costs of raising a family. According to a report by the Trussell Trust in May 2021, there was a 49 per cent increase in the number of children supported by their food banks over a year from March 2018-19 and March 2019-20. The COVID-19 pandemic will have exasperated an already critical situation for many families, as reported by The Children’s Society.

Perennial can help families access government support and financial assistance, where at least one parent or carer works in horticulture. Parents are encouraged to act now to ensure that they don’t miss out by calling the Perennial helpline on 0800 093 8543 or visiting its website to find out more about how it can meet the costs of child’s schooling and plan ahead for the future.

Last year, Colin, an award-winning fuchsia nurseryman from Wales, received support for his family from Perennial after COVID-19 devastated his livelihood: “Overnight our family business for over 40 years was decimated. I had spent a lot of money growing the plants over the winter and with all the major flower shows such as Chelsea abandoned, we were left with no regular income and bills to pay. I didn’t know how I was going to get out of it and with a young family to support I knew I needed help.

“Getting help from the professionals at Perennial was an absolute godsend. They got to know my situation and gave me advice on how to improve things for me and my family. The ‘Back to School’ support we received was a huge help – having not been at school for six months, the children had outgrown everything.

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“The support from Perennial during the coronavirus pandemic has been invaluable. It really helps just knowing that there is always someone at the end of the phone to talk things over.”

Julia Hayne, director of services at Perennial, commented: “The cost of raising a family is rising but we’re not seeing wages increase at the same rate as essential outgoings and the situation has been made worse by the coronavirus crisis.

“We know many families are frustrated that, despite being in work and budgeting carefully, they are still struggling to meet the growing demands on their finances. We’re here to alleviate some of the pressure, taking the stress out of going back to school and helping families find financial solutions that will help them in the longer term.”

“We help families every day, often facing difficult challenges, providing a safety net for people working in any branch of horticulture. As your charity, we’re here to give you the help and support you need.”

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