‘Family life harder than 20 years ago’ say 58pc of Yorkshire people

MORE than half the people in Yorkshire believe family life is harder than it was 20 years ago, a new report has claimed.

Charity 4Children released the survey as it published a mainfesto calling on politicians to transform public services and workplaces “in response to the dramatic changes to modern family life”.

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A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 people across the UK commissioned by the charity revealed 58 per cent of people in Yorkshire and the Humber believe family life is now harder than it was two decades ago.

This compares with a national average of 52 per cent and is the second highest proportion of all regions included in the survey, behind only the South West.

Forty-two per cent of people in the region believe today’s children will have a worse life than their own and one in five don’t think their neighbourhood is a good place for children to grow up.

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According to the survey, 61 per cent of respondents say public services should be aimed at families while more than a third say they should be “dramatically changed”.

Anne Longfield OBE, chief executive of 4Children says: “Too many children and families are struggling in Yorkshire and the Humber today with limited potential and life chances as a result.

“Family life has changed beyond recognition over the past 30 years and our services and practices have often failed to keep up.

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“It’s time to change. We need to have a major shift in ambition if we’re going to make our communities great for families.”

The charity launches its manifesto at an event at the House of Commons today, with Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield MP Nick Clegg due to speak.

It is calling on national and local leaders to sign up to a ‘family commitment’, including a test to ensure policies are family friendly.

Comment: Page 12.