Actor Himesh Patel has narrated a new animated film about the challenges faced by families struggling during the school summer holidays.
Patel, best known for his roles in The Odyssey and Eastenders, provides the voiceover for The Elephant in the Room, a short film produced by Save the Children as part of a campaign about summer holiday poverty in the UK.
The charity said one in eight families are struggling to afford basic summer essentials, including sun cream and hats for their children.
Research found 88% of parents experience financial and emotional pressure during the school holidays, while three in five said the summer break was the most difficult time of year financially.
Patel, who supports the charity, said: ‘As a father of two young girls, their health and happiness is the most important thing to me. I wanted to support Save the Children’s summer holiday campaign to help draw attention to the number of children that will be going without food or activities this summer.’
The animation, which can be watched above, tells the story of a young boy who worries about having ‘no stories to tell or clothes to wear’ when he returns to school after the holidays.
Patel said he hoped the film would ‘help quash any stigma felt by families that find themselves struggling this summer’.
He added: ‘Currently four million children live in poverty in the UK and in the holidays, instead of having family trips, summer activities and time with friends – children are often having to stay at home and miss out.
‘These moments that can make a childhood, and provide life-long memories should be available to all, and certainly shouldn’t be defined by a parent’s income. It’s certainly made me sad to think that once these childhood summers are gone, children can’t get that time back.’
Dan Paskins, executive director for UK impact at Save the Children, said: ‘Whilst 71% of parents said their children associate the school holidays with excitement and 66% with joy, only 16% said they can provide their child with a similar summer experience to the one they had when they were young.
‘This film aims to reflect the experiences of thousands of families across the UK faced with summer holiday poverty right now. Four million children are growing up in poverty this summer, we want them to know they are not alone and that poverty no longer needs to be the elephant in the room.’
Image: Save The Children
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