News

Parents forced to buy unhealthy food due to soaring costs

Published

9 months ago

March 13, 2025

FAMILIES STRUGGLING AS THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS DEEPENS

THE RISING cost of living is forcing Welsh parents to buy unhealthy food for their children, as healthier options become unaffordable, a new survey by Barnardo’s Cymru has revealed.

According to the survey, around one in five parents (22%) admit they have no choice but to purchase unhealthy food every week due to financial constraints. The findings come as Barnardo’s Cymru reports visiting homes where there is no food, with some mothers skipping meals entirely to ensure their children can eat.

Maria Jones, a children’s services manager with Barnardo’s Cymru, said: “We are seeing families who are beyond crisis point. It is no longer a choice of heating or eating for some. They simply have no heat and their cupboards are bare.”

Children surviving on unhealthy diets

Families are increasingly reliant on supermarket discount shelves, purchasing whatever is cheapest, regardless of nutritional value. Jones added: “Too many children are now just living on chips. It’s a huge problem, and who knows what the long-term impact will be.”

To combat food insecurity, Barnardo’s Cymru has distributed thousands of pounds worth of food vouchers in recent months. However, even food banks struggle to provide fresh produce, leaving families with limited nutritious options.

Jones, who works in Newport, highlighted the city council’s role in supporting the distribution of supermarket vouchers. “We have had families breaking down in tears on the doorstep because they are so grateful to have help with fresh food,” she said.

Survey exposes growing crisis

The YouGov survey questioned 231 parents across Wales with at least one child under 18. Key findings include:

22% of parents bought unhealthy food weekly due to affordability issues.
41% said they had to opt for cheaper, unhealthy food at least once a month.
72% of parents who resorted to unhealthy food choices expressed concern over their children’s diets.
18% believed their children’s diets had worsened due to the cost of living.

Barnardo’s has also published a report, Nourishing the Future, which highlights the growing number of children missing out on nutritious food. The report warns that the average height of five-year-olds in the UK is declining, and Victorian-era diseases linked to malnutrition, such as rickets, are making a return.

Structural inequalities deepening food insecurity

The report, drawing on insights from children, parents, and experts, reveals:

Families and young people want healthier diets but struggle to afford them.
Healthy food is out of reach for those on low incomes or Universal Credit.
Structural inequalities in the food system make it harder for certain groups to access nutritious food.

Barnardo’s also highlights the additional difficulties faced by families in temporary accommodation. Many are living in single hotel rooms without cooking facilities and rely on takeaways for months. Even after securing housing, families often move into unfurnished spaces without basic necessities such as beds, cookers, or fridges.

Jones explained: “They have a roof over their heads but very little else. We often have to step in with essentials like blow-up beds while they wait for emergency grants.”

Calls for government intervention

Parents without access to budget supermarkets are also facing higher costs, as they are forced to shop at expensive corner stores.

Sarah Crawley, Director of Barnardo’s Cymru, said: “We are seeing the impact of poverty on children’s nutrition in homes across Wales. Far too many children and young people are missing out on nutritious food, with huge knock-on effects for their health.

“We know that parents are making big sacrifices so their children have the best food they can afford. But healthy food is out of reach for so many families.”

The charity’s report recommends government action, including:

Increasing the value of healthy shopping vouchers for low-income families.
Strengthening regulations on the quality of school meals.
Using revenue from future sugar or salt taxes to tackle food insecurity.

Barnardo’s Cymru is calling for urgent measures to ensure that no child in Wales has to go hungry or suffer long-term health consequences due to financial hardship.

Community

Craig Flannery appointed as new Chief Fire Officer

Published

4 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID AND WEST WALES FIRE SERVICE LEADERSHIP CHANGE

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Craig Flannery as its new Chief Fire Officer, with effect from Monday, December 15, 2025.

Mr Flannery has served with the Service for more than twenty years, progressing through a wide range of middle management and senior leadership roles across both operational and non-operational departments.

During his career, he has been closely involved in strengthening operational delivery, risk management and organisational development. His work has included leading innovation in learning and development, overseeing the Service’s On-Call Improvement Programme, and driving investment in key enabling functions such as workforce development and information and communication technology.

The appointment followed a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment process led by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. Candidates were assessed through structured interviews, strategic leadership exercises and scenario-based assessments designed to test operational judgement, organisational vision and the ability to lead a modern fire and rescue service.

External professional assessors were also engaged to provide independent scrutiny, ensuring the process met high standards of fairness, transparency and challenge.

Mr Flannery emerged as the strongest candidate, demonstrating clear strategic leadership capability, detailed organisational knowledge and a strong commitment to community safety and service improvement.

Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Craig brings a deep understanding of our Service and a clear vision for its future. His appointment will strengthen our ability to innovate, support our workforce and deliver high-quality protection for the communities we serve.

“As we navigate a rapidly changing landscape, Craig’s experience in driving innovation and organisational development will be invaluable in helping us adapt and transform for the future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Flannery said: “It is a privilege to lead this outstanding Service. I am committed to supporting our people, strengthening partnerships and building on the strong foundations already in place.

“As the challenges facing fire and rescue services continue to evolve, we must modernise and innovate, ensuring we have the skills, technology and capability needed to meet the needs of our communities. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across Mid and West Wales to deliver a resilient, progressive Service that keeps people safe and places our staff at the heart of everything we do.”

Health

Resident doctors in Wales vote to accept new contract

Published

9 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENT doctors across Wales have voted to accept a new contract, with 83% of those who took part in a referendum backing the agreement, according to BMA Cymru Wales.

The contract includes a four per cent additional investment in the resident doctor workforce and introduces a range of reforms aimed at improving training conditions, wellbeing and long-term workforce sustainability within NHS Wales. The BMA says the deal also supports progress towards pay restoration, which remains a central issue for doctors.

Key changes include new safeguards to limit the most fatiguing working patterns, measures intended to address medical unemployment and career progression concerns, and reforms to study budgets and study leave to improve access to training opportunities.

Negotiations between the BMA’s Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, NHS Wales Employers and the Welsh Government concluded earlier this year. Following a consultation period, a referendum of resident doctors and final-year medical students in Wales was held, resulting in a clear majority in favour of the proposals.

Welsh Resident Doctors Committee chair Dr Oba Babs Osibodu said the agreement marked a significant step forward for doctors working in Wales.

He said: “We’re proud to have negotiated this contract, which offers our colleagues and the future generation of doctors safer terms of service, fairer pay, and better prospects so that they can grow and develop their careers in Wales.

“This contract will help to retain the doctors already in training, and also attract more doctors to work in Wales, where they can offer their expertise and benefit patients.”

Dr Osibodu added that the BMA remains committed to achieving full pay restoration and acknowledged that challenges remain for some doctors.

“Whilst this contract sets the foundations for a brighter future for resident doctors in Wales, we recognise that there are still doctors who are struggling to develop their careers and secure permanent work,” he said. “We need to work with the Welsh Government and NHS employers to address training bottlenecks and underemployment.”

The Welsh Government has previously said it recognises the pressures facing resident doctors and the importance of improving recruitment and retention across NHS Wales, while also highlighting the need to balance pay agreements with wider NHS funding pressures and patient demand.

The new contract is expected to be phased in from August 2026. It will initially apply to doctors in foundation programmes, those in specialty training with unbanded rotas, and new starters, before being rolled out to all resident doctors across Wales.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

9 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.