44% of teenagers are concerned about their parents getting into debt as Christmas approaches, a new survey from children`s charity Barnardo`s suggests.

The survey explored participants` feelings about all kinds of issues – not just debt, but money in general, as well as self-harm, the future, politicians, crime, and so on.

For example, the poll revealed that a quarter of the teenagers questioned – and in London, a third of them – have missed a meal due to a shortage of money.

“We are driven to accept that poverty and debt are concerns for adults,” said Barnardo`s chief executive Martin Narey. “But the depth of UK poverty is such that children fret about it and particularly about parental debt. So much for a contented and peaceful Christmas.”

Barnardo`s has interviewed teenagers all over the UK, and the resulting short film – The Teens` Speech – will be premiered on Christmas Day on MySpace`s UK home page and on YouTube.

Previously, a survey by Save the Children had suggested that many families would fall into debt in order to buy warm clothing and food this winter – and more than half of the people questioned said that they`d turn to high-interest debt to cover their costs.



Debt Advisers Direct offer free debt advice and a range of debt solutions, including debt management plans, debt consolidation loans and IVAs (Individual Voluntary Arrangements).

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