Lady Sophie Windsor said disadvantaged families grappling with home schooling are in a ‘living hell’ and appealed for support to end the ‘silent pandemic’ sweeping the UK.
Peep Show actress Sophie Winkleman, 40, who is the wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, appeared on Lorraine today to raise awareness of charity School-Home Support, of which she is patron.
She said that parents and children suffering from poverty, malnourishment and abuse are at ‘breaking point’, and that aside from the normal challenges of homeschooling, the most disadvantaged families among us are in ‘places of terror’.
This comes after reports that children who have been denied six months of normal education could lose an average of £40,000 in income over their career, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Lady Sophie Windsor, pictured with husband Lord Frederik Windsor in 2019, said disadvantaged families grappling with home schooling are in a ‘living hell’ and appealed for support to end the ‘silent pandemic’ sweeping the UK
Sophie Winkleman, 40, is trying to raise awareness of charity School-Home Support, of which she is patron. Pictured, Lady Windsor with the Duke of Sussex in 2019
‘We do need this appeal,’ said Lady Windsor. ‘Children’s authorities are calling what’s happening at the moment the silent pandemic – of poverty, malnourishment and abuse.
‘Parents have been in poverty for months on end since lockdown and are beyond breaking point. They are the victims, but the other victims we are trying to help are children.
‘They’re in very, very cold homes, they don’t know when they’re going to be fed – quite apart from being given a laptop, that’s fabulous – but that atmosphere in these places is one of terror, and it’s sweeping the country.
‘It’s not sustainable. They’re living a living hell and we need to act now and that’s what the charity I support does so directly and brilliantly.’
She appeared on Lorraine today where she told parents and children suffering from poverty malnourishment and abuse are at ‘breaking point’
She told host Lorraine Kelly (pictured left) that aside from the normal challenges of homeschooling, the most disadvantaged families among us are in ‘places of terror’
She went on to insist that ‘all babies are born the same’, and that while she accepts ‘injustice is part of life’, she believes we must stand up for deprived children across the country.
‘I think we cannot call ourselves a civilised society unless we fight for the very unfortunate children, of which there are millions because of this disastrous pandemic.’
School-Home Support works with schools, local authorities and other children’s settings to provide personalised support to children and families, tackling the problems that prevent children from receiving a successful education.
The royal explained that the method of tackling the underlying problem within each individual family is what makes the charity ‘unique’.
‘They go into homes and address the problem,’ said Sophie. ‘Whether it’s an abusive partner, depression in a parent, whatever the heating bill hasn’t been paid – whatever the problem is that’s making the child disturbed, they have the capacity to sort the problem out.’
Sophie, who now lives in Chelsea, married Lord Freddie in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace, after meeting him on a night out in Soho
Sophie added: ‘It’s not just the fact education isn’t happening, which is a tragedy, its abuse.
‘There’s really terrifying things happening, the parents are beyond breaking point and it’s a pandemic as the children’s authorities are saying.’
Sophie, who now lives in Chelsea, married Lord Freddie in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace, after meeting him on a night out in Soho.
The mother-of-two spoke of homeschooling her own children daughters Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina, seven, and Isabella Alexandra May, four.
‘I’ve failed spectacularly,’ admitted Sophie. ‘It’s shameful to talk about how hugely I’ve failed in so many ways – mainly because of how much of a pushover I am as a parent. I’ll say yes to anything if it means five minutes of quiet at that moment.’
She added: ‘So when I put on the cap of a firm organised teacher, my seven-year-old just looks at me and says “no”.’