The Salvation Army is appealing to the new government to "level the playing field for families marginalised by poverty".
It comes as the church's new research found that 43 per cent of parents in the UK are concerned that the cost of the summer holidays and preparing for the new term will put them into financial difficulty.
The poll of more than 4200 adults found that 13 per cent of parents questioned reported being very worried they would not be able to afford essentials like food and utility bills.
Of those parents who were worried, when asked about their financial concern, half cited the cost of school uniforms and three in ten (29 per cent) of the same group said they are worried they won’t be able to afford food because they rely on free school meals during term time.
Those on the lowest incomes (less than £14,999 per annum) were most worried about falling into financial difficulty over the summer - but the research found that working parents are also struggling to make ends meet.
A quarter of all ‘worried parents’ in work (25 per cent) say they are concerned about the cost of food over summer, with almost one in five (19 per cent) ‘worried parents’ in work concerned about taking unpaid leave.
Major Alec Still, The Salvation Army's Divisional Leader for Yorkshire and Humber, told Premier:
"Our research is really showing that this is going to be quite a stressful time. This should be a time of relaxation, a time of fun, a time where parents and children alike can let their hair down and enjoy each other's company and enjoy the break from regular schooling. The reality is, for many, it's a time of stress, it's a time of real anxiety, because they are genuinely wondering how they're going to make ends meet with the reality of additional food costs during the summer holidays, and all the preparations they need to make ready for going back to school.
"I think a lot of churches are absolutely doing their best to plug the gap, but I think the gap is significantly bigger than we realize."
Parents were also asked what would ease the strain during the school holidays:
46 per cent said food vouchers or extra cash payments to help replace free school meals, 55 per cent want school uniforms to be more affordable, 53 per cent want more affordable childcare and 46 per cent want to make sure benefits cover the cost of living.
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Coke of The Salvation Army appealed to the new Labour government to look at the issue:
“The new government has the chance to rethink how public services and the welfare system can level the playing field for families marginalised by poverty; and invest in the services that will give families and children a chance to live life to the full. We’re calling on them to use the first budget to put families first so that they can get the help they need."