School-start assistance surges as single mother in Denmark struggles with rising costs

When Caroline Wichmand’s youngest son started school last year, he chose a blue backpack adorned with a dragon. “Cool School” was written on the bag, which he had picked out himself in a store. Wichmand made sure it was nicely hung up in his room, ready for use, and she made it known to everyone that he had received a cool new backpack.

As a single mother of three boys aged 7, 11, and 12, Wichmand relies on student benefits, making it challenging to budget for additional expenses like backpacks and pencil cases. Therefore, she received school-start assistance from Danish Folkehjælp, which provided a gift card worth 2,500 kroner, enabling her to purchase the desired blue backpack for her youngest.

“The assistance was fantastic and crucial,” she stated. Wichmand is not alone in needing such help; the number of parents requesting financial support for school supplies has reached a new high this year.

Despite various suggestions for affordable alternatives, Wichmand did not believe they would have worked for her son’s school start. She acknowledged that while some might argue for thrift store options, it was important for him to feel comfortable and accepted among his peers, rather than being the only child with a hand-me-down backpack.

Wichmand reflected on the broader implications of financial strain, noting that the rising cost of living has affected many families in similar situations. “Everything has become more expensive, especially for a single mother on student benefits,” she explained, highlighting the inherent difficulties of raising three children without substantial financial resources.