Our communities are facing a cost-of-living crisis.
Inflation is at a 40-year high and the cost of household essentials like food, energy and fuel have rocketed. Energy bills increased by over 50% in April 2022 and by January 2023 it’s estimated that the average household could be paying over £4,200 a year for energy alone, plunging almost half of the population into fuel poverty.
As everyday costs rapidly outpace wage and benefit growth, many of our neighbours are struggling to cope and are facing extremely tough times ahead.
There are over 43,000 people in Somerset who receive Universal Credit, many of whom are living in working poverty, defined as when a working person’s income, after housing costs, is less than 60% of the national average. A recent survey from The Trussell Trust of 1,500 Universal Credit recipients in February 2022 found that:
- half are either already behind on their bills or are facing a constant struggle to keep up with them
- one in three had been unable to afford adequate food, meaning they had more than one day in the last month where they didn’t eat at all, or only had one meal.
Our local charities are already doing life-saving work for people living in poverty. Many are also facing the huge challenges of increased costs to carry out their work, soaring demand and fewer donations from the public.
We are launching the Somerset Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal to raise vital funds so that local people living in poverty can get the support they need, when they need it most.
Donations will fund crucial local work such as debt advice, food banks, mental health support, help for people with disabilities or older people, and homelessness organisations.
No one should have to choose between feeding themselves or their children. No one should have to choose between heating and eating. No one should be plunged into insurmountable debt to pay for basic living costs.
