The rising cost of living crisis: our response
As a charity we are well placed to meet the needs of individuals impacted by economic and social change. Throughout the pandemic we saw a huge increase in need, helping more individuals annually than ever before. We're very aware that the need for help will only continue to increase over the next few months, as individuals struggle to pay for their basic bills. We are expecting this increase not only because many will struggle with the increases in energy and food, but also due to many people finding themselves without savings to pay for unexpected items such as a broken washing machine or clothes for a growing child.
Therefore, we are responding by being prepared to help as many people as we're able during this time through the needs on our website. We will be encouraging donors to give towards the individual requests on our website, but we are also running a specific appeal through Stewardship. You can read more about these at the end of this blog.
We are hoping that through our network of churches and local charities we will continue to be able to provide a valuable resource as they meet the ever-increasing need in their communities. We are getting daily requests for help, which tell the story of individuals who are being affected by the rising costs. Here are just a few examples:
R, a young mum to two small children, has come to us in desperate need of support for gas, electric and food. She is using a Foodbank on a daily basis, but is really struggling with anxiety and depression. R is trying her best to keep her head above water, but with the rising costs and being on a low income, she feels she is failing. If we could just give her some breathing space from the cost of living, to help with her mental well-being, this would be greatly appreciated.
M is currently being supported by the local Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre. She has made significant strides forward in managing her money and dealing with debt that has caused her to struggle for some time. However, with the cost of living rising she has found it really difficult to put any money away, leaving her stuck when needing to replace her fridge freezer.
This request is for a school uniform for a single parent who cares for two daughters and is a Kinship Carer with parental responsibility for her grandson. The cost of living crisis is hitting really hard as the children get older and the cost of their clothes increases. Her grandson is starting secondary school this September and she desperately wants to provide the uniform he needs, so he isn't different to his peers.
The good news is that Acts 435, alongside our fantastic supporters and donors can help to meet these specific needs of this grandmother and R and M! All individuals who are feeling 'stuck' and anxious. These three requests for help specifically mention the rising cost of living. However, we're aware that it is affecting most people in one way or another, meaning that all of the requests on our website will support an individual or a family who are struggling during this crisis.
As well as supporting our churches and local charities who partner with us we're also continuing to connect with our key partners who are also helping to tackle this emergency. In this way we hope to be able to help further during this crisis, and meet the needs of more individuals than ever before.
If you are able to give directly to an individual or family, please do take a look at all the needs posted on our website. However, we want to provide as much support as we can to individuals who are struggling with the rising cost of living, and particularly those who are immediately affected by the increase in fuel costs taking place in October. Therefore we have created a fundraiser with Stewardship and funds raised through this will go to the direct needs of individuals who are struggling with the rising cost of living, and especially those who find themselves in fuel poverty. Each family or individual will be someone known to be in need by our partner churches and charities. Initially they will go directly to meet the needs on our website. However, if funds exceed this we may seek to help other individuals who are known to our partners to be in need.
Give to an urgent need today!
The average time for a need to be fully funded is currently 5 days
£200 needed for carpet fitting
R is a disabled mum of three who has fled domestic violence. For the last three months she has been living in a hotel whilst she waits to be rehoused. Fortunately she has now been granted a property with a local landlord, but unfortunately there are no carpets or floor coverings anywhere in the house. R is desperate to make the house a home, but she simply can't afford the high cost of carpets. We have an amazing offer of free carpets but we just need a little help fitting them.
£180 needed for a microwave, airfryer and oyster top-up
M is a migrant who has been destitute but now thankfully he has been given permission to stay in the UK. He has kidney failure and needs dialysis 2/3 times a week so has had to give up work. The migrant centre helped him to claim benefits and he has found a place to stay. He is trying very hard to remain as healthy as possible and would love to have an airfryer and a microwave to help him do this. He has appointments to go to for his health and for advice so he also needs an oyster top-up.
£100 needed for a mobile phone
M is a single woman and asylum seeker from Ethiopia who was using an old phone a friend gave her, but now it has become a nightmare. It is resetting itself, deleting important files, the battery doesn't last at all, and showing low memory space all the time, forcing her to delete other important documents she needs for her asylum case. M needs your help to replace her phone desperately, and begs for your understanding in her hard times.
£120 needed for a Bengali interpreter
A has minimal English language. We at Christians Against Poverty are scheduled to assess her financial situation and, in order to proceed with the debt help, we need to ensure she fully understands the paperwork she is signing and understands the information we require from her regarding her income and expenses. We had used a volunteer but we have been unsuccessful in arranging the follow up appointment in this instance. Please can you help us to arrange an interpreter.
£200 needed for a door and door frames
This single mum of two children in North Tyneside is living in a house where her ex-partner has caused so much damage to the property. The family is in need of an internal door that he pulled off the door frame, and replacement door frames that he damaged, as well as the necessary equipment to repair these things and paint for the timber door frames. Mum is on her own, has rent arrears and no spare money to repair or replace these things.
£200 needed for a living room carpet
Our client has fled domestic abuse and just been housed in a new property without any flooring. They are trying hard to rebuild their life after fleeing and have found themselves in a new area, away from their support network. We would like to support our client with a new carpet for their lounge to help them in their fresh start. Please can you help?
£200 needed for a fridge freezer
M is a single lady living in a council bungalow. She is a long-term cancer sufferer and spent nine months in hospital last year. She is unable to work and receives Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments. M's fridge freezer has stopped working and is beyond repair. She needs it not just for storing food but also for her medications. M is unable to afford a replacement herself so if you are able to help with this purchase, that would be brilliant. Thank you.
£150 needed for a television
We have met a young care experienced person who has moved into his new property, is currently on his own for the first time in a while and is struggling with this. His television is currently broken and he would really appreciate having a new one to provide some distraction while he builds his independent life and tries to make his flat a home.
£200 needed for a bedroom carpet
Our client has fled domestic abuse and just been housed in a new property without any flooring. They are trying hard to rebuild their life after fleeing, and have found themselves in a new area, away from their support network. We would like to support our client with a new carpet for their bedroom to help them in their fresh start. Please can you help?