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.
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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.
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Give to an urgent need today!
The average time for a need to be fully funded is currently 8 days
£200 needed for a school uniform and clothes
A is now the legal guardian for her two grandchildren, as requested by the Home Office. The children relocated abroad over four years ago, but their parents became unable to care for them and both children now have mental health issues. A has received the children's element of Universal Credit, but has numerous unexpected expenses. She requires help to buy a blazer and sweatshirts for the younger child (the school are helping with other items) and suitable non uniform clothes for both.
£200 needed for a cooker
J is a victim of trafficking who has now been granted leave to remain in the UK. She has now secured a flat of her own, but has no possessions or savings, and a low income, as she hasn't been allowed to work whilst her asylum claim was being assessed. Your support to purchase a cooker would help J to cook and eat properly as she builds a new life for herself.
£150 needed for a television
D is a single mum who has just started a new job and is awaiting her first monthly wage. While she was at work, her ex-partner entered the house and took the television. She has since had the locks changed. D cannot afford to replace the television after paying rent, bills and food. The family don’t go out, but enjoy family time and watching telly together. Please can you help?
£150 needed for a wardrobe
P, who ended up in a women's refuge after fleeing fifty years of domestic violence, had no possessions and is trying to rebuild her life from nothing. She has very little income and can't afford to purchase anything herself. The refuge have managed to source a few furniture items, but P really needs a wardrobe as her clothes are currently on the floor.
£100 needed for a vacuum cleaner
O and her fifteen year old daughter moved to the UK from the Ukraine when it became unsafe to stay. Her husband and other family have remained in the Ukraine. Mum and her daughter were first housed through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, but moved into their own unfurnished, rented flat, two months ago. O works as a cleaner, and is also receiving Universal Credit, but money is tight. She would be really grateful for a vacuum cleaner to keep the flat tidy.
£200 needed for a housing deposit
S faces challenges including a mental health condition, hearing difficulty, and the need for financial help with a housing deposit. On a low income, stable housing is crucial for her wellbeing and recovery. Your support, along with a Home Office loan she had already received, will help S secure a safe environment to manage her health. Your assistance will significantly improve her quality of life, providing the stability she needs to focus on her health.
£175 needed for a washing machine
Our client came to the UK from Bangladesh to join her husband. She was subjected to verbal, physical and sexual abuse from her husband and his mother, and treated as a domestic slave. A family friend reported this to the police and our client was removed from the house and the perpetrators were arrested. She was moved to another county for her safety and lived in a refuge until she was ready to live independently. Our client has now moved into her own tenancy and needs help towards the cost of a washing machine
£200 needed for a cooker
K was homeless and sleeping in a tent, but has recently secured a one bedroom flat which is unfurnished. He is unemployed and his benefits only just cover his daily living expenses, so he is not able to afford any furniture. K has no family support or connections to help him. Your help to purchase a cooker would mean that he can cook and eat more healthily and affordably, helping him to make the best possible start in his new tenancy, and to save towards other items.
£120 needed for a bed
D, who has fled a nearby city, due to violence, is scared for his life. He has come to Scarborough to be with family and to get a fresh start. D is very unwell with lung disease and three broken ribs. His family has pooled together to give him support and get his new home sorted out. D only has a bed that he really needs now, as he is currently sleeping on a sofa which isn't helping his lungs or ribs! Please could we help him get a bed so that he can finally feel that his new start has begun? Thank you!