The cost of living has become a national crisis and everyone is feeling the pain from higher taxes and energy costs.  I’m sure that everyone is also noticing the price increases in the supermarkets.  I’ve just paid £1.55 for four pints of milk and I’m sure it was 99p not that long ago!  The BBC website tells me that the price of milk is up 33% on this time last year. Overall, food prices are up 19% on last year so no surprise that people are feeling the pinch.

There is help out there and it looks like it will be needed for some time to come, as inflation seems to go down a lot slower than it goes up.  Remember that falling inflation does not mean that prices are falling, just that prices are going up by less.

The rising costs of fuel, food and other essentials, alongside the highest rate of inflation for 40 years, puts many households at greater risk of both immediate hardship and reduced wellbeing. Those groups particularly affected include single people on low incomes, families with children, including lone parents, those living with disabilities and pensioners. As a result of this need, Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) has a Cost of Living Charter.

This Charter represents the very real contribution that the Council is making to help our residents during the current cost of living crisis. It is our commitment to identify and provide support. It sets out the direct support and the partnerships that exist and will be developed to support our residents. This includes letting them know about other local and national organisations that can help with additional services and support. By co-ordinating our approach and by working with partners we really believe that we can make a difference.  For IBC, the main help is via access to support and advice, especially financial advice and working with partners to maximise our impact.

In terms of partner working, Suffolk County Council has the widest reach, covering many areas. I’d especially like to highlight the Warm Homes Fund. Grants to help insulate and make your property more energy efficient are available if you’re a home owner or private tenant without mains gas central heating and the total gross income (from all sources excluding some benefits) of everyone in the property is under £31,000. Landlords whose tenants qualify for support can receive up to two-thirds subsidy of costs for improvement work.

The voluntary sector needs to be applauded for their response to the cost of living crisis.  I think that the network of top up shops, which are run in eleven churches, is providing a lifeline to many families.  All are welcome, no referral is needed and there is no qualifying criteria.  For a small fee you can fill a bag with groceries and fresh veg.  It’s a random mixture of food every week.  When I went along to my local one, everyone got a large chunk of swede – whether they wanted it or not!

For more info: https://www.ipswichtopupshops.co.uk/

I caught a bit of BBC Question Time last week. Panellist Jack Monroe (cook and author) said “It’s not a cost of living crisis…it’s a cost of Conservatives crisis” and the result of stripping back on public services for the last 13 years.

It was good to hear Sir Keir Starmer recently outlining his five missions for government to “Give Britain its future back”. This includes creating the fastest growing economy in the western world and making Britain a clean energy superpower.  These missions will help increase household incomes and reduce energy bills, surely something we can all get behind.

Things can only get better.