Below is a list of links and resources for individuals and organisations seeking campaigning information and support due to the impact of the cost of living crisis. We will be updating this list as more information is available – please do share anything that you feel may be useful for us to include.
Lights Out - the charity sector's energy bills - a December 2022 report from Pro Bono Economics
The Directory of Social Change's Top tips for lobbying your local MP; how they can help and how you can reach them.
Greater Manchester Poverty Action have launched the Greater Manchester Poverty Monitor 2022, which highlights the scale of poverty and inequality of outcomes, both within the city region and between the city region and the rest of England. The aim of the Monitor is to equip stakeholders with relevant knowledge to tackle socio-economic disadvantage in their own activities, from policy development to service design, advocacy and campaigning.
Warm Welcome – Equipping thousands of warm spaces – The Warm Welcome Campaign is the community response to the cost of living crisis. The campaign is determined to equip and support thousands of free, warm, and welcoming spaces in communities across the UK. Working with churches and other faith groups, civil society organisations, businesses and Local Authorities, the campaign wants to make sure that nobody is left to suffer on their own this winter. Get involved and register your space
The Centre for Social Justice has published their Over the Odds: Next Steps for Dismantling the Poverty Premium report. The poverty premium is where low income families pay more for essential products and services. They estimate that nearly seven million people in Great Britain are paying multiple poverty premiums for essential products and services, such as insurance, credit, energy, and food. The latest estimates suggest these premiums cost about £478 per year.
Going under and without: JRF’s cost of living tracker, winter 2022/23 was published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in December 2022. This is the third tracker in the last twelve months and they found that 62% of people are going without essentials and 41% are in arrears with bills. A quarter of low income private renters are at risk of eviction or having to move due to increased rents. JRF have made recommendations including additional cost of living payments, changes to Universal Credit so people can afford essentials and unfreezing Local Housing Allowance.
Brace for Impact: An economic briefing – GMCVO has published a briefing which explains the cost of living crisis, analyses the impact of the government’s recent mini budget and outlines the implications of the current economic climate for VCSE organisations.
Charity Digital have created a report on how charities are responding to the cost of living crisis
Enthuse' report has shifted focus on the cost of living, and how it is impacting the nation’s ability to fundraise and donate.
NFP have written a blog on the Food Bank Crisis and the strains put on community projects by rising prices
Centre for Cities is a research and policy institute dedicated to improving the economic success of UK cities and large towns. They have realised the Out of Pocket Report – The places at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis; where inflation is higher in the UK’s poorest cities
Lime Green Consulting have released a blog on how charities and social enterprises can respond to the cost of living and energy crisis.
NCVO Call for continuing energy bill support for voluntary organisations – NCVO are urgently appealing for the government to ensure voluntary organisations that are most vulnerable to energy price rises get continued support once the EBRS comes to an end. Alongside our sector partners, the NCVO team has taken a number of actions:
- Drafted and co-signed a letter, with the Civil Society Group – a coalition of voluntary infrastructure bodies which represent and support 165,758 charities across the UK – to Grant Shapps MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and, Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to highlight the cliff edge that charities are facing
- Met with BEIS officials to outline why charities are particularly vulnerable to energy price rises and to make the case for their continued inclusion in the support that replaces the EBRS
- The Civil Society Group has made a submission to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to inform the Treasury’s review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
- The NCVO media team has contacted press and is encouraging charities to make use of local and national media contacts to outline the situation.
Join in taking action
There are two things you can do:
- Highlight the real-life stories about the impact on communities to constituency MPs. NCVO have drafted a letter for members to download and use as a framework to write your local MP. Tell them about the impact on your organisation and what it would mean for local people if your services were reduced or stopped all together.
- Tell your story to the media to further raise awareness of the issues. Email NCVO’s media team at: [email protected]