The Cost of Living Support Forum

Households are being hit by the perfect storm of price increases, putting a tremendous financial strain on families.

Millions of households across the UK continue to grapple with sky-high bills and everyday essentials as the cost of living crisis shows no sign of slowing.

The “cost of living crisis” refers to the cost of everyday essentials like energy and food rising much faster than average incomes. We have all heard the term “inflation” used a lot recently, inflation measures how fast costs have risen yearly. The crisis we’re experiencing is particularly severe because several factors are pushing up prices across the board, rather than just certain items becoming more expensive.

Some of the pressures pushing up prices include:

High demand for oil and gas outstripping available supply. The Ukraine conflict has exacerbated this further, with a large amount of supply usually coming from Russia.
Pandemic support awarded by the government is coming to an end, such as reduced VAT rates for hospitality businesses
Disruptions to global supply chains, partly driven by Brexit and the pandemic
Reduced staffing levels across various businesses for the same reasons

How we’re supporting those affected

We’re providing support for those struggling, helping those affected to understand and benefit from the government support for the cost of living.

At our recent Cost of Living Crisis: Support Forum, we’re being supported by: Severn Trent Water, U Switch, Birmingham Central Mosque Foodbank, Reed in Partnership, Birmingham Adult Education Service (BAES), Yardley Jobcentre Plus, Shelter, SIFA and theDeputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands David Clarke.

Supported by David Clarke DL, Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands

David has more than 30 years senior experience in the development and implementation of communications programmes starting his career on West Midlands newspapers before entering the world of PR, communications and reputation management. He established his own company in 1986. Today, Clarke Associates advises some of the Midlands leading organisations.

David has a wide range of contacts in part because he is an enthusiast for the region. He is past-chairman of business lobby group Birmingham Forward, a former trustee of Birmingham Settlement and past-chairman of the Birmingham Business Breakfast Club. He has been a director of Marketing Birmingham and is a past chairman of The Birmingham Civic Society.

He is immediate Past President of Birmingham & Edgbaston Debating Society and serves on the Council of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Warden (non-executive director) of The Birmingham Assay Office and Chairman and non-executive director (pro-bono) of Miss Macaroon CIC – a social enterprise company supporting marginalised young people.

People struggling with cost of living can seek up to a 90% reduction on their water bill

Severn Trent to help a further 100,000 people pay their water bill with £30m fund
Support comes as families across the region face cost of living pressures
Severn Trent is the first water company in the UK to offer support on this scale

“The public aren’t aware about the services and schemes we offer to help save money, these events are so important to spread awareness during these times!”

Severn Trent Representative at the Cost of Living Crisis: Support Forum

The current cost of living crisis will affect us all, but the impact will be disproportionately felt by those already struggling to make ends meet. For thousands of people across the country, the risk of being forced into homelessness because of not being able to keep up with a spiralling cost of living is a terrifying reality.

The rising cost of living is continuing to stretch budgets across the UK, with warnings of more to come.
Energy bills are soaring, rents are increasing, and inflation has hit record highs for several months.
Living standards are forecast to fall at their fastest since the 1950s in response to the crisis, as wages fail to keep up with rocketing prices.
Poorer households are expected to be the hardest hit, while older people have reported choosing between heating or food.

Providing ‘better off calculations’ for Restart Scheme participants

Tubasem Malik

Delivery Manager at Pathway Group

We have learnt today that we need to do much more to address the concerns as the increase in utility and food is affecting BOTH the unemployed and employed.

Our recent event has allowed us to understand external barriers which impact participants who are not always comfortable voicing the realities of their current situation.

Faaizah Batool

Skills & Career Progression Coach at Pathway Group

Kiara Mackay

Skills & Career Progression Coach at Pathway Group

‘It’s been such an eye-opening experience today and has brought to light the difficulties we as a community face when it comes to the cost of living in a day and age where nobody should have to go hungry.’