With the huge hike in energy prices and inflation, more residents in Richmond are depending on charities and food banks to live, says Citizens Advice Richmond
Not surprisingly, the number of people in Richmond who have gone to Citizens Advice Richmond for help has increased sharply this year. In September there was an increase of 42% in just one month, and this is likely to go up, not down.
Quentin Maxwell-Jackson, Coordinator, Research and Campaigns says: ‘We’ve supported more people so far this year than in 2019 and 2020 combined. Worryingly the trend continues to rise each month.
‘At both a Richmond and national level, we are seeing a crisis which is greater than during the pandemic. Issues which we’d normally expect to see peaking in winter reached abnormally high levels in the middle of summer. For example, record numbers of people on low incomes can’t afford to top up their prepayment energy meters to buy gas and electricity.’
The government’s recent freeze on energy bills is welcome, but unfortunately government support has been swallowed up by rising costs, says Maxwell-Jackson: ‘Many more of our debt clients are now facing negative budgets – where their expenditure on essentials exceeds their income – than we’ve ever seen before. The scale of this crisis is unprecedented in our experience.’
‘Susan’ was struggling to buy food, top up her prepayment meter and buy clothing and shoes for her growing children. We were able to refer her to a foodbank and help her to apply for additional benefits which she hadn’t realised she could claim.
‘Grant’ is in his 60s and finds it difficult to walk because of a long-term health problem. He takes pride in managing his low income and has avoided falling into debt by careful budgeting. But in August he had run out of money to pay for food and top up his gas/electricity prepayment meters. We gave Grant a food voucher and helped him to apply to a local charity for help with his energy costs.
‘Shane’ lost his job and called because he lives with his partner and children but has no money to buy food. He has successfully applied for benefits but has fallen into arrears with his energy bills. We referred him to a foodbank and advised him to apply to the government-funded Household Support Fund.
For free advice from CAR, call Freephone 080 82 78 78 73
CAR is a registered charity and provides free confidential, impartial advice to everyone. If you feel you could donate to help visit the website: citizensadvicerichmond.org
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