Issues mount as winter approaches – but the Citizens’ Advice is at hand.
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There have been more reports today about the cost of living crisis. Here we look at updates to a piece from a month ago:
Rural cost-of-living emergency – Vision Group for Sidmouth
In other parts of the country, there are warnings about what it’ll be like this winter:
Rural poverty: ‘People are struggling but it’s hidden here’
In the meantime, there are fears of more people losing their homes this winter:
Cost of living crisis – a perfect storm for increase in rural homelessness – Rural Services Network
The Citizens’ Advice Bureau is there to help:
Cost of Living Crisis – Rural Services Network
And there is more help at hand, as reported from Lyme Regis:
RURAL communities are hit much harder by the cost-of-living crisis than those in urban areas, according to a new report by the Rural Services Network. The South West is particularly affected as the research shows residents in this region have the lowest average income in England. Despite low wages, people in the countryside pay much more for essentials like heating, transport and rent, which means that rural communities are disadvantaged in many different ways; this illustrates the need for more rural/urban and regional levelling up..
Rovarn Wickremasinghe, chief officer at Bridport and District Citizens Advice said: “The latest Rural Service Network report clearly demonstrates the higher costs that rural areas face. In our area we have seen significant increases this year in the number of crisis support enquiries around food bank referrals, discretionary help and charitable support, in addition to greater numbers of people threatened with or facing homelessness. Unsurprisingly, we are also dealing with more enquiries about rising energy costs and managing bills.
“We welcome the recent government support including Cost of Living Payments, Household Support Fund and the cap on energy. Additionally, the £2 cap on single adult bus fares through January to March next year will provide some direct help but more needs to be done to address the issues raised in the report.”
Cost of living crisis hitting harder in rural communities – LymeOnline
With more information here: