AGE Scotland has produced a new guide to support older people through the #costofliving crisis.
It’s packed with advice on energy bills, tips on how to shop smart and eat well when food prices bite, cost-effective recipes, and a directory on where to go for help:
The cost of living crisis is forcing many older people to make incredibly difficult financial choices between powering and heating their homes and the food they can afford to buy.
Age Scotland’s helpline is hearing from an increasing number of older people who are finding it near impossible to pay their energy bills, having cut down on all but the essentials, and are now at risk of falling into unmanageable debt as a result.
Their Big Survey 2023 really highlights the stark reality and toll the cost of living crisis has taken on older people’s financial and physical wellbeing.
Age Scotland has pulled together this guide to support older people as we believe nobody should face the ongoing cost of living crisis alone.
It’s packed with advice on energy bills, tips on how to shop smart and eat well when food prices bite, recipes from top Scottish chefs, including Tom Kitchin and Tony Singh, and a directory on where to go for help.
We hope you find it useful. For further help and advice or to get a benefits check please call our free Helpline on 0800 12 44 222.
Aldi donates surplus food from all its stores to local charities and foodbanks when stores close early on Christmas Eve. Aldi’s staff L-R Emily Sutton, Carla Louise Gospel and Tamara Mawson-Phipps 24/12/2022
Aldi donated 25,691 meals to those in need in Edinburgh and The Lothians over the festive period.
The supermarket paired up its stores with local charities, community groups and food banks in the area to collect unsold fresh and chilled food when stores closed their doors early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Charities that benefitted from the donations in Edinburgh and The Lothians include The Pennypit Trust, Tummies Not Trash and Winchburgh Food Store.
The food donations are part of Aldi’s successful partnership with Neighbourly, a community giving platform that links businesses to charitable organisations.
Aldi’s UK stores donate surplus food to good causes each and every day, with over 40 million meals donated to good causes since its partnership with Neighbourly began back in 2019.
Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket also worked in partnership with Company Shop Group this Christmas to provide around 2,000 meals at its Community Kitchens across the UK in the run up to Christmas.
Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said:“We are so proud to work with such amazing charity partners throughout the UK and the impact they have cannot be underestimated, especially during the winter months when their services are needed more than ever.
“We are pleased that through our partnership with both Neighbourly and Company Shop we have been able to give back to the communities we serve by providing more donations than ever this Christmas.”
Steve Butterworth, Chief Executive Officer at Neighbourly, added:“We’re pleased to have supported Aldi once again during what is often one of the busiest periods for our charities.
“Large donations like Aldi’s allow us to provide vital support to communities across the country who would otherwise miss out.”
The energy price cap has increased to £1,928 raising the average bill by £94
Union body says UK is “feeding foreign firms’ profits” while British households struggle
Commenting on Monday’s energy price cap announcement, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “No one should struggle to get by in one of the richest countries in the world.
“But 13 years of wage stagnation and cuts to social security have left millions badly exposed to sky-high bills this winter.
“Energy bills are already 50% higher than two years ago, so today’s rise will just hammer households even harder in the coming year. “
“It doesn’t have to be this way.
“Other governments are investing in publicly owned clean power and insulating homes.”
“The UK is feeding foreign firms’ profits and subsidising cheaper bills abroad, while British households struggle to heat their homes and pay their bills.”
NEW analysis by Scottish Labour has revealed that the parcels delivered by foodbanks in the City of Edinburgh has soared by 89% since 2018, with a shocking 94% rise in the number of parcels issued for children in the City of Edinburgh.
For West Lothian, there has been an increase in parcels of 81% since 2018, and a rise of 77% for parcels issued for children.
In the six months from 1 April to 30 September 2023 alone, there was a shocking 16,038 parcels distributed in the City of Edinburgh Council and 4,250 in West Lothian.
Foysol Choudhury, a Labour list MSP for Lothian, has raised concerns about the level of foodbank use and says that more urgency is needed to tackle food poverty in Edinburgh, Lothian and the rest of Scotland.
Mr Choudhury, alongside Scottish Labour, has raised concerns that the Scottish Government recently delayed the implementation of the Good Food Nations Act by half a year.
Scottish Labour also says the Scottish Government has repeatedly failed to set out a timeline for enshrining a legal Right to Food in Scots law – something Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is pursuing in a Member’s Bill.
Mr Choudhury said: “The levels of food poverty in Scotland are scandalous and the Scottish Government must act urgently.
“We should not have people in Scotland going hungry, cutting back, choosing between heating and eating or relying on foodbanks.
“I have met with so many brilliant organisations who work tirelessly to support those in food poverty-organisations like Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts and The Larder. However, they shouldn’t have to fill the gap where legislation and political leadership should be.
“We need real leadership from both of our governments – but the Tories and the SNP are both missing in action.
“The Lothian region deserves better than these two failing and out-of-touch governments – we need action at every level to tackle this shameful food poverty crisis and enshrine in law a legal Right to Food.”
Over 800 charities and community organisations in England struggling with increased demand have been awarded funding as part of a £76 million package
Food banks, warm hubs and safe spaces amongst the first 800 charities to benefit from support for frontline charities and community organisations meeting increased demand for critical services
Up to £38 million already allocated to support organisations carrying out vital work helping the most vulnerable
Additional package of support to improve the energy efficiency of community organisations now open for applications
Over 800 charities and community organisations struggling with increased demand have been awarded funding as part of a £76 million package to help vulnerable people.
Projects tackling food poverty, homelessness charities and services offering financial advice are amongst those to benefit from funding, providing a much needed funding boost for those meeting increased demand for their critical services.
The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, will continue to make awards from the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund throughout December and January.
UKMinister for Civil Society Stuart Andrew said: “Charities and community organisations are on the frontline helping the most vulnerable in society, and we are allocating £100 million in recognition that they are struggling too, as demand and costs both increase.
“Over 800 charities have already been awarded these significant grants, meaning they can continue to help those in need and we will continue to roll out funding at pace.”
This funding comes at a critical time as charities and organisations support more people struggling to heat their homes and access hot meals. Grants worth between £10,000 and £75,000 are being allocated to cover project and core costs, including for premise rent, utilities, staff and volunteers.
David Knott, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re proud to be distributing Government funding to enable frontline projects in England to support communities facing the impact of the rising cost of living.
“From the provision of food, shelter and safe spaces, to financial or housing advice, over 800 awards have already been made to critical services that will strengthen communities and improve lives at a challenging time.”
Examples of organisations that will be supported include:
Springwell Village Community Venue, Sunderland (above): Funding of £45,000 is supporting the project to focus on its food supply of hot meals and food parcels, and the provision of toiletry packs for disadvantaged young people and older people in the community. It will also provide a safe and warm space over the winter months to support those struggling with the rising cost of utility bills.
Brunswick Youth and Community Centre, Merseyside: In the past 12 months BYCC have adapted their support offer to provide additional food, clothes and essential items due to significant surge in need. Funding of £39,500 will support the project to deliver these services and expand the offering to more beneficiaries, as well as increasing access to their warm space.
Muslim Women’s Council, Bradford: The Curry Circle project provides hot meals in a warm environment to anyone facing food poverty. Funding of over £50,000 is supporting it to revive a number of services including increased number of hot takeaways, doorstep delivery of food parcels and survival packs with sanitary products. They also aim to provide weekly access to debt advice at the venue where the meals are served.
SocietyLinks Tower Hamlets, London: SocietyLinks Tower Hamlets is a community-based charity providing services including after school clubs, holiday provision, youth services, employment support, women’s services, health and fitness programmes and older peoples’ services for disadvantaged residents in the borough. Funding of over £28,000 will support the continuation of these services, including a food bank, youth safe hub, a warm hub for those aged 50+ and clothing recycling programme (below).
The Centre Project Limited, Leicester: This community hub has been awarded over £40,000 to expand and continue its range of services, which includes a foodbank, warm space, hot meals, social activities, youth club and advice services. They support people who may be vulnerable due to loneliness, isolation, poor housing, unemployment, homelessness, mental health issues or in crisis.
Housing Matters, Bristol: Housing Matters offers an advice, support and advocacy service for people in housing and financial crisis in and around Bristol, advising clients on disputes with landlords, rent arrears, disrepair and overcrowding amongst other issues. Funding of nearly £40,000 is supporting it to pay for the running costs of its housing advice service including telephone, email and face to face support offered at community centres.
SHAPE Birmingham, Birmingham: SHAPE offers shelter for homeless young women. SHAPE is currently facing an increase in demand for its services due to a rise in the cost of living, alongside a rise in running costs of the hostel. Funding of over £35,000 is supporting them to hire a part time worker, enabling them to support more young women.
Christian Action and Resource Enterprise, Grimsby: Christian Action and Resource Enterprise Ltd (CARE) is an established charity running various projects including housing, food, furniture and emergency supplies, warmth, a safe space, and financial and housing advice in North East Lincolnshire. Funding of £75,000 will pay for extra staff hours and the cost of additional IT infrastructure, allowing it to continue its work assessing residents for food and utility vouchers; giving advice and help with finances; support for those struggling with domestic abuse; and providing housing for vulnerable people.
As part of the £100 million package of support allocated during the Spring Budget, it was also announced that £25.5 million will be used to pay for measures to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England improve their energy efficiency.
Funding will help the long term energy and financial resilience of the sector as well as supporting the Government’s commitment to meeting a net zero target by 2050. Via independent energy assessments, organisations will be able to identify how to reduce bills through measures such as improving or installing new energy features in the building.
The fund will also support the installation of new energy measures, such as insulation, heating and lighting systems, where applicants are eligible.
Applications for the £25.5m VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, administered by community charity Groundwork, are now open. Eligible organisations are able to apply for funding via the Groundwork website.
This funding follows a support package of £750 million dedicated to help charities adapt and maintain essential services during the pandemic as part of the government’s unprecedented £400 billion COVID support package.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home reports demand for pet food bank support is now outstripping the supply
As the cost of living escalates, increasing demand is being made on food banks. And not just to feed people – pet owners are being faced with the awful reality of not being able to afford food for their animals so have begun to rely on food banks to feed their beloved pets.
At the end of 2020 the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home supplied fifty food banks in East and Central Scotland with vital meals for pets. They now supply 88 and requests from pet owners since last year has risen by 33%.
To demonstrate just how much demand has increased, in October 2020 the Home provided 500 food bank meals – compared with a staggering 52,613 in October 2023.
Community Outreach Lead at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, Kirsten Gillon, said that the cost-of-living crisis is partly to blame. She said, “The cost-of-living crisis has really accentuated the fact that people are needing help to feed their pets.
“And it’s not always people who are on benefits who need us, it’s also people who are working and can’t access government support, so they are forced turn to our food banks.”
The demand for pet food bank support is growing so rapidly it is currently outstripping supply.
Kirsten continued, “The need is just growing and growing, it’s not declining in any way. The need is far greater than anything I thought it would be. And trying to find enough donations to fill the requests is really difficult.
“We’ve tried to increase donations coming in and we try to split donations as fairly and equally as we can across locations. It’s not always possible as we are at the mercy of the generous donations of the public.”
Without food bank support from the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, some pet owners would be forced to surrender their beloved dog or cat, as this anonymous user explains:
“Pets are key to my mental health as well as physical health and over all wellbeing. I didn’t realise I could get help with dog food and have been going without so I could feed my two dogs. This help with food is so appreciated and allows us all to be fed and stay together.”
The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home finds winter an especially difficult season as higher costs drain funds while demand for their vital services increases.
To help get through the winter months, the Home recently launched a Winter Appeal, seeking donations to enable the Home to cope with the increased demand, continue providing vital support to animals in need and help people to keep their beloved pets at home.
To make a donation and to read more of their life-altering stories please visit www.edch.org.uk/winterappeal OR text SURRENDER to 70560 to donate £5.
Donations of £20 can provide a cat with the vaccinations they require to be rehomed or £100 could keep a dog warm in the Home for three months.
Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more, text SURRENDERNOINFO instead.
The support of generous donors has kept Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home open for 140 years and given animals a safe place to recover, find love and to support 88 foodbanks across East and Central Scotland.
Christmas letter will remind families to use money on card
Hundreds of people who get the Scottish Government’s Best Start Foods benefit will receive a pre-Christmas reminder urging them to spend large balances which have built up on their cards.
Letters will be sent by Social Security Scotland to cardholders who have accrued balances of £600 or more.
Best Start Foods is money £19.80 every four weeks by pre-paid card during pregnancy and for any children between one and three years old. The payment increases to £39.60 from birth until the age of one.
The card can be used to help with the cost of milk and healthy foods like fruit, vegetables and eggs as well as first infant formula.
People who get the card need to activate it by calling 0808 196 1687 – then it is topped up every four weeks.
However, a small number of people who get it have either never activated the card or stopped using it – meaning balances build up.
It’s this group who are being reminded they have money to spend.
After receiving the first of these letters, more than 100 cards have since been activated and tens of thousands of pounds spent by recipients.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We want to ensure people get access to every bit of financial support to which they are entitled.
“It’s part of our approach to social security to make sure that we treat people with dignity, fairness and respect and that they’re not obstructed or ignored.
“Our message to people who get Best Start Foods is to look out their cards and check balances. It’s simple to do, either online or at cashpoints.
“The money can be a big help to families dealing with the costs of Christmas and New Year.”
PILTON Community Health Project have updated their Food Access & Sharing Points document.
Trying to get by on whatever income we have can be incredibly challenging for many of us, particularly in the winter months.
Take a look on here to find our where you can get a meal, hot drink or groceries.
If you’d like a hard copy of this to take home, please pop in and ask. Also, please share with any neighbours or local friends to make sure everyone knows about these.
British frontline workers worse off than European peers, despite clocking up more hours
Study finds 51% will go into debt to pay for Christmas
43% feel there’s ‘too much pressure to spend’ during the festive season
Brits are feeling the pinch more than their overseas counterparts, with 56% saying their wages barely cover living expenses compared to 39% of Germans, 31% of Nordic workers (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland) and 29% of Dutch contemporaries.
That’s according to a first-of-its-kind study by global workforce management provider, Quinyx. It polled over 3000 shift and non-desk-based workers in the retail, fashion, wholesale, shipping, distribution, warehousing and logistics industries to gain a fuller understanding of how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting employees in Europe.
Despite respondents across all countries working more hours in 2023 compared to previous years – peaking at 46% in the UK and The Netherlands, many had to accept help to cover the cost of everyday essentials.
Around two in five (39%) workers in The Netherlands received financial support from family and friends to pay the bills (31% in the UK), while more than a quarter (26%) of those surveyed in the Nordics and Germany turned to food banks (11% in the UK).
With Christmas only weeks away, apprehension around the cost and associated pressures at home and work are mounting in the UK and overseas.
More than half of Brits (51%) will be getting into debt this festive season – a sentiment echoed in the Nordics (58%), 29% are dreading Christmas because of the cost, felt by 32% and 26% of Nordic and Dutch respondents respectively, and 43% think there’s too much pressure on people to spend money at Christmas.
However, it’s not all bah humbug! 41% surveyed in the UK said it makes them happy when they see people spending lots of money on seasonal gifts and activities – as Christmas is a time to be enjoyed, and 39% like working in December because of the festive cheer.
Toma Pagojute, Chief HR Officer at Quinyx, says: “Beyond the excitement and merriment of the holidays, many frontline workers – everyone from delivery drivers and waiting staff to warehouse operatives and retail assistants, are faced with increased workloads and insurmountable financial challenges.
“And as our study proves, the UK isn’t alone in that – the cost of living is proving a burden in Europe too.
“So, what’s the best gift business leaders can give our dedicated workforce on the frontline this year? Engage with them, listen, and provide support when and where they need it the most. This can be through flexible work schedules, improved communications and by ensuring their working conditions are the best they can be.”
