Latest news with #TheTrussellTrust
Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
New £1billion cost of living voucher scheme revealed in Chancellors Spending Review – how to get help NOW
THOUSANDS of households will be able to access cost of living help through a new government scheme, the Chancellor has confirmed. As part of her spending review today, Rachel Reeves announced that thousands of households will be able to apply for financial help through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. 1 Thousands of households will be able to get help with the cost of living The fund will be given £1billion a year and will replace the existing Household Support Fund, which is designed to help anyone who is vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. It will provide funding to councils to help some of the poorest households so that children do not go hungry outside of term time. The cash is aimed at helping people who have been faced with a financial crisis and aims to reduce the need for families to use emergency food parcels. The fund will also incorporate Discretionary Housing Payments, which provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs. Anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust has praised the move and said that the cost of living continues to be a challenge. Last year the charity provided almost three million parcels to people facing hunger and hardship across the UK. Helen Barnard, director of policy at the charity, said: 'We warmly welcome the replacement of the Household Support Fund with a new multi-year Crisis and Resilience fund, which Trussell has been calling for. 'We know this helps prevent people facing short-term crisis from being pushed to having to turn to a food bank.' But she warned that looming cuts to benefits for disabled people and carers will push many people into financial hardship. The Spending Review also includes: A pledge to end the use of migrant hotels by the next election Confirmation that nine million pensioners will get the winter fuel allowance this year Free school meals for half a million more children An extra £39billion over the next decade for social housing A £15billion boost to transport to "properly connect" Britain's towns and cities £22billion investment in research and development and £2billion in Artificial Intelligence A £30billion injection in clean energy including £14billion for nuclear energy A rise in departmental budgets by 2.3% a year totalling £190billion more than the Tories The Defence budget hiked to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 She said: 'Disabled people and carers still face the looming threat of planned record cuts to social security support which will push 440,000 people into severe hardship and at risk of needing a food bank. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now 'Unless the government changes course, disabled people on the lowest incomes will certainly not feel this government is 'on their side'.' In March the Government announced that over one million Brits will have their disability benefits cut in a £5billion cost-cutting reform. Elsewhere, the Chancellor also announced that half a million more children will be eligible for free school meals. Every child who lives in a Universal Credit household will now be eligible for state-sponsored lunches. Previously, Universal Credit households needed to earn less than £7,400 a year to qualify. The chancellor also vowed to pump £29billion into building more social and affordable housing across the UK. What help is available now? Household Support Fund If you are struggling to pay your bills then you may be able to get help through the Household Support Fund. Councils have been given a share of £742million from the Government to help their struggling residents. Eligibility criteria varies depending on where you live but help is usually offered to those on benefits or a low income. You need to apply to your council directly to get the help. Several councils are currently offering support through the scheme. Among them is North Somerset, where residents can apply for £100 worth of cash to help with the cost of living. The fund will see more than £2.3million handed out to struggling families, pensioners and vulnerable residents across the region. Hull residents can also apply for £200 worth of cash this summer. The fund will be used to give eligible pensioners £200 to help them cover their costs after the Government slashed the Winter Fuel Payment last year. Meanwhile, low income families will be eligible for a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those with children who are eligible for free school meals. Families in Richmond, London, can also apply for payments of up to £600 to help cover the cost of food, energy bills, clothes or other household essentials. The exact amount you will get depends on the number of people in your household and if you have any children. Free electricity and gadgets Several energy suppliers are giving customers free gadgets to help them cut their energy bills. Octopus Energy is handing out freebies including electric blankets to customers as part of its Octo Assist Fund. The blankets could save customers up to £150 over winter. Octopus customers can also borrow a thermal imaging camera to help them find places in their home where heat is escaping. Once they have identified these draughts, they can look into ways to get them fixed, which can help to reduce their energy usage. Meanwhile, EDF customers can get their hands on free energy-saving gadgets including air fryers, kettles and slow cookers. EDF has also said it will replace poorly-working or broken appliances with energy-efficient ones. Water bill hardship fund Some water suppliers offer a hardship fund you can access if you fall behind on your water bill and owe more than a certain amount. At Thames Water you can apply for the customer Assistance Fund if you owe it more than £120 and receive certain means-tested benefits. The supplier will work with you to agree on an affordable monthly payment. This will be based on your income and spending and the plan will stay in place for two years. The payment will cover your current charges and paying towards your debt. It does not impact your credit score. Meanwhile, at United Utilities you can apply online for help if you are unable to pay your bill. You can get help with water and/ or sewer charges and in certain situations you may be able to get white goods and beds. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Pembrokeshire Herald
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pembrokeshire MP praises Neyland therapy centre
171,673 emergency parcels distributed across Wales last year A GROWING number of Welsh families are relying on food banks, with new figures showing that nearly 172,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across Wales between April 2024 and March 2025. The data, released today (Friday, May 23) by anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust, shows the scale of food poverty in the UK – with 2.9 million parcels handed out nationally. Over one million of those were for children. In Wales, food parcel distribution has increased by 26% since 2019/20, a sign that for many communities, hunger is becoming normalised. The figures have sparked renewed calls for government action, with well-known faces including Dame Julie Walters and Lesley Manville urging ministers to address what they describe as a national emergency. Dame Julie said: 'Emergency food distribution is being normalised in the UK. These stats highlight the need for us to come together and play our part in saying this isn't right.' In Pembrokeshire and across rural Wales, campaigners warn that the situation is worsened by isolation, limited services, and higher energy bills – all pushing vulnerable people to crisis point. Actor Lesley Manville, who recently won an Olivier Award, said: 'I'm shocked at the extremely high levels of emergency food parcels being distributed by food banks, especially the sharp rise in children under five needing support. This has to be a wake-up call for the UK government.' In Wales, more than 187,000 parcels were distributed the previous year – a drop in 2024/25, but still far above pre-pandemic levels. Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said this cannot be seen as a success: 'Thousands of families, disabled people, and working households had to access food banks. This should be a massive wake-up call.' Comedian Rosie Jones said that proposed UK Government cuts to disability benefits could make matters worse: 'Slashing the income of someone already struggling to cover life's essentials is cruel and counterproductive.' In Pembrokeshire, food banks such as PATCH in Milford Haven and the Trussell-linked outlets in Haverfordwest and Fishguard have seen sustained high demand. Volunteers warn that without local donations and support, they would struggle to meet needs. TV presenter and Trussell ambassador AJ Odudu added: 'Right now, someone needs an emergency food parcel every 11 seconds. It's never been more vital that we all play our part.' The charity is calling for an urgent re-think on proposed welfare cuts and for the UK Government to take decisive action to reduce hunger and hardship. Campaigners are also urging the public to donate food or money to their local food bank. A postcode search tool showing how many parcels were distributed in each area is available at:
Pembrokeshire Herald
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Milford Haven Inner Wheel donates £700 to Megan's Starr Foundation
171,673 emergency parcels distributed across Wales last year A GROWING number of Welsh families are relying on food banks, with new figures showing that nearly 172,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across Wales between April 2024 and March 2025. The data, released today (Friday, May 23) by anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust, shows the scale of food poverty in the UK – with 2.9 million parcels handed out nationally. Over one million of those were for children. In Wales, food parcel distribution has increased by 26% since 2019/20, a sign that for many communities, hunger is becoming normalised. The figures have sparked renewed calls for government action, with well-known faces including Dame Julie Walters and Lesley Manville urging ministers to address what they describe as a national emergency. Dame Julie said: 'Emergency food distribution is being normalised in the UK. These stats highlight the need for us to come together and play our part in saying this isn't right.' In Pembrokeshire and across rural Wales, campaigners warn that the situation is worsened by isolation, limited services, and higher energy bills – all pushing vulnerable people to crisis point. Actor Lesley Manville, who recently won an Olivier Award, said: 'I'm shocked at the extremely high levels of emergency food parcels being distributed by food banks, especially the sharp rise in children under five needing support. This has to be a wake-up call for the UK government.' In Wales, more than 187,000 parcels were distributed the previous year – a drop in 2024/25, but still far above pre-pandemic levels. Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said this cannot be seen as a success: 'Thousands of families, disabled people, and working households had to access food banks. This should be a massive wake-up call.' Comedian Rosie Jones said that proposed UK Government cuts to disability benefits could make matters worse: 'Slashing the income of someone already struggling to cover life's essentials is cruel and counterproductive.' In Pembrokeshire, food banks such as PATCH in Milford Haven and the Trussell-linked outlets in Haverfordwest and Fishguard have seen sustained high demand. Volunteers warn that without local donations and support, they would struggle to meet needs. TV presenter and Trussell ambassador AJ Odudu added: 'Right now, someone needs an emergency food parcel every 11 seconds. It's never been more vital that we all play our part.' The charity is calling for an urgent re-think on proposed welfare cuts and for the UK Government to take decisive action to reduce hunger and hardship. Campaigners are also urging the public to donate food or money to their local food bank. A postcode search tool showing how many parcels were distributed in each area is available at:
Pembrokeshire Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Wales sees surge in food bank use as celebrities urge UK Government to act
171,673 emergency parcels distributed across Wales last year A GROWING number of Welsh families are relying on food banks, with new figures showing that nearly 172,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across Wales between April 2024 and March 2025. The data, released today (Friday, May 23) by anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust, shows the scale of food poverty in the UK – with 2.9 million parcels handed out nationally. Over one million of those were for children. In Wales, food parcel distribution has increased by 26% since 2019/20, a sign that for many communities, hunger is becoming normalised. The figures have sparked renewed calls for government action, with well-known faces including Dame Julie Walters and Lesley Manville urging ministers to address what they describe as a national emergency. Dame Julie said: 'Emergency food distribution is being normalised in the UK. These stats highlight the need for us to come together and play our part in saying this isn't right.' In Pembrokeshire and across rural Wales, campaigners warn that the situation is worsened by isolation, limited services, and higher energy bills – all pushing vulnerable people to crisis point. Actor Lesley Manville, who recently won an Olivier Award, said: 'I'm shocked at the extremely high levels of emergency food parcels being distributed by food banks, especially the sharp rise in children under five needing support. This has to be a wake-up call for the UK government.' In Wales, more than 187,000 parcels were distributed the previous year – a drop in 2024/25, but still far above pre-pandemic levels. Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said this cannot be seen as a success: 'Thousands of families, disabled people, and working households had to access food banks. This should be a massive wake-up call.' Comedian Rosie Jones said that proposed UK Government cuts to disability benefits could make matters worse: 'Slashing the income of someone already struggling to cover life's essentials is cruel and counterproductive.' In Pembrokeshire, food banks such as PATCH in Milford Haven and the Trussell-linked outlets in Haverfordwest and Fishguard have seen sustained high demand. Volunteers warn that without local donations and support, they would struggle to meet needs. TV presenter and Trussell ambassador AJ Odudu added: 'Right now, someone needs an emergency food parcel every 11 seconds. It's never been more vital that we all play our part.' The charity is calling for an urgent re-think on proposed welfare cuts and for the UK Government to take decisive action to reduce hunger and hardship. Campaigners are also urging the public to donate food or money to their local food bank. A postcode search tool showing how many parcels were distributed in each area is available at:
The National
30-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Hunger and hardship costing Scottish economy £5.6bn a year
Anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust has released a report which details how Scotland's economy loses out on over £2.9bn each year due to reduced employment and lower productivity, because of the ways in which hunger and hardship can harm people's chances of gaining and maintaining stable employment. The public purse also loses out on over £1.4bn in income from taxes (tax revenue) each year and needs to spend an additional £405 million on social security payments as a result of people facing hunger and hardship in Scotland. The charity has also found hunger and hardship are costing the UK Government £75 billion a year and is calling on Labour to rethink planned cuts to support for disabled people and reform Universal Credit. Planned changes are set to make it harder for people to qualify for Personal Independence Payments, with the Office for Budget Responsibility estimating 52% of claimants will lose their entitlements. READ MORE: Grangemouth closure nothing short of economic crisis – Kate Forbes The Scottish-specific report found failure to address hunger and hardship in Scotland leads to £860m in additional spending each year on public services like the NHS, schools, children's social care, and more. Over half of this figure is spent on healthcare in Scotland alone, due to how hunger and hardship is linked to worse physical and mental health While pressure is being applied to the UK Government, Cara Hilton, senior policy and public affairs manager at Trussell Trust, said the Scottish Government also has "significant powers" to turn the tide on hunger and hardship. (Image: PA) Trussell is calling on the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week and take action to reduce the disability employment gap, which would lift 36,000 people out of hunger and hardship. "Trussell's major new research demonstrates the huge impact of hunger and hardship on Scotland's public services and the cost of failing to act," she said. 'The Scottish Government has significant powers to turn the tide on hunger and hardship and must take bold and decisive action in Programme for Government next month, so no one else has to experience hunger and hardship under their watch. 'Not only is it the right thing to do, its common sense for our economy. Scottish and UK governments have both a moral and economic responsibility to act. There is no time to lose. READ MORE: Local representatives react to Grangemouth oil refinery's last day "At the same time, we are calling on Holyrood to use its voice to urge the UK Government to rethink its cruel cuts to disability benefits, which risk pushing more disabled people to the doors of food banks.' Across the UK, Trussell is calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished which it says would lift 27,000 people in Scotland out of hunger and hardship by 2025/26. This would lead to a reduction in costs to the economy, public services and public purse of £115m, the charity says. The Cost of Hunger and Hardship report includes analysis from economic and public policy experts WPI Economics.
