‘We are here to help and we’ll do what we can’; how the current cost of living crisis is affecting Portsmouth

Prime Minister Liz Truss PICTURE: “Liz Truss MP, Minister for Education and Childcare, at her speech setting out government plans to promote more great childcare” by Policy Exchange is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

PRIME Minister Liz Truss outlined a new approach to the economy, in a speech to the Conservative Party conference.

Ms Truss warned of ‘tough times’, and stated that her plan, which is a method of tax-cutting measures, was about the ‘economy growing and rebuilding Britain through reform’.

However, with energy prices increasing heading into the winter, many worry about whether they can afford the cost of living.

The crisis stemmed from tax increases and the rise in inflation compared to incomes such as wage.

Citizens Advice Portsmouth, located on Winston Churchill Avenue, offers services to those struggling during the crisis PICTURE: Nathan Philpott

Wendy Carlyle, Research and Campaign Lead at Citizens Advice Portsmouth, outlined a correlation between the crisis and those needing charitable food bank vouchers: ‘Looking at the last three months, in July we issued 76.

‘In August, we issued 83 food bank vouchers, and in September we issued 110.’

July’s lower figure links to the first £326 of the £650 payments used as extra support during the crisis.

Quality and Compliance Officer, Ian Hayter, said: ‘We’re trying to get the word out there, we’re trying to advertise that clearly people need to come and see us, if they need help they shouldn’t bottle it up.

‘We are here to help and we’ll do what we can.’