Why Locality supports the campaign for an Essentials Guarantee
We hear all the time from Locality members how bad things are getting for the people they support. Despite being set up to create opportunities and turn people’s lives around, too many of our members are now providing urgent support for people who cannot afford to eat or heat their homes.
Over two thirds (69%) of Locality members are now running food banks, social supermarkets or other reduced price or free food. 64% are providing warm spaces, and 54% are providing advice on finances, debts or benefits.
Over time, the cost of living has gone up, and our social security system is no longer meeting basic needs. The basic rate of Universal Credit does not cover the cost of the essentials people need to survive and is a big driver of severe hardship. Alongside this, the planned cuts to disabled people’s social security risk plunging even more people into hunger and hardship.
As a result, 9.3 million people are facing hunger and hardship in the UK. Locality members are stepping in but there is only so much they can do.
That’s why we’re supporting the campaign for an Essentials Guarantee, led by Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Our social security system should, at the very least, ensure everyone can afford the essentials they need to survive and live with dignity.
On Wednesday 18 June from 1pm, food banks, community food organisations, local partners, people with direct experience of hardship and constituents from all four nations of the UK, gathered in parliament to speak to their local MP. There has never been a more urgent time to tell MPs about the change our communities need to see.
Please support the #EssentialsGuarantee campaign on social media, by doing so you will be echoing the campaign in Parliament and helping to move us to a future where everyone can afford the essentials.