Every year around this time Big Issue normally looks at Good Money Week. It has been a way of considering how we all can make choices through our banking, savings, pensions and other investments in more ethical programmes that are good for people and planet.
This year, that approach felt far beyond reality. This year, people are anxious. Initially, it was due to worries over the cost of living, with spiralling food and energy prices, and worries about incomes stretching far less as inflation grew. Liz Truss’s government’s policies have just made things a whole lot worse. Now mortgage pressures – which will lead to rent pressures and, unquestionably, to more parlous times for those just about managing to hold it together – have surged. In shops, on radio phone-ins, in parks and anywhere people gather, a base level of fear exists and the dominant conversation and dominant concern is having enough to make it through the winter. We live in a time where public warm banks are not just a dystopian concept, but a shameful reality.
In this edition, the pressing needs of the now must be dealt with. We have put together what we believe is a practical and useful guide to organisations who can offer help, to where governmental assistance exists and to the consumer rights that you can call on in this time of fear and confusion. Whether it is in-house help through our new Big Issue Recruit programme, or fine external organisations to help with debt concerns such as Turn2Us, we have it.
This is just the start. We recognise the ongoing nature of what we all are facing. In The Big Issue magazine, on bigissue.com and across all our social platforms we will continue to add to the information available through our Winter Survival Guide. If you have been helped by a good organisation and you want us to shout about them, tell us. If you are fearing the worst and need somewhere to turn, come to us.
There will be no easy solutions but we will work to do everything we can to help.
THE BIG ISSUE WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
We want to help our readers get the support they need through the coldest months. We have rounded up some of the options available to households as temperatures – and budgets – plummet
Reporting by: Isabella McRae, Sarah Wilson, Laura Kelly and Vicky Carroll
Help you can get from the government this winter
If you are struggling with money you may be eligible for benefits and welfare support. Citizens Advice () can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help
