Fears hundreds in Derby won’t get vital cost of living help
It's due to funding concerns
Hundreds of vulnerable Derby residents could miss out on vital Cost of Living support due to funding concerns.
The alarming warning has come from the leader of one of Derby’s biggest food support schemes who says he desperately needs £250,000 to help meet demand this winter.
Paul Brookhouse is the manager of the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance – a project run by Community Action Derby first set up during the coronavirus pandemic which helps provide people with community meals across the city and delivers food parcels to vulnerable people via foodbanks as well as other services.
Last week it was announced that the energy bill price cap was to increase to £3,549 per year based on typical usage from October. The increase has been described by charities and community leaders caring for elderly, disabled and vulnerable people as “frightening”.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Brookhouse said: “As things stand we cannot meet the supply and demand. We do not have enough resource and I am concerned that we won’t be able to help enough people practically – that is why we are looking for £250,000. There is not enough provision.”
It is said the price cap increase could see more people turn to charities for support and visit foodbanks. Currently in Derby charities are seeing an increase in food parcel requests.
Mr Brookhouse, who previously told a council meeting the city was gearing itself for “survival mode”, says efforts to raise the vast six-figure sum started in July as he was aware October was going to be a tough month for a lot of people. Now it is just a few weeks away, he warned.
Community Action Derby is seeking donations and is also asking people who do not need it to donate their £400 energy rebate money this winter to help those who do need vital support.
The money will be used to increase food support in Derby, second to deliver and organise more community meals across the city, provide debt support and potentially the creation of an emergency crisis fund.
Mr Brookhouse said he would be able to raise £100,000 alone if 250 people donated their upcoming £400 energy rebate. He says there are some people in Derby and Derbyshire that “don’t need it”. The charity is also calling for at least 1,000 people to donate a £1 a week for 52 weeks.
The charity leader says he is concerned how people will cope in the coming months and how small businesses in Derby will survive. He added: “I believe there is no price cap for small businesses so in Derby will we lose a lot of smaller retail businesses? Can they afford to survive? It is a very challenging time.
“All of this is like a perfect cocktail – you have the post pandemic, post Brexit, then the war in Ukraine and the fuel and energy costs. It’s like a volcano that’s been bubbling, and it is about to explode.
“I think anyone with a salary of less than £50,000 is going to be impacted by the cost of living. In Derby I think half of the city’s population will be affected in some way or another.”
To make a donation or for more information about the Derby Food For Thought Alliance scheme visit this website.