People looking for hope, not rising costs, as Suffolk struggles
The rising cost of living is putting pressure on everyone, resulting in foodbanks helping more and more people.
There are growing concerns in Suffolk as, more and more people are having to use foodbanks with the cost of basic necessities like food, going up .
Jo Goodhall from the Trussell Trust foodbank in Suffolk tells us they are seeing an increase in people needing support.
This charity has locations all around the UK and provides emergency food and support to people.
She said: "We've definitely seen a rise in uptake of food banks, but also we've seen a massive rise in the amount of people needing emergency utility help, so things like topping up their gas and electric cards, helping with that, and we're seeing a rise in the amount of debt cases that we are dealing with. So a lot of people in desperate need."
Jo also commented on the impact this was having on people's prospects and mental health: "They don't really have any hope for the future. They don't know how they're going to manage to the end of the month.
"They don't know if they're going to be able to afford to put their heating on, and that's not even with this rise in gas that's going to happen in April... I think that people will either go without food, or they'll go without putting their heating on. And that is going to have a detrimental effect on either people physical state and their mental state "
With a growing need for support we asked about the pressure this was putting on the charity. However, Jo's concern remained toward those in need: "The pressure is how many people can we see and how many people can we help?"
"We would like to see that those who are struggling to make ends meet are not forgotten.
"Let's give people dignity. Let's allow people who maybe are not able to work due to physical reasons or mental health reasons. Let's give them enough money to survive on and and a little bit extra. Why should people who are in a difficult time in their lives but even more downtrodden, and have no hope and no light at the end of the tunnel."
She encourages people who need help to reach out: "We're not gonna judge. We want to help as many people as we can. And nobody should be living in fear or living without.
"We need to give people hope, and we need to give people dignity. And let's not kick people when they're down."
The cause for all this concern is centred around the fact that the UK is seeing the highest inflation for 30 years and expenses are only going to increase with energy bills and taxes also rising.
With concerns about living costs growing people are calling for the Goverment to make changes to make life more affordable, including cancelling the rise in national insurance, which had been planned for April.
A part of the reason for these rising costs, is due to Covid-19. With rising demands, delays to shipping, and factories all around the world, dealing with sick workers and lockdowns, suppliers have had to increase prices.
But what is having the largest impact, is the rise in the energy tariff. Gas prices rose around 500% in 2021. Ofgem recently announced that in April 2022 they will increase the energy price cap by 54%, meaning around £700 will be added to annual gas and electricity bills, it is also expected to rise again upon review in October. Not only this but petrol and oil are at an all time high.
The UK has also seen thousands of HGV drivers retuning to their homes in the EU, resulting in driver shortages and again making it harder for supply to meet demand.