The cost of living crisis has dominated the national news in recent weeks, with prices rising on essential goods, inflation reaching 9%, and economic forecasts looking gloomy. I know from people in my ward of Shard End and from others across the city that the crisis is really starting to bite, and a growing number of households are being forced to make terrible decisions as they struggle to make ends meet.

This is a crisis that will require the Government to take urgent action, but I am determined that Birmingham City Council works closely with our partners to support struggling families in any way that we can.

The Government has announced that Birmingham will receive £12.79 million from the Household Support Fund to help people with the essential costs of living such as heating, electricity and food. I have pledged that Birmingham City Council will add an extra 10% - £1.3 million - to this fund to help our residents in their time of need.

People will be able to apply for this support from the start of June, and we will be working with Birmingham Voluntary Services Council to help to distribute help through our city’s incredible charities. Of the overall funding, one third will be ring-fenced to support households with children, whilst another third will be ring-fenced to support pensioners.

On a recent visit to Quinton and Oldbury Foodbank I heard about the huge increase in demand that they are experiencing, with people queuing up outside the food bank before it opens. It is shocking in these modern times that so many people should be struggling to afford to eat.

This Council has been clear in its policy that people have a right to food, and so I want Birmingham City Council to lead from the front. That is why we are now looking to see how we can support the emerging food pantry network to help ensure that people have enough food to eat.

Of course, it is not just food bills that are of concern to people, that’s why we are working with Severn Trent to cut water bills for some of the city’s poorest households, ensuring that people in receipt of Universal Credit are not overpaying.

The cost of living crisis is not going to be solved overnight, but I am determined that Birmingham City Council will step up and play a leading role, working with charities, businesses and voluntary organisations across our city to help our neighbours through these difficult times.

This blog was posted on 20 May 2022