A Salford charity has made ‘warm night packs’ for people struggling to afford heating in the cost of living crisis.
Salford Loaves and Fishes are giving them out to help those in the community most affected by the cost of living crisis.
Each pack contains a hat, gloves, thermal socks and a blanket, with thermal flasks and battery-powered lights also being provided in extreme situations, such as the predicted blackout periods this winter.
CEO of the centre, Jenni Smith, said: “Because bills have gone up by 80% and certain food products have gone up by 40%, we knew that it’s going to be a struggle for a lot of people.
“We wanted to create something to ensure people were warm at home, but safe.”
They cost £10 to make and have been partially funded by Rotary In Worsley when Ms Smith pitched the idea in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ evening they hosted earlier this month. Ms Smith bought the items in the Summer when they were cheaper before demand and prices started to increase.
On average 2000 homeless and vulnerable people access the centre in Pendleton each month, but this is expected to double over the Christmas period.
According to new figures from the non-profit organisation 38 Degrees, two-thirds of Salford and Eccles constituents think they won’t be able to pay their energy bills next year, and another third fear they will have to resort to foodbanks or may even be homeless.
The #CostOfLivingCrisis in Salford and Eccles:
⚡️63% of constituents fear they won’t afford their energy bills next year
🏠32% fear homelessness within a year
🥫32% fear they'll resort to food banks within a year@RLong_Bailey #RipItUp
(471/632)— 38 Degrees (@38degrees) October 11, 2022
One woman who visits Salford Loaves and Fishes has seen her electricity bill rise from £11 over one week, to £45 over five days even after turning it on a few times.
“It’s unimaginable that we’re at this point,” says Ms Smith.
“We know this winter is going to be bad, but I think it’s going to be even worse than expected and we were looking at the worse possible scenario.”
Kevin Wilkinson is a client at Salford Loaves and Fishes and has said that he doesn’t think the government are looking at people or providing them with enough help.
He added: “There are going to be a lot more people accessing Loaves and Fishes in the area, this crisis has hit them.”
If you are affected by the current cost of living crisis, visit Salford Loaves and Fishes and Salford City Council for more information.
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