Understanding the huge impact the rising energy and food prices are having on our tenants, we attended South Ribble Borough Council’s Cost of Living Marketplace.

We had three separate stalls offering information about the support we can offer. Members of our Central Area Housing Team talked about how we can help tenants and the services we provide;  members of Progress Futures were available to chat about employment and training opportunities; and Key Unlocking Futures was there to discuss its work in tackling homelessness and what financial support was available.

Here are just some of the ways we helped our tenants at the event:

  • We arranged for an inspector to look at a tenant’s boiler, draughts around windows and front door and see if the radiators were fit for purpose.
  • We made a referral for an income collection officer to do a benefit check.
  • Our teams also raised awareness of our support and community resources and where appropriate, signposted visitors to other relevant agencies.

It was lovely to hear back from one man, who took the time to call Key’s office to feed back that it was a ‘wonderful event.’  He said we were ‘marvellous, very patient and kind.' 

This is just one of the many ways we are collating feedback and insight into what our tenants may be experiencing during the current economic climate.

Over the past few months, some of our tenants have been telling us their concerns about the cost of living:

These are just some of the worries our tenants are telling us about:

 “I worry about being able to afford my heating.  I am already struggling with food, and my bills as it has all gone up. I have no idea how I will manage.”

“I worry about the cost of food, heating and light, travel and medicine.”

“Everything is going up: basic foods, clothes and most of all energy. People on a fixed income can't absorb the continued increases. People are scared to spend, so small businesses are struggling to survive.”

“Pensions haven’t increased, leaving pensioners at particular risk.”

“I would think the most challenging is the cost of utilities.  The cost of weekly shop has gone up, but not significantly.  I personally have not encountered any challenges as yet, but I might do when the bills come in for gas and electricity.”

“My biggest concern is paying bills and how much I can spend on shopping.”

  • For more information on what support we can offer with the cost of living, please visit our hub:  www.progressgroup.org.uk/support-wellbeing/cost-of-living-hub/
  • If you are struggling and need to speak to someone, please don’t suffer in silence. Give us a call on 0333 320 4555 and we will see what we can do to help.

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