A Belfast cost of living support group has said that "times are tougher than ever" as they highlight the struggles of families across the city.
Help is at Hand for Those in Need is a group of hardworking volunteers who dedicate their free time to helping others who are struggling with the cost of living crisis by providing food, clothing and support with gas and electricity to anyone who has fallen on difficult times.
It was originally formed as a Facebook support group by Louise McKee and quickly gained a large number of members, with over 13,000 people currently involved with it.
Read more: Belfast woman overwhelmed after starting Facebook group to help those struggling with cost of living
Due to the numbers of people contributing and making donations, the group has had to acquire a number of premises to store items and has recently moved to a new property on Dundela Street, off the Belmont Road in East Belfast, where anyone is able to drop in for some support or to make donations themselves.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Louise and volunteers Gillian Mitchell, Kellie Cryer and Nikki, highlighted the issues that households in Belfast are facing during the cost of living crisis and how working families are having a particularly hard time with rising costs.
Louise said: "When I first started this group we were mainly helping vulnerable people such as the elderly and single parents who needed a bit of additional support, but now we are finding working families who are finding it impossible to cope with the rising costs.
"These are families where two parents are working and they are still having to make a choice between heating their homes or eating, and it is disgusting that hardworking people are finding themselves in this position.
"Every day we are meeting with people whose wages are just not able to cover the cost of living and never imagined that they would be in a position where they are reaching out for help like this.
"Prices in the shops have basically doubled over the course of the past year, along with heating and electric bills and mortgages which are now hundreds of pounds more a month for some."
Kellie said: "Every night that we are out making deliveries to homes is an eye opener, it is heartbreaking what some people are going through.
"During the winter months there were times that we were arriving at homes and it would be warmer outside than it was inside and others where we are meeting elderly people who are terrified to put on their heating because they don't know how they will be able to afford it.
"It has got to the point where people are struggling to afford the basic everyday essentials and are doing all they can to get by, and even then it is not enough."
Nikki grew up within the care system and said that she found it very difficult to support herself after leaving it, which had a huge impact on her.
She now volunteers with the group and says that she understands what it is like when you are living somewhere and you are struggling to afford the basics in life.
She said: "When I left the care system a few days before my 18th birthday I had nothing, not even a mattress and had to take the one that I was using in the children's home for a couple of weeks until I could afford one.
"Even getting a weeks shopping can be very tough and it has a huge impact on your mental health and your life as a whole
"Since meeting Louise and starting to volunteer I have seen others who are in the same positions that I was in and it is so important that we are able to do something to give them a bit of support and show them that help is out there."
The new premises on Dundela Street is going to be a primary hub for the group, where people will be able to drop off donations or pick up a few items if they are in need.
Louise said: "Prior to securing this building we had been at different spots across Belfast and most recently had been using a set of garages in Finaghy, but we were so busy all of the time we needed somewhere that is more appropriate.
"We are hoping that this place can be a pick up and drop-off point for people as well as somewhere to prepare our deliveries and we have arranged clothing so that people can come in and pick-up what they need, and if they want to leave a donation they can.
"It is also a welcoming place where anyone can come for a bit of a chat or some advice and we look forward to building relationships with the community here."
All of the work that the volunteers at Help is at Hand for Those in Need do relies on donations from members of the group and public, and everything they receive is earmarked for those who reach out for help.
Louise continued: "All of our donations come from members of our group and the public and we are very thankful that there are so many generous people out there who are wanting to help others.
"However we are constantly in need of donations due to the numbers of people who are coming to us everyday asking for help.
"We have recently launched a fundraising page to help pay for the rent of this premises, which will be kept separate from any fundraisers to provide help and support and over the coming weeks we will be holding a few fundraising events with a cake sale at Strandtown Presbyterian Church on February 25 and a pub quiz at Dundela on St Patrick's day."
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