The human suffering across the country during the cost of living crisis has been brought to life by a new interactive map. Designed by a leading campaign group, it shares the stories of people struggling to cope with rising prices.
Every pinpoint on the map represents someone who has agreed to speak out. They include panicking parents worrying about their children going hungry, pensioners too scared to switch the heating on and working people who fear losing the roof over their head as rents and mortgages soar.
38 Degrees has shared the map - which you can find at www.costoflivingmap.com - in the run-up to Thursday’s autumn statement, Chronicle Live reports. The Government is expected to announce cuts in public spending in a bid to help balance its books.
The map also highlights the story of many people who were once comfortable, but are now finding their income stretched to the limits. One of them is Michael, a 61-year-old engineer, who said: "I never thought we would struggle but here we are."
He added: "I get to the end of the month and I have to decide what to do and what not to do. It’s quite scary how the money just isn’t there any more."
Deborah, a 41-year-old nurse and single parent, said she would not be putting her heating on over the winter. She said: "I am already struggling to buy enough food before the worst of the increases."
Disabled father-of-five Michael, said he felt like he was "losing control" and feeling depressed amid the isolation brought on by soaring costs. He added: "This is because to keep our home running, we have to cut back on social interactions as a family."
Veronica Hawking, head of campaigns at 38 Degrees, said: "Rishi Sunak should look at these stories and see: if he wants to lead this country, he must help its families make it through this winter. Each pinprick on our map represents a real person, and the stress, fear and anxiety that the cost of living catastrophe is forcing them to live with.
“Cutting our NHS to the bone, slashing local council funding and making families’ lives even harder isn’t the rescue plan people in the North East are crying out for."
What the Government says
A Government spokesman last week said: “We are directly supporting households in need following the aftershocks from the pandemic and Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, including sending another Cost-of-Living Payment this month worth £324 to over eight million people, part of a £1,200 package for those on the lowest incomes.
“Our extensive immediate support for families also includes our energy price guarantee, saving around £700 for a typical household over winter, and our household support fund, worth over £1bn to help people with essential costs, combined with longer-term changes such as altering Universal Credit to help people keep £1,000 more of what they earn every year."
