The human suffering in Glasgow has had a light shone onto it by a new new interactive map.
With household bills rising for millions across the country, the stark reality has been highlighted by a campaign group who designed the map to share the stories of people struggling to cope with energy, food and housing costs.
38 Degrees' map features pinpoints representing someone who has agreed to speak out. These include pensioners, parents scared to switch the heating on and many who fear losing the roof over their head as rents and mortgages sky rocket.
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In the run-up to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn statement, 38 Degrees has shared the map at www.costoflivingmap.com to show how people in Glasgow are impacted by the rising costs of living.
Kathleen Isaac, a full time carer from Glasgow admitted she was 'angry' as she faces rising food bills. She said: "It has cost me more than usual and it has made me angry. I'm living on a small budget and it is hard. Bring down the prices on veg, eggs, meat - things we need daily."
Meanwhile Gary James Hughes, 40, who is unemployed said he was struggling with energy bills since they have been pushed up. He explained: "On benefits since the pandemic I am now faced with impossible bills due to energy crisis. We need capped energy bills and re-nationalisation of energy companies, transport and investment into affordable renewable energy resources."
"I have turned off all heating except one panel," Rene McDonald from Glasgow South said. "I do not do a regular food shop anymore and when I do I buy cheaper products and less in amount. I am scared energy bills will rise so much I won't be able to keep up. I need disabled benefits like DLA and PIP ESA and UC to rise with inflation."
And Sandra Difolco, 50, a single parent from the East End of Glasgow shared that she had recently been made redundant which has piled on the pressure. She explained: "I am a single parent who has just been made redundant I am really worried and depressed about the state of this country and how the people are being treated."
Veronica Hawking, Head of Campaigns at 38 Degrees, said: “The heartbreaking stories across this map showcase Scotland's cost of living catastrophe: panicking parents worrying about hungry kids; pensioners too scared to switch the heating on; working people who fear losing the roof over their head as rents and mortgages soar.
“Even before the last five months of Government chaos, people in Scotland needed help. Now, they’re in urgent need of rescue. The government was forced to rip up its disastrous mini-budget, and ditch the Prime Minister along with it. Now, Rishi Sunak should look at these stories and see: if he wants to lead the UK, 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 Scotland are crying out for.”
You can add your story to the map by clicking here. People who are inspired by the map to try and make a change are invited to click here to email their MP to share their story and demand that November 17's fiscal statement include a real rescue plan for families, public services and our economy.
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