People from around West Lothian have been sharing their stories of struggling to cope amid soaring bills.
They have been telling local charities and community leaders what it feels like to be at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis.
Alan Masterton (64) who lives in Broxburn, was among many people who joined charity bosses and community leaders at a special event held by The Larder.
He told how, unable to work for the last few years due to a back injury, he’s struggled to make ends meet and hasn’t had enough money to pay for electricity.
Speaking to the Courier, Alan said: “I’m really struggling, I’ve had my electricity cut off three times this year already.
“I have had a lot of help from The Bridge Community Project in getting two or three of my debts stopped altogether, because there was no way I was able to pay them.
“The Government has finally got their act together with this payment to help with our electricity, that will help a lot.
“I was one who said I can’t go to a foodbank because it was so embarrassing. But now just about three quarters of the population are using one and I’m not embarrassed anymore. It’s a lifeline.
“But there are only so many [food parcels] you can get a year and I understand that especially as some of them are having to pay for things, the shops aren’t giving them away for nothing, but you might not be able to get help again for another six months.
“I’m grateful for anything I can get, but there’s just not the charity there was. People can’t afford to help anymore.”
Alan continued saying even after he receives his benefits, he often doesn’t have enough money to get him through the month.
He continued: “Rent isn’t too much of an issue, it’s just everything else I’m dealing with.
“I’ve had the electricity switched off three times this year just because it runs out.”
“I’m dreading the 18th when I get paid, because I’ve got two or three things to pay more than they should be and it’ll be a struggle.
“This extra £324 [cost of living] payment is coming, but they’ve put that back to November.”
The Larder food poverty charity hosted The West Lothian Cost of Living Crisis Emergency Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity last week, bringing together more than 45 frontline organisations, elected members, government officials and those with lived experience.
This event marked the start of Challenge Poverty Week and was chaired by renowned anti-poverty expert, Jim McCormick. Representatives from organisations supporting children, disabilities, families, older people, young people, those with addictions, Trade Unions, low income, homeless, unemployed and domestic violence all gathered, with a common message: We need to prevent people going hungry this winter.
Speaking after the event, Angela Moohan, CEO of The Larder said: “We arranged this emergency roundtable because we know things are already tough for people and it’s only going to get worse this winter.
“We wanted to get people in the room to come up with a plan to try and prevent people from going hungry.
“The Larder’s Catalyst Kitchen is already feeding people in West Lothian and there are other organisations across our communities doing similar vital work but the cost of living crisis is going to put many more people beyond the breadline.”
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