The stark reality of the cost of living crisis faced by thousands of families in Greater Manchester has been brought to life by an interactive map of real-life stories.
Created by campaign group 38 Degrees, the map highlights the real-life concerns of those struggling in the region as prices soar and winter closes in. Each pin point tells the story of a real resident, and hopes to demonstrate how people are struggling to cope with rising prices and other pressures.
The map has been released in the run-up to Thursday’s autumn statement, which is expected to include a number of cuts to public services.
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Suzanna Cook, in Bolton South East, is one of the many who contributed to the map. She is retired and disabled, and is worried about affording the basics of food and warmth this winter.
"I am afraid to put heating on when I need it," her pin point reads. "I can't get to hospital for appointments because of cost. I only shop yellow stickers."
Sheila Mae Whitworth, 77, said she is 'scared stiff' by the prospect of prices rising even further in the coming months. The retired clerical worker is just one of many retirees sharing their stories through the map.
"My combined gas and electricity bill has almost doubled," she wrote. "I'm scared stiff!!! Bring gas and electricity companies back into public ownership."
It also It highlights stories like that of Manchester healthcare worker Beth Steel, 47. Beth said the cost of living crisis “makes me feel constantly under pressure. I'm on a fairly low wage so I had to be careful before but now I worry about getting into debt and not being able to afford the basics."
Single mum Raegan Brady, 42, from Wigan, works full time as a civil servant - but that’s still not enough to cover her soaring bills.
She said: “It's having a huge impact. I have literally NO disposable income. As the sole bill payer everything falls to me with my one income and small Universal Credit top-up.
"I spend two-thirds of my salary on rent and bills alone and whatever’s left is used for shopping."
Veronica Hawking, Head of Campaigns at 38 Degrees, said: “The heartbreaking stories across this map showcase Greater Manchester’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 Greater Manchester 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 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 Greater Manchester are crying out for.”
You can add your story to the map here.
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