Council’s cost of living event a success

The event, held at The Meeting Centre, was organised by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, and gave everyone the chance to speak face-to-face with experts about concerns including benefits, housing, paying energy bills, managing debt and eating on a budget.

Council and community partners teamed up to offer their support after seeing a rise in the number of people asking for help. This year, people have seen the end of the £20 uplift in universal credit, as well as energy price rises, rising fuel costs and inflation at 9%. All these changes mean more people are struggling to make their money cover the basics.

A wide range of agencies were able to offer immediate advice at the event, including British Red Cross, the Fire Service, mental health charity Lamp, Worklink, Emmaus and the Citizens Advice Bureau. Also in attendance were Scams/Trading Standards, Great/Yes Project, Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, Morrisons, Food Bank, the Royal Volunteer Service, Clockwise and GamCare, who provide gambling addiction support.

The council’s housing, council tax and welfare teams also offered face-to-face advice, while charity Scope showcased dressed mannequins to show how affordable good quality clothes can be. 

Residents attending were able to watch demonstrations on how to cook nutritious food on a budget and enjoy free refreshments. There were also plenty of activities to keep children entertained, while BBC East Midlands also came along to film. 

Visitors to the event were even able to take part in a raffle with 14 generous prizes. Supermarkets Morrisons, ASDA, Aldi, Lidl and Tesco made donations for food hampers, while the housing department at the borough council gave away four £50 energy vouchers. Hinckley Leisure Centre also offered two prizes. 

Councillor Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for housing and community safety at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, said:

“Many residents living in the borough are – like many across the country – rightly concerned about the rise in the cost of living. I want to thank everyone who attended Saturday’s money and wellbeing event, as well as all the agencies, staff and volunteers who gave up their Saturdays to provide this much-needed support and advice. It was important to us to host this event because we want to provide as much help and support as possible. We hope that we are able to offer our residents reassurance where it is needed and that we will also hold other events like this in the future."