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New Prime Minister must throw lifeline to those struggling the most, says Citizens Advice

5 September 2022

Citizens Advice sets out what should be top of the new Prime Minister's in tray ahead of an announcement later today.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

“On a daily basis our advisers raise red flags about the situations people are facing: those who are terminally ill and unable to heat their homes, parents going days without food to feed their kids and people unable to afford the bus fare to get to a food or school uniform bank.

“They describe helping people during this crisis as trying to hold back the tide with a bucket.

“The cost-of-living crisis is the single biggest problem facing us and the new Prime Minister. Every day that passes without a lifeline being thrown is another day without reassurance for those who are already struggling to stay afloat.” 

Data from Citizens Advice

  • Citizens Advice is seeing helping more than two people every minute with crisis support - such as food banks and charitable grants. More than 137,000 people have been referred for this type of support - an 50% increase on the same period last year, and a 167% increase on the same period in 2019. 

  • So far this year we’ve helped 50,000 people with energy debts, a 22% increase on the same period last year

  • So far this year we’ve helped almost 16,000 people who couldn’t afford to top up their prepayment meter. This is over three times higher than over the same period in 2021

 -ends-

Notes to editors

  1. Citizens Advice includes the national charity; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
  2. Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and post. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers.
  3. The Citizens Advice Witness Service provides free, independent support for prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.
  4. Citizens Advice offers Pension Wise services at 500 locations in England and Wales.
  5. Citizens Advice’s services are free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to all regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  6. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
  7. For consumer advice, call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808 223 1144 to talk in Welsh.
  8. We helped 2.6 million people face to face, by phone, email and webchat in 2017-18. For service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.
  9. Citizens Advice staff are supported by over 23,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 locations in England and Wales.