Barking and Dagenham Council is backing London Challenge Poverty Week which takes place this week (14 – 20 October).

Throughout the week, residents are being reminded that they can access support if they’re struggling. Whether it’s help with finances, food, employment, wellbeing or something else – there’s a range of support available online and in person at Community Hubs based locally across the borough.

The recent rise in cost of living has put additional strain on households already facing challenges to make ends meet. The council’s cost of living survey has shown a stark picture:

• 34 per cent of residents who responded are not coping with the cost of living 
• 57 per cent of residents who responded said they skip meals and 27 per cent said they have gone the entire day without eating because they can’t afford it
• 34 percent of residents who responded said they are using credit cards for daily expenses

Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “One in four Londoners are in poverty in a city ranked as the fourth wealthiest in the world – and it’s just not right. Thousands of households are suffering from low incomes and high living costs which is also having a knock-on effect on people’s mental health and wellbeing.

“Our cost of living survey findings further highlight the struggle so many of our residents are facing. That’s why we’re continuing to showcase a range of support that can be accessed locally in person or online to help maximise household income and improve lives. We encourage residents to continue to give us their feedback through cost of living our survey so that we can tailor the support we’re offering to meet growing or changing needs.

“We will also continue to do all we can to ensure residents aren’t missing out on additional government funding that they’re eligible for. We very much welcome the extension of the government’s Housing Support Fund which will mean residents can access a further £2.1m of much needed financial support here in the borough.”

The council has identified low-income pension age households and is issuing a one-off £300 payment to almost 900 households.

A further 368 households have been identified as qualifying for pension credit but are currently not in receipt of it – amounting to approximately £1.2m per year in missed support. The council is actively writing to these residents and will work in collaboration with the DADB to support these residents to claim. 

In addition to a range of support available at Community Hubs across the borough, the council is also holding pop-up support stalls later this month where residents can access a range of money support, advice, and take advantage of BD Money’s benefits calculator to ensure they are not missing out on additional income they may be eligible for on:

• Tuesday 29 October, 10am – 4pm inside Barking Station 
• Wednesday 30 October, 9am – 5pm at Barking Market

Residents can get more information on the support that is available and take part in the ongoing on the cost of living survey at: www.lbbd.gov.uk/cost-living-support