Supporting communities through the cost of living crisis
Sadly, the cost of living crisis is all around us. Everywhere and anywhere you look, the price of everything is shooting up. Rail fares, heating… even cucumbers. And while all this happens, incomes are struggling to keep up – driving more and more people into hardship. Put simply, the pound in your pocket is not able to buy what it used to, forcing us all make tough choices.
Families are scaling back on spending to make ends meet. The heating is being turned down or even off, extra jumpers and socks are being worn in the house, and cutbacks are made on leisure and even food.
Businesses are putting prices up and cutting back on their own spending, maybe some of the nice-to-do things have to be put on ice. In extreme circumstances, we are seeing staff losing their jobs.
Charities face a more difficult situation. Hardship for the public means more demand for charitable services. So, charities who NEED to cut back on their spending, HAVE to look at cutting back on their very reason for being – to support people. Any cuts will harm the people they are meant to be supporting – it’s an impossible situation.
These charitable services are the lifeblood of our communities, it’s where you go when there is no other choice. Take them away and what do we have left as a society?
That’s why we at Community Foundation Wales have launched the Our Communities Together – A Cost of Living Appeal. We wanted to create space where communities can come together to support the charities who are helping people through this crisis. Where people and businesses alike can stand together and show their value for their local charities and community groups at this time when they are needed most.
To do this, we partnered with Newsquest, the media publisher, so that we could share our message across Wales through their local community newspapers and websites.
We were fortunate that three of our funding partners, Steve Morgan Foundation, Waterloo Foundation and Moondance Foundation, backed the idea of communities coming together at this time – and agreed to match donations to the appeal. Thanks to them, a £2 donation to the appeal becomes a £4 donation. A business’s donation of a £1,000 becomes £2,000. It’s a great way of encouraging giving whilst also giving back to their local community.
And then, last week, another massive boost for the appeal arrived with support from Welsh Government, as Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt announced a £1m donation into the fund.
Alongside this, we have seen a great response the general public and also had generous donations from Wind2 Ltd, Welsh Water and Dragon Taxis among others.
But we need more – could you business help today? Do you passionately believe in the value of your local community and the charities and community groups that are helping the most vulnerable. Today we can still match-fund your donations to make your generosity go further. If you can help support this campaign please get in touch with katy@communityfoundationwales.org.uk who will be happy to advise you.
The well-being of our communities is just as important for the people living there as it is for the businesses that trade there and employ staff.
Our call today is on the businesses of Wales – large, medium and small – to play your part in helping our communities through this cost of living crisis. A little bit of help will go a long way.
You can donate to the Our Communities Together – a cost of living crisis appeal here.
