The 32 leaders ranging from organisations including Norfolk Community Law Service, Citizen’s Advice, and Age UK, were signatories to a letter. It makes sober reading and highlights the numerous cases of poverty across the county and the desperate need for prospective parliamentary candidates to respond to this important issue that affects so many across the region.
Norfolk Community Law Service’s CEO, David Powles, explains why he thought the letter was so important.
“Even in a seemingly affluent place like Norfolk, poverty is becoming increasingly common. We see this first hand at our charity, with more and more people coming to us with issues and fewer people able to pay for legal representation to help them. It’s vital that this is put on the top of the political agenda both locally and nationally.”
Dear Candidate,
Tackling poverty in Norfolk
As Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) leaders, representatives of faith groups and campaigners, we are writing to urge you to make fighting poverty in Norfolk your top priority, if (re)elected on 4 July.
Everyone in Norfolk should be able to put healthy food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, but for more and more families this is becoming impossible. Every day, we see and support families where parents are skipping meals, children have no beds to sleep in, and where freezing houses build up damp and mould, as people are forced to choose between eating and heating.
These conditions have long-term impacts and hold people back from securing stable employment, putting down roots in their communities and building a better future for their children.
These are not isolated incidents but widespread struggles:
- According to the Citizens Advice ‘National Red Index’, across the UK, more than 5 million people, including 1.5 million children – live in households that are in a negative budget. This means the money coming in does not fully cover the cost of essentials, like food, energy bills, rent or mortgage, and Council Tax. This figure has jumped by more than 54% since the start of the pandemic.
- A household with a negative budget inevitably builds up debts, as bills cannot be paid. Norfolk Community Advice Network (NCAN) partners saw a 15% increase in requests for debt advice in 2023-24 compared to the year before.
- Norfolk Community Law Service saw a 70% rise in the number of people needing help to access welfare benefits in 2023/24 compared to a year before. It has seen a 71% rise in overall clients in just 4 years.
- Welfare benefits are paid at a level that is too low for many people to live on; almost two thirds of households using Trussell Trust foodbanks in Norfolk in 2023-24 were unable to work and were reliant on benefits.
- Age UK Norwich reports that 91% of clients who turn to the charity for advice are seeking help with income, debt, housing or bills.
Our social security system should act as a safety net for all of us when we need it, but right now, it is not providing the protection it should. Benefits, pensions and the National Living Wage must be paid at rates that reflect the rising cost of living. Instead, long periods without adequate uprating have left Norfolk residents without enough money to pay for the essentials.
As we approach this upcoming election, addressing poverty in Norfolk must become a top priority for ALL candidates. We invite you, as a prospective Member of Parliament, to commit your support for ending poverty in Norfolk by signing this pledge: “If I am elected, I pledge to use my voice as an MP to advocate for changes to our social security system to help end poverty and ensure all residents of Norfolk can thrive.” We urge you to make the fight against poverty your top priority and would welcome more information from you about your plans to tackle this if elected.
To sign the pledge or share detail on your plans, please email campaigns@ncan.co.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Ben Scarlett, Director, Norfolk Community Advice Network
David Powles, Chief Executive, Norfolk Community Law Service
Ann Donkin, Chief Executive (Interim), Age UK Norfolk
Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer, Age UK Norwich
Michael Newey, Chief Executive, Broadland Housing Group
Peter Rowley, CEO, Care for Carers
Amy Griffiths, CEO, Citizens Advice Diss, Thetford & District (CADAT)
Rik Martin, CEO, Community Action Norfolk
Jo Howes, CEO, DIAL Great Yarmouth
Ian Bishop, Bishop of Thetford, Diocese of Norwich
Tammy Giff, Project Manager, Downham Market Foodbank
Ben Reed, CEO, Equal Lives
Julie Chaplin, Project Lead, Hanseatic Union
Anna Heydon, Development Worker, Imagine Norfolk Together
Helen Gilbert, Strategic Project Manager, King’s Lynn Foodbank
Dan Mobbs, Chief Executive, MAP
Idunn Marthinsen, NAP Co-ordinator, Norfolk Advocacy Partnership
Sonja Chilvers, Chief Operating Officer, Norfolk and Waveney Mind
Julie Hunter Jennings, Foodbank Manager, North Norfolk Foodbank
The Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, Dean of Norwich, Norwich Cathedral
Sandra McAfee, Grants Manager (Individuals), Norwich Charitable Trusts
Mark Hitchcock, Chief Executive, Norfolk Citizens Advice
Hannah Worsley, Project Manager, Norwich Foodbank
James Francis, Chief Executive Officer, Saffron Housing Trust
Revd Matthew Price, Vicar and Bishops Adviser for Urban and Estates Ministry, St Mary Magdalene Church, Gorleston
Lesley Burdett, Strategic Lead, Shelter Norfolk
Béatrice Humarau, Executive Coordinator, The Bridge Plus+
Lucy Parish, CEO, The Feed
Joanna Stevenson, Area Manager for Norfolk & Suffolk, The Trussell Trust
Anna Price, Trustee and Centre Manager, Yarmouth and Magdalen Foodbank
John Lee, CEO, YMCA Norfolk
Rebecca White, CEO, Your Own Place CIC
The letter has gathered some responses but under electoral rules the signatories are not allowed to say who has responded.
