An Islington charity has raised £32,000 to support local families as they brace for a winter of rising inflation and costly energy bills.
Islington Giving, which awards grants to local partner charities, launched its “Crisis Appeal” at the end of September.
The charity describes Islington as “one of the most unequal places to live in the UK”, with the council’s latest figures showing 11,673 households living in fuel poverty and 9,901 in relative poverty.
Lisa Robinson, a director at Islington Giving, said: “A lot of our local community partners have articulated how some of their clients and local residents they speak to are really struggling financially – whether that’s through huge increases in their electricity bills, or that they’re using food banks for the very first time because they don’t have any money left over, or in fact they’re already on the breadline.”
She added: “Enquiries about financial issues to Citizens Advice in Islington are up by 20% compared to earlier this year.”
One of the group’s partners, Help on Your Doorstep, said its referrals to Islington Foodbank rose by 46% on last year.
Ms Robinson said: “In addition to basic survival and financial problems, we are seeing more and more of our residents expressing increased stress, anxiety and other mental health concerns.
“I think it’s incredibly disappointing where we find ourselves in 2022 in one of the greatest cities in the world.”
She explained a large donation made by a local resident in August kickstarted the appeal, which began accepting public contributions last month.
The charity supports donors wishing to give all or part of the £400 energy rebate the government is giving households this winter.
Ms Robinson explained donations will provide cash grants, emergency food vouchers and fuel payments, as well as “longer term advice and support”.
She said the £32,000 raised so far was “a testament to local generosity”, adding: “We’re already starting to help people, so there’s already money getting out to local residents.”
She said: “We’re worried about what people will face in the near future – for the winter. That said, we have an amazing and strong local community sector – we have some incredible groups across Islington.”
Those wishing to donate to the appeal can do so at https://islingtongiving.org.uk/lp/islington-crisis-appeal/
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