Hinckley residents given advice over ‘rising’ fuel costs, energy bills, and benefit concerns at Council’s ‘cost of living’ event

Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 4 October 2022

RESIDENTS with concerns about the national rising ‘cost of living’ crisis attended a special money and wellbeing event in Hinckley last Saturday (1 October).

**A stock image of banknotes and coins** (Image: Alaur Rahman/Pexels)

The event, organised by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, was held at The Meeting Centre, and provided attendees with a chance to speak to experts directly about concerns over benefits, energy bills, managing debt, and eating on a budget.

The Council and their community partners decided to team up and offer their support after they had noticed a rise in the number of people who were asking for help.

This year, the £20 Universal Credit uplift was cut, energy prices have started to soar, and fuel costs have risen, with inflation up to nine per cent. A Council spokesperson stressed that as a result, some are “struggling to make money cover the basics”.

A wide range of agencies were in attendance to offer ‘immediate’ advice to those who needed it – such as the British Red Cross, the Fire Service, mental health charity Lamp, Work Link, Emmaus, the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Also in attendance were the Scams and Trading Standards, Great/Yes Project, Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, Morrisons, Food Bank, the Royal Volunteer Service, Clockwise, and GamCare, who help to provide gambling addiction support.

The Borough Council’s Housing, Council Tax, and Welfare Teams offered face-to-face advice, whilst charity Scope showcased mannequins to show how affordable good quality clothes can be.

Residents were able to watch demonstrations on how to cook nutritious food on a budget and enjoy free refreshments. And there were plenty of activities to keep children entertained. The event even caught the eye of BBC East Midlands.

Visitors were able to enter in to a raffle with 14 generous prizes. Morrisons, Asda, Aldi, Lidl and Tesco all made donations for food hampers, whilst the housing department gave away four £50 energy vouchers. Hinckley Leisure Centre also offered two prizes.

Coun. Michael Mullaney, the Borough Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “Many residents living in the borough are – like many across the country – rightly concerned about the rise in the cost of living.

“I want to thank everyone who attended Saturday’s money and wellbeing event, as well as all the agencies, staff and volunteers who gave up their Saturdays to provide this much-needed support and advice.

“It was important to us to host this event because we want to provide as much help and support as possible. We hope that we are able to offer our residents reassurance where it is needed and that we will also hold other events like this in the future.”