The cost of living crisis is here, but how can we respond?

There’s no denying that we are in a cost of living crisis and sadly, we know that things are only going to get worse. 

Even with the government price cap on energy costs, energy bills this winter are still going to be double what they were a year ago. Petrol is more expensive. Food bills are going up rapidly. Mortgage interest rates are on the rise. 

The impact in the local community

The chart below shows the use of our Bracknell Foodbank over the last two years. The blue line is the number of people who used Foodbank in 2021 and the orange line is the number of people who have used Foodbank so far this year.

What it shows is that the number of people coming to the foodbank in August and September this year, was more than double the number of the same period last year.

That’s an astounding increase and for many of us, we will have a deep sense of anxiety or may already be at a breaking point – and not just regarding food, but our wider finances.

So how do we respond?

I want to suggest two responses that I’ve pulled from the early Church; firstly for those who are struggling and then for those who may be in a position to help.

1. There were no needy persons among then (Acts 4:34)

The historian Luke sees the evidence of God’s grace on the fledgling Christian community not in the signs and wonders happening in their midst, or the rapid growth of the church, but in the fact that there are no poor people among them (a direct fulfilment of God’s promise to his people in Deuteronomy 15:4). I long that the same might be true of us. 

I want to make a request. If you are likely to struggle this coming winter, or are already struggling, please ask for help, particularly if…

• you are having to choose between heating your home or buying food to eat

• you are skipping meals so that you can feed your children 

• you are considering taking out a payday loan to buy essentials 

• you are experiencing anxiety over how you are going to cope and impacting your mental health

Getting help starts by admitting to someone that you have a need.

All sorts of things including pride and shame can stop us making that ask, but help comes when we have the courage to admit to ourselves, to God and the others that we can’t do this on our own. 

So please talk to your small group leader, site pastor or someone else in the Kerith leadership and ask them for help. They will talk to our pastoral team and get you the help you need. 

There are different ways that the pastoral team can help depending on your situation. They might get you a grant from our cost of living fund, get you a Foodbank voucher, suggest going on a course like CAP money or CAP Life Skills, give you access to our debt counselling services, invite you to the Revive cafe, or point you to another agency or group where you can get the help you need. 

2. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need (Acts 2:45)

Not all of us are going to be at breaking point this winter. For Catrina and myself, things will be tighter than they were last year, but we won’t be having to make decisions about whether we have food on the table or whether to turn the heating on. 

For all of us in the same position God calls us to be part of the solution. Here are a few ways you can play your part.

Use the BanktheFood App

Our Bracknell Foodbank recently started promoting a brilliant mobile app called BanktheFood. When you download the app onto your phone and enter your location, it will tell you where your nearest Foodbank is. It’ll also what the urgent needs are and which supermarkets have drop off points where you can leave items for collection. It’s a great way to make sure the Foodbank gets the items it most needs. 

Give to our Cost of Living Fund

This is a fund we’ve set up which can be used to help anyone either in Kerith or in the wider community who is struggling. To give, go to our giving page and choose ‘Cost of Living Fund’ from the dropdown menu.

You can either give a one-off gift or a regular amount. This fund is going to be vital over the coming months. If you’re in a season when you have more than you need, then please consider giving and help those who need it.

Give your time to help Revive ministries 

Our Revive ministries are always looking to grow their teams. Sign up to volunteer your time and help those who are facing difficult circumstances.

If you’re unsure on what area to volunteer for, our CAP debt counselling team are on the lookout for befrienders who can work alongside our debt coaches to support clients – Ken Evans who heads up the team would love to hear from you!

Alternatively, you can find another organisation in your local community doing great work and volunteer for them. 

Don’t be afraid to ask people whether they need help

We all need friends who are willing to ask us the tough questions every now and again. You might be the person to discover the hidden need of a friend/workmate/neighbour/family member which if not met, might cause real suffering. Be listening for the promptings of the Holy Spirit and be willing to act on his nudges – be brave!

Looking for more inspiration?

Finally, if you want some more ideas, I recommend this short but excellent guide from our friends at Jubilee+.

The goal is equality

In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes:

At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’ (2 Corinthians‬ 8:14-15‬ ‬‬‬)

Let those of us who in this season have ‘plenty’ provide generously for those in need, knowing that in time we may well be the ones on the receiving end. 

And let those who in this season are in need have the humility to accept that help, knowing that in time we may well be the one with plenty. 

This is equality in the Kingdom of God. 

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash