Over 2.5 million people have sought help with the cost of living from churches and other religious organisations this past year. That’s according to a poll taken for the Church of England. It found that overall, 38% of UK adults have sought help because of the squeeze on living costs, with family (24%) and friends (14%) the most common source of help. But 2.6 million people – 5% of UK adults – had turned to places of worship for help. Six in ten of those who sought help from churches and other religions said they had received free food or groceries. Half said they received low-cost food or groceries and four in 10 said they had been provided with warm spaces. The survey showed that overall, 61% of UK adults said they had not sought help as a result of the cost of living crisis. The Warm Welcome campaign was launched, supported by thousands of churches and other public buildings which are opening their doors to provide a warm space for people amid surging energy bills.
The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, who speaks for the Church of England on welfare issues, said: “Churches have been providing a lifeline to people struggling to balance their household budgets and provide for their families through food banks and food clubs and other forms of hospitality for many years. “The cost of living crisis has seen churches step up this support, with many providing warm spaces through the Warm Welcome campaign for people struggling to heat their homes. “The figure of nearly three million people seeking help from church or other religious organisations since the start of winter is almost certainly an underestimate of the extent of the support, as many visit church-run food banks and food clubs in order to provide for their families and wider households.”
Source: Premier Christian News
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