As we are approaching the summer months, you are possibly looking forward to how you will spend your time over the break. Maybe you have a big holiday booked and can’t wait to jet off somewhere sunny. Maybe you have a few day trips planned and are excited to get outdoors for a picnic or head to the beach with friends. Or maybe you are simply looking forward to the chance to spend more quality time with your family.
Is the Summer always sunny?
Whilst the summer weather often puts a smile on people’s faces, at Lisburn Foodbank we encounter people every day for whom these months are still very challenging. Despite expenses for gas and electricity being slightly lower than in winter, we find that the summer months can also highlight financial difficulties for families.
With children being off school, there are more mouths to feed at home, increasing household costs. Summer can also be a catalyst for many feelings of comparison, as kids and parents alike question why they are not able to holiday abroad this year like so many others.
Why is this?
One of the key reasons is the ever-increasing cost of living, and so The Trussell Trust have developed a campaign to highlight the disparity between the cost of basic essentials and the current rate of Universal Credit.
We recently held several ‘tabletop events’ to show our support for the Guaranteeing our Essentials campaign as we see many families in our community constantly living at a deficit – this isn’t going to change unless the UK Government do.
We collected stories of hardship and hope on tablecloths; written testimonies of the difficulties individuals have faced and the hope they have if something were to change. Many were powerful, challenging and emotive. Here are just a few:
“I’ve been in the situation where I had £5 left in my purse and had to choose between a packet of painkillers and gas for the heating. I done without the heating.”
“Trying to live off yellow sticker food.”
“Foodbanks should not be a norm.”
How can I help?
If you want to get on board and support the Guarantee our Essentials campaign, we would really appreciate if you took 2 minutes to fill in this appeal to our local MPs. The more supporters we have onboard, the more likely we are to see change 👇
What now?
So where does that leave us? Well, we agree with these quotes! Foodbanks should not be the norm.
The Trussell Trust’s long-term goal is to end the need for foodbanks, but we are here until something changes and that becomes possible.
So for those who are left to make impossible decisions, those who are trying to get by on very little, and those who are struggling to meet ends meet, we are here.
You are probably wondering why I tagged the title of this blog post ‘Time is money’. Well this phrase, coined by Benjamin Franklin, is used to signify value.
In our society, it is undisputable to say that money is valuable.
We need money to get by and have just focused on many real-life testimonials of how a shortfall in finances has knock-on consequences for people every single day.
Challenge Time!
As a reader, I want to ask you, what is valuable to you? I am not aware of your financial situation, but this expression refers to more than just money. Time is also just as precious, and so in the lead-up to the summer holidays when you may have more time, how will you choose to spend it?
Here’s a challenge! As a charity, monetary donations are a support we often ask for, but as loneliness is becoming an increasing problem in our society, I challenge you to give your time. It is a resource that we can all offer to a neighbour and goes a long way to supporting those in need, even when that need isn’t as apparent.
This summer, ensure your time is filled with quality moments, whatever that looks like.
Check out this website to read more about a campaign aimed at ending loneliness! 🥰