Cost of living: On the frontline of the crisis in Bradford

Based at The Light Church, just behind Bradford Cathedral, the food bank supports people from a range of backgrounds; single parents, the homeless, people with disabilities, those between jobs unable to survive on Universal Credit.

The cost of living crisis is real and it is here; energy prices soaring and set to get even higher, food prices going up, inflation at levels not seen for decades. All while wages don’t increase at the same level, taxes are set to go up, and the removal of the uplift to Universal Credit is being felt more and more.

It’s that, Universal Credit, which is a problem I’ll hear over and over again during my morning helping volunteers at the food bank packing parcels, speaking to those who give up their time to support the needy, and the people relying on the food bank to get by.

One of these people is Alan Brown. 

Alan Brown is struggling to make ends meet on Universal Credit

The 54-year-old, from Tong Street, suffered an accident in the snow at the end of 2021 which led to him leaving his job. He is starting a new job soon but has been relying on Universal Credit between work, and has struggled to afford the basics.

“This is my second time I’ve had to come here,” the smartly dressed Mr Brown says.

“I’ve been on Universal Credit since leaving work, it’s horrible. I’ve been struggling with gas, with food; it’s terrible.

“It’s freezing outside so you don’t want to run out of gas, but last week I didn’t have my heating on at all.

“It’s so expensive now, I put £3 in my meter and after I’d cooked my tea had 40p left. I can’t afford to put it on to take a shower, I’ve been having to boil the kettle and use that to wash.

“I’ve come down here [the food bank] and they are fantastic, they give you a warm meal, some food, help you get by.”

Once he’s back working, Alan doesn’t think he’ll need to come back to the food bank, but with bills and food prices going up it won’t be comfortable living; “I’ll be managing,” he adds.

Food parcels contain the essentials, some treats, and recipes to make the most of the ingredients

Money – and the lack of it – is the biggest problem facing clients at the food bank, and help is on offer because Bradford Central is so much more than food parcels.

They have a team of volunteers helping to sort people’s bills out, showing them how to keep to a budget, and how to clear their debts. But this only goes so far as, rearing its head again, Universal Credit is raised as an issue.

Simply that it’s too low – and the removal of the Covid-19 uplift has only compounded that.

The Government has told me it is providing £12 billion in support to families this year and provided targeted support to help with energy bills, along with cutting the Universal Credit taper for those in work.

Volunteers sort through thousands of long-life and fresh produce at the food bank

However Josie Barlow, who leads the food bank team, said: “Simply, you just can’t live on it.

“A lot of claimants rent and once that is taken out, people have about £60 for bills, food, travel; it’s just not liveable.

“We get it, there has to be a limit, to encourage people into working, but at it’s current level it’s not fair and just creates further problems down the road.

“The government need to take action, increasing wages and payments at least in line with inflation, especially since the basic food prices have gone up a lot more than five per cent, and these people are already buying the cheapest food they can find.

“The advance payment needs reforming, it forces people into debt, but I just don’t think anyone in Westminster has any idea just how bad things really are.

“They need to really live it, see what it’s like to live on Universal Credit for a couple of weeks, trying to get by on £30 a week.”

A list of items included in a family food parcel

Another client I speak to, who asks to remain anonymous, is at the food bank for the first time. It’s the first time in months he can remember people being kind to him, putting an arm round him and offering him a warm drink and some food.

He moved to Bradford to look after his hospitalised father, but the living conditions in the flat he was allocated were so bad he left, choosing instead to spend Christmas in a tent in an abandoned building in the city centre as he felt it was safer.

A care leaver, he’s struggled finding secure housing throughout his adult life, suffered a serious injury meaning it’s difficult to find work, and battles with mental health issues which left him contemplating suicide. He’s 29 years old.

Now, he’s been given decent housing to take him off the streets and was directed straight to Bradford Central to help get him back on track.

“It was savage, I had no lock on my door, the roof leaked. My dad lived there, he had no window – which wasn’t fixed – and ended up in intensive care because of it.

“Growing up in care sent me down this route, in supported housing and on the streets, it’s destroyed me as a person, I’ve got nothing.

“I got my flat on Friday and I’m here now a few days later, I’ve been made to feel so warm and welcome.

“They’ve given me food, a hot drink, it’s given me a boost. I want to get myself a flat – a private one – and I have a child down south, I want to be able to support him, send him presents.”

Volunteers give up their time three days a week to support the less fortunate

He also has no faith in Westminster in sorting the issues he’s faced; homelessness, being a care leaver, barely getting by on benefits.

It’s a lack of faith shared by volunteers at the food bank. Two I spoke with joined the team after losing their partners, joining eight and nine months ago to get out of their homes and to help others.

Paul Vickers, who lost his wife just after the first lockdown began, said: “Coming here, it opened my eyes.

“More and more people have been coming in recent months, since the Universal Credit uplift ended.

“That bit of extra cash helped people get by, when it went they were lost, and with food prices and bills going up it’s going to get worse without a doubt.

“Benefits, wages, they are stagnant, and people can only tread water for so long.”

It's non-stop at the food bank, packing parcels and supporting clients to get what they need

Another volunteer, who asked not to be named, is inspired by her faith: “It’s only by the grace of God I’m not one of those coming to us for help.

“We’re all two missed mortgage payments away from homelessness, and with prices going up money isn’t going as far, people can’t afford the basics.

“Politicians need to come to places like this and see what the situation is really like, and not just address the symptoms but tackle the root causes.

“Giving a homeless person a flat, hungry people food parcels, it’s not enough; they need to ask why this is happening and then take action to stop it, prevention is always better than the cure.”

Ann and Phil Murgatroyd volunteer delivering food parcels to those who can’t afford or are unable to get to the food bank.

Ann said: “The people we visit are so grateful, especially those with children, and we have seen demand for deliveries increasing.

“If we didn’t do this, those families would fall through the net and it’s only going to get worse. It’s scary seeing the conditions some families live in, it’s mind-blowing and can be very emotional.”

Phil and Ann Murgatroyd deliver parcels to people unable to get to the food bank

Another service user told me the loss of the Universal Credit means they are now behind on their bills, but the biggest issue is affording food.

“I go to the supermarket and don’t know if I have enough money to pay for my shopping,” she said.

“It’s been very hard recently, prices are just going up and up. Losing the uplift had a huge impact.

“We’re living in poverty, it’s not right. We’re scared about prices going up. Benefits need to be increased, people are struggling to survive.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “We’re providing support worth around £12bn this financial year and next to help families with the cost of living.

“We’re cutting the Universal Credit taper to make sure work pays, providing targeted support to help households with their energy bills and have a comprehensive childcare offer in place for working parents.

“Our £500m Household Support Fund is helping the most vulnerable with essential costs this winter, and councils have also been given an extra £65m to support low income households with rent arrears.”

Therese Coffey is Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The Trussell Trust, of which Bradford Central is a member, called for urgent action from Government to ensure social security keeps up with the cost of living.

Garry Lemon, director of policy and research, said: “As the nation faces a cost-of-living crisis the inadequacy of our social security is being laid bare.

"After Universal Credit was cut by £20 a week, benefit payments fell to their lowest level since the Second World War.

“Now, with inflation reaching a thirty year high, our social security system is at breaking point and struggling to keep people out of destitution – meaning they cannot afford the essentials we all need to keep clothed, fed and warm.

“For many of us who aren’t able to work or work longer hours – such as disabled people or people with caring responsibilities – there is very little protection ahead. This isn’t right.

“We believe everyone should be able to afford the essentials in life and have the dignity of buying their own food.

“That’s why we need the UK government to take urgent action to ensure that our social security system keeps up with the cost of living and prevents people needing to use food banks.

“We are calling for the government to increase benefits to reflect the times we face and to bring them in line with the projected six per cent rate of inflation and urgently get money into the pockets of families unable to afford the essentials.

“We are also asking the public to help fight hunger this winter and beyond and join our campaign for a future without the need for food banks.”

What was clear from that morning at Bradford Central Foodbank is that poverty is an issue that is getting worse and worse, and it's going to take an awful lot of work from Government to address it.

Volunteers like these people are doing superb work supporting those most in need, but in 21st Century Britain, why is there poverty? Why do we need food banks to stop people from starving? And why are more and more people being forced into going to them for help?