Rev. Ian Rutherford, City Centre Minister from the Manchester and Stockport District, has joined former Prime Minister Gordon Brown alongside 56 faith groups, charities and politicians to call on the government to take urgent action to address the cost of living crisis.

The call responds to a report, written by poverty expert and Loughborough University Professor Donald Hirsch, which reveals the gap between the support the government is currently offering to households and the anticipated rise in living costs. The report concludes that the current flat-rate payments offered by the government will fall at least £1,600 short of making up for recent changes to living costs and benefits faced by a couple with two children.

Faith groups, charities and local communities alike from across the Greater Manchester region are doing all they can to address this escalating crisis – but what the Government has done so far comes a long way short, even before the further rise in energy costs coming in October.

Rev. Ian Rutherford, who works alongside Mayor Andy Burnham as Chair of the Greater Manchester Food Security Action Network and City Centre Minister, says “The severe economic pressure on families and the increased need for emergency provision is already being seen within all our communities. We are committed to doing all we can to help in terms of food, advice on income maximization, wellbeing support and opening warm spaces, but the Government must do so much more to bridge the significant gap disclosed in this report. They need to act now.”

Rev. Ian continues “I would point to the breadth of support across civil society endorsing this report, speaking from a range of experiences. Our strong collective voice says that what has been done by Government so far is simply not enough for everyone to have #EnoughToLive”.

Rev. Dr. Andrew Lunn, District Chair, says “As a District we are committed to addressing issues of social justice, and the cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on our neighbourhoods.  We welcome the work of the Joint Public Issues Team in bringing this into focus through Professor Hirsch’s Report.”

We continue to address the cost of living crisis by providing front line support such as food banks and food pantries, drop-in centres and advice clinics as well as campaigning regarding the prevailing social issues in our area.

You can read Professor Hirsch’s report here.