Supporting the city with the cost of living
We’ve published the Cost of Living Plan setting out the city’s partnership approach to provide emergency support to our most vulnerable residents struggling with the cost of living crisis.
The Cost of Living Plan supports our ambition to create a fairer and more inclusive city where everyone can thrive.
As set out in the council plan for a better Brighton & Hove, we will do everything in our power to reduce inequality and tackle poverty, exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis.
Our approach will evolve in response to the changing needs of our communities, with a strong emphasis on joining up support and working with partners across the city.
Engaging with communities
In Brighton & Hove, the cost of living crisis has had a significant impact on the living standards of most residents, with a disproportionate impact on people facing multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage.
As part of our response to support the city, we published a draft Cost of Living Action Plan for consultation in August 2023.
The consultation revealed the challenges different communities face. Among the top concerns were housing affordability, energy and food costs, and access to healthcare.
Feedback collected from consultation, surveys and in-person engagement meetings stressed the criticality of continuing emergency support and the high levels of demand, that continue to outstrip supply.
Supporting those most in need
In response to the concerns of our communities, we’ve announced a new £2.8 million Brighton & Hove Fairness Fund.
The 2024 to 2025 Fairness Fund will provide support for community groups, food banks, help with food vouchers, discretionary payments and other essential items for residents in need.
This includes our £2.1 million Household Support Fund allocation from the Department of Work and Pensions, which has been extended until September 2024.
Our Cost of Living Support Hub has been a crucial source of information on the latest advice and support across food, energy, financial management, access to warm spaces, health and wellbeing.
There have been almost 30,000 visits to the hub to date and over 50 participating partners.
Coming together to provide emergency relief
The 2023 Brighton & Hove Emergency Food Network Annual Survey revealed 6,441 residents rely on emergency food services every week – up 25% from 2022. One in 3 of the recipients of emergency food are children.
In 2023, we ran a successful crowdfunding campaign, led by Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice and the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership supported by the council and other partners.
The campaign raised £76,000 to help residents struggling to meet food, fuel and other essential costs.
Building on this goodwill, a new Cost of Living Crisis action appeal has been launched, aiming to rise £35,000 to pay for utilities and food parcels.
It’s already raised nearly £24,000. Thank you to everyone who’s donated so far.
A plan that will help thousands
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council said: “We know many of our residents have been hit hard by the cost of living crisis.
“We have been lobbying hard on behalf of residents and businesses, including calls for the extension of the Household Support Fund, to provide additional support for residents through the cost of living crisis. We will continue to call upon national government to do more to support our communities.
“But we cannot sit back while our residents face stark choices between heating and eating.
“That’s why, even through the toughest budget the council has faced, we have safeguarded essential support for our most vulnerable residents through the Fairness Fund, which is being set up support residents directly as well as the community and voluntary sector organisations many people rely on.
“Thank you to everyone who took time to respond to the consultation on our draft cost of living action plan. This feedback has helped us develop and finalise a plan that will help thousands of residents.
“Our goal is for Brighton & Hove to be a fair and inclusive city, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. With your support and input, this action plan will go some way towards achieving that.”
Support with the cost of living
You can find information on support with energy bills and advice about how to keep your home warm and save energy in our support with the cost of living web pages.
This includes information about whether you’re eligible for discounts on energy bills, and advice and tips and about saving energy and keeping your home warm.
We’ve also got information on emergency help and money advice and health and wellbeing support.
