Page 12 - link magazine

Community News

The Spirit of Swindon: Fuel poverty and just about managing – or not.

By Tom Wilkes on behalf of Spirit live near someone who is cutting
of Swindon back on their light or heating in
At the beginning of last year, how order to make ends meet. Many
many of us were convinced that older people are anxious about the
the UK would vote to leave the size of their gas or electricity bill.
EU and Donald Trump would be Not everyone will be willing to
elected as the new President of the talk about their fears or how they
USA? The odds may not have been are ‘just about managing’ – or not
high yet both events happened and – but the one thing you could do
highlighted deep divisions in the this month is find someone who is
two nations. One in ten households in Swindon experience fuel poverty experiencing fuel poverty and listen
Although a number of factors to their story. If you already know
are agreed to have been at work combined with our remarkable next door, for over 20 years. The someone you could contact their
in both countries, one which has community spirit and networks central heating in her house only supplier to get advice or support
regularly featured in commentaries mean Swindon is well placed to gets turned on when visitors come, on their behalf. Alternatively you
is inequality – the sense that the address inequality issues in our the rest of the time she wears could organise an activity at your
gap between the rich and the poor own town and give a lead to others. lots of layers and blankets to keep workplace to raise awareness of fuel
has been increasing. While some are Last, but not least, that instead of warm in winter or goes to bed early. poverty and encourage colleagues
enjoying greater opportunity and wringing our hands or saying the When the electricity runs out she to visit neighbours. You may have
prosperity, more and more people issues are too complex, each one will often live in the dark. She was much more imaginative ideas. Let
feel they have been left behind or of us can decide we have a part looking for other work but it has us know what they are by emailing
left out. Increasing numbers are to play and do one thing that can proved hard to find a job which fits [email protected] with
finding it hard to make ends meet. make a difference. It may be for an around child care for her daughter. ‘Spirit of Swindon’ as the subject.
‘The system’ is not working. individual or family or it could be for The Government publishes Our borough council has produced
Last month, in the first article for a workforce. Both matter! figures for ‘Fuel Poverty’ which are a very clear way of visualising some
Spirit of Swindon we pointed out Recently we have been hearing supplied by Local Authorities. In of the issues linked to inequality and
four things: First, that economic about ‘JAMs’ – those who are ‘just 2013 Swindon estimated that out going deeper into the statistics at
inequality is bad for everyone – the about managing’. The line between of 93,120 households, 9,115 could swindonjsna.co.uk/pictures
most affluent as well as the least. managing and not managing any be assessed as ‘Fuel Poor’. This is Spirit of Swindon has emerged
Second, the UK is one of the most longer can be thin. Spirit of Swindon 9.8% of households; a little better from a gathering of people who want
economically unequal developed was told the story of a mother with than the national figure of 10.6% to raise consciousness of the impact
countries, significantly more so than a teenage daughter who works in but worrying. Given that one in 10 of economic inequality and help
otherwise similar nations. Third, school as a ‘dinner lady’ and has households in our town experience Swindon offer a lead to other towns
the strength of our economic base cared for her own mother, who lives fuel poverty it is very likely you may and cities in the UK.

12 swindonlink.com n January 2017

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