The Council meeting agreed a motion by Cllr Beki Aldam (Green, Brimscombe & Thrupp) and Cllr Natalie Bennett (Independent Left, Nailsworth), which recognised the serious cost of living concerns facing people and businesses in Stroud District this winter and called on the Government to provide:

• Immediate financial support to help people to manage the cost-of-living emergency, with most support provided to low income households, and

• A fully funded nationwide commitment to improve the energy efficiency of homes (and consequently reduce energy bills), noting that this initiative is also required to deliver on the Government’s own commitment to net zero carbon by 2050.

The motion also confirmed the Council’s support for the Great Homes Upgrade campaign, for an upgrade of 19 million homes by 2030 to make sure that everyone can have a well-insulated home, heated by clean, green energy.

Finally, councillors are calling on the Government to produce and make public a plan to deal with the crisis and alleviate the burden on our residents and local businesses.

Cllr Aldam said: “No one in Stroud District should go hungry; none of our residents should have to choose between food or warmth, or not be able to have either.

“The cost-of-living emergency is the top priority for all of us at Stroud District Council this winter. We’re working hard to support community groups and organisations to help people in need. 

“It was great to see all councillors support our motion and I was particularly pleased that even the Conservatives joined us in calling on the Government for immediate financial support to help people in need, and for a fully funded nationwide commitment to improve home energy efficiency. 

“However, this challenge is bigger than just Stroud District and we need the national Government to step up.

“It is shocking that at this time of crisis for so many people and businesses, Tory ministers are looking to further cut back on public services.”

Cllr Chris Jockel (Green, Chalford), added: “With higher energy bills and increasing prices, people are very aware of the fall in their household income, as pay and benefits fail to keep pace with the increase in the cost of essential items. This is not just about the food and energy cost crises (critically important as they are) but also about a housing, wider inflation and wage stagnation crisis.

“Those on the lowest incomes will be hardest hit, and the support offered to them by Government so far is completely inadequate to bridge the cost-of-living gap.”

The full motion can be seen in the meeting agenda here

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

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A campaign group is being set up to campaign for changes to the national policies that are causing the increasing cases of poverty in Stroud District. The first meeting will be on Friday April 1 from 7.30pm to 9pm.

The group will complement the valuable practical work already being done by local food hubs and charities. It will bring together people of all political affiliations or none who want to campaign for an end to the injustices that see so many families living in poverty.

The idea for the group came out of a public meeting earlier this month about the reality of poverty in Stroud: the latest in Stroud District Green Party’s monthly Cloud Café discussions. The meeting heard that a rising number of children in Stroud live in low-income families and that many have to skip meals.

One of the speakers at the event, Jade Bashford (pictured), is initiating the new group.

Jade has a particular interest in food poverty and is a volunteer at the Trinity Food Hub in Stroud. She said: “Poverty in Stroud is rising sharply and the district needs a coordinated community response to support affected households and to call for changes to the policies that are causing poverty. People are in poverty because of policy, not ineptitude.”

She listed some new policies that could help to address poverty:

Adequate benefits to cover the cost of living;

Increase in provision of social housing;

Equality about access to work for disabled people;

Ending the delay between claiming and receiving benefit;

Affordable, high-quality childcare and employment that fits around childcare;

Affordable public transport;

Reducing wealth inequalities by, for example, higher taxes on holiday homes and under-occupied houses.

Anyone interested in joining the group or attending the meeting on April 1 can email jadebashford@gmail.com to receive details of the venue when it has been confirmed.

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A panel of speakers will discuss the rising number of children in Stroud living in low-income families. In the UK 13% of children live in food insecure households, 12% of adults living with children report skipping meals, while 4% of adults with children report going for a whole day without eating.

The debate will explore what we know about poverty in the UK and here in Stroud, and what different organisations are doing about it. Participants will discuss where the gaps may be and what more needs to be done. Following the presentations there will be an opportunity for audience experiences, discussion and debate.

The event is free to attend but there will be the chance to make donations, which will go to supporting food hubs.

The meeting is the latest in Stroud District Green Party’s regular Cloud Café debates. Organiser Elizabeth Lee said: “Poverty is a political issue – there should be no place for it in the 21st century.”

The speakers

Jade Bashford works for the Real Farming Trust on a UK-wide project to address food poverty and food sovereignty. She has worked on equality and community building in the food and farming sector for 30 years, seeking practical systemic solutions to injustice with the Soil Association and Community Land Advisory Service. She presently volunteers for Trinity Food Hub in Stroud, is an owner of Stroud Brewery and is engaged in community life in Stroud;

Robin Burgess has worked in the charity or public sector for over 40 years, mostly as a charity CEO or in policy and strategy, especially related to poverty, addictions, homelessness, problem gambling and quality improvement in the NHS. Robin has been a volunteer and managed or worked with volunteers throughout his career. His current charity, the Northampton Hope Centre, provides a wide range of services to people in poverty and homelessness and hosts a local Equalities group.

Lynsey Kelleher is founder of the Uplands Community Hub in Stroud, a supportive network offering food and practical support. She is a single mum to four children and has been on Universal Credit since she lost her business in 2020, partly as a result of the pandemic.

To join the meeting, which takes place from 7.30pm to 9pm (or to get a link to watch the recording another time), register here:

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

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