ELBA’s response to the cost of living crisis

Written by Ian Parkes, ELBA CEO

As we move into the Autumn and Winter months, we will be turning our attention to how we can help those people and families who will be hardest hit by the cost of living crisis. We are stepping up our work with foodbanks – we have had amazing support from our business partners over the years. We are also starting to look at warm banks – particularly for the elderly, places where they can go if they are finding it hard to keep their own homes fully warm. Help with digital inclusion continues and we are grateful for all the donated devices we had had in from everyone – with particular thanks to Societe Generale and the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It’s going to be a tough winter for some and we want to give practical opportunities for our business supporters to help those in the community. As well as our usual foodbank challenges and volunteering opportunities, there will be chance to help out in the warm banks, or possibly host some events yourselves. There will of course be the annual toy appeal which will be more important than ever, and we will be looking at whether we need to support basic household items as well. We will also be helping people increase the income coming into their households, with support for getting into jobs and improving skills – particularly communication skills so they can progress in work and increase earnings. We will be working with our partners and colleagues in community groups and charities, and we are looking with them at how we might develop a “energy credit” for those who will not be able to cope with the rise in energy prices.

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