Compassion Acts
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Local Voices

An introduction to our campaign

The cost of living crisis is having an impact on all of us. With higher costs for food, energy, rent, mortgage to name a few essential bills, people across the UK are feeling the biggest squeeze on incomes in a generation.

For those already struggling financially, the cost of living crisis means having to make difficult choices. These are just a few stories people have shared with us:

I struggle with buying clothes for my children, shoes, electric and gas. Single parents need more support.

Anonymous

I live alone – husband died and most of his income died with him. I struggle to live on my income. My (state) pension swallows up all my utility and council tax income.

Jan

Due to not being able to work because of a work related injury I have had to rely on benefits. The money I receive doesn’t cover the outgoings as there is a £150 a month shortfall. This has affected my mental health as I have to choose between being warm or having food.

Anonymous

Cost of living crisis make struggling paying bills and make me seeking support, especially now when I am on sick long term. Makes me feel depressed.

Anonymous

Fuel and food costs so are so high, I can’t afford food and am now in debt. There’s no help towards costs, lease or mortgage.

It’s impossible to survive.

We decided enough is enough! And so, Local Voices was born. A passionate group determined to be the voice of change for our community. We are real people with real stories.

Our mission: To capture local voices through listening to our neighbours. To demand solutions that work for everyone by challenging decisions that impact negatively on our lives. To build a Local Voices movement that calls for fairness and accountability for all of us across our community.

Local Voices is a project with funding from the Trussell Trust and sits within Compassion Acts charity here in Southport.

What's next?

We are engaging with our local community here in North Sefton and across the border in West Lancashire to capture the stories (the ‘Voice’) of our neighbours. We are doing this by:

  • Hosting Community Conversations for our neighbours to tell us about their sacrifices and experiences during the cost of living crisis.
  • Visiting foodbanks, pantries and community markets and asking those in significant financial hardship about their experiences.
  • Campaigning for change through lobbying Councillors and MP’s and using various approaches such as ‘Craftivism’ (campaigning using creative media) bringing life to our Local Voices.
  • Building a network of Campaign Partners to help us host Community Conversations and promote Local Voices across media channels.
  • Working on issues that will make a change for the better across our community, especially for those who are in financial hardship.
  • Asking for your help: Together we can make our Local Voices heard, acknowledged, and taken seriously.

How can I help?

If you are passionate about driving change and want to use your Voice as a force for good, there are various ways you can help:

  • Become a Community Champion Volunteer and bring your time and skills to the various campaigning activities.
  • Become a Campaign Partner. Your organisation can help us to promote Local Voices and host Community Conversations.
  • Share your story about how the cost of living is impacting you.
    • You can send us your written story.
    • Join up to one of our Community Conversations.
    • Join one of the Community Conversation Craft sessions. Expressing your Voice through art & craft – click here to see our upcoming events.
  • Donate to our efforts.

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