Good morning. Welcome back to Survival Guide. I’m Isabella, social justice reporter at The Big Issue.
The cost of living crisis is having a hidden and deeply concerning impact. Around 5.5 million women in the UK experience financial abuse every year. Almost half of those affected have had access to their bank account restricted by a partner or ex-partner.
It is so important to be aware of the signs and to know that help is out there if you need it.
This week we meet Louise, who fled an abusive relationship a decade ago, and appeals to other survivors to seek support to get out. She also calls on the government to act to protect women and children who are victims of abuse.
Also in this newsletter, we meet women who have been empowered by baby banks, which are changing families’ lives and fighting child poverty across the UK. And read to the end to find out how you could save hundreds of pounds each year by fixing your stuff instead of buying new…
Louise was not allowed to work while trapped with her abuser. She had no money of her own and was given £10 a day for essentials like milk and bread. She had to show him receipts.
“The abuse was every day and got worse,” Louise, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, says. “It was physical, emotional, sexual, financial. The financial abuse prevented me from leaving among other things, because it made me feel trapped.”
Louise fled more than a decade ago and she wants to speak out to show other survivors there is life after abuse, but she fears for those struggling to leave their perpetrators in the cost of living crisis.
Refuge has warned that the ongoing crisis makes it more difficult for survivors to rebuild their lives, forcing them into debt and, in some cases, to stay with their abusers. People have nothing left to sacrifice and fear destitution.
Domestic abuse is escalating in the cost of living crisis. We need urgent change. Refuge calls for action to tackle the growing problem of domestic abuse in the cost of living crisis. This is their take.
Tax cuts, vapes and fuel: What Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget means for you and your bank account. We explain exactly what the announcements mean for you and your family. Here’s the breakdown.
Fat jokes and short-term thinking: Experts react to Jeremy Hunt's 'sticking plaster' Spring Budget. It was described as “without logic” and “disproportionately benefiting the richest households” by experts. Get the story.
'All my earnings go on rent:' Millions of women in UK struggling to make ends meet in low-paid jobs. Female workers were reported to be more negatively impacted by low pay compared to men, according to the Living Wage Foundation. Read more.
Jeremy Hunt’s last-minute household support fund reprieve is too little, too late. It's a drop in the ocean when it comes to the UK's poverty crisis, writes the Independent Food Aid Network's Sabine Goodwin. Read about it.
Spring Budget: Rent campaigners accuse Jeremy Hunt of 'landlord giveaway' capital gains tax cut. The chancellor cut the tax paid on profit when selling an asset from 28% to 24% but it was not popular with landlords either. Get the story.
Spring Budget: Jeremy Hunt abandons divisive 99% mortgage scheme. Jeremy Hunt had floated the idea of launching a 99% mortgage scheme to help people get on the housing ladder but the proposal was missing from his speech. Read about it.
'He's like a caged animal in the flat': Meet the parents fighting for an adult social care revolution. Desperate parents have turned to activism for the sake of their disabled children. Read more.
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How baby banks are empowering mums in the cost of living crisis
Marisha was seven months pregnant when her relationship broke down. She was about to be a single, first-time mum and she was scared.
That was until her community midwife referred her to a local baby bank, which provides families with essentials like clothes, shoes, toys and baby equipment. They also empower parents, predominantly mums, with the support they need to thrive.
“I was apprehensive about what people might think, but everyone made me so comfortable,” she says. “Now it’s like a home away from home. I didn’t know what help was available but, once I had been in there, I felt okay to ask for help again.”
There are more than 200 baby banks in the UK, all of which have seen rising demand in the cost of living crisis. Little Village, which runs a baby bank network in London, receives a request for help every 45 seconds its referral form is open.
Marisha never imagined she would be in a situation where she would have to claim benefits – but since being supported by the baby bank, she no longer feels shame.
Londoners wasted nearly £3bn replacing repairable items last year, new research has revealed – wasting more than £450 per person.
And it’s understandable. In the modern world, stuff is often built to break. If it’s difficult to fix something, it’s more likely you’ll simply buy a new one.
But this is London Repair Week and it is the perfect opportunity to learn.
“There are lots of simple repairs we can undertake ourselves to prolong the lifespan of bikes, clothes, furniture, and electronics,” says Ali Moore, head of campaigns for London Recycles.
“But for more complex repairs, repair experts usually offer services at a fraction of the cost of buying new – and these need to be accessible, which means we need to help the repair sector to thrive.”
