Good morning. Isabella here, back in your inbox with the latest issue of Survival Guide. 

This week, a dad shares his story of struggling to survive in the cost of living crisis as his benefits just aren’t stretching far enough. 

We also meet the women helping people move their hard-earned cash out of the big climate-wrecking banks and into greener providers. They’re fighting the climate crisis one dodgy investment at a time.

And read to the end for more information on how to get financial support to cover the cost of heating and energy this winter… 

If you have a story to share, we want to listen. Get in touch at isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com or share your story here.

Joseph's story: 'My bank balance is empty'

Joseph De-Ville, a 48-year-old dad, cannot make any more sacrifices. “There is nothing left in the account right now,” he told me. “My bank balance is empty. We’re living off basically what we’ve got here, and we just have to wait for our next benefit payment which for us is next week.”

He lives with his partner and her two children, and he also has two children of his own. His doctor has said he is unfit for work due to his health. He claims benefits, but it is not enough for their entire family. 

“We shouldn’t be living in a time where children are still struggling,” he says. “It seems like sometimes we’re going back to the Dark Ages where children are struggling to even find food to eat. The elderly are trying to decide between putting the heating on or not. It’s just really horrible.”

Read Joseph’s story here.

In case you missed it

One in four who go to councils for help with homelessness will be ‘turned away’ this Christmas. Around 5,500 households could be sleeping rough this Christmas. Get the story.

Almost all food banks helping first-time users as demand surges. Around 98% of food banks have seen people seeking their support for the first time ever, according to IFAN. Read about it.

Protesters demand an end to refugees being made homeless ahead of Christmas. Up to 1,400 refugees in Glasgow could be homeless by Christmas. Read the story.

Councils plead for ‘urgent’ help to deal with surge in refugees evicted into homelessness. Councils are complaining that, once evicted, refugees don’t have enough notice before they have to leave Home Office accommodation. Here's the story.

How do Big Issue sellers make money? Our vendors are running their own micro-businesses, working hard in all weathers to earn a living. Read about it.

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How a grassroots women’s network is fighting climate change – one dodgy investment at a time

Do you know where your money is going once you put it in a bank?

The world’s 60 largest banks ploughed $669bn into the fossil fuel industry in 2022 alone. That includes UK giants like HSBC, NatWest, Barclays and Santander.

It’s enough to make you want to withdraw all your money and hide it under your mattress. But there’s another way.

Money Movers is a grassroots network helping groups of women move their money out of climate-wrecking financiers. Collectively, participants have already moved £1.9m to greener providers.

“People have the power to make a real difference,” Anneka Deva, who leads Money Movers, tells reporter Charlotte Elton.

“The choices we make with our money are 21 times more powerful than stopping flying, going vegetarian, and changing energy supplier combined. So there’s huge potential there.”

Money Movers aim is to reach 30,000 women and move £1bn for climate action by 2030.

“We know it’s a big goal, but we’re confident we can hit it,” Deva says. “And empower women to take control of their finances while doing so.”

Read all about Money Movers here. 

Saving those coins

It’s getting chilly! I put together an explainer to share everything you need to know about the cold weather payment – paid to low income households when temperatures drop below freezing in your area for seven consecutive days. 

That doesn’t happen very often, so here’s a reminder of other places you can get help with your energy bills and more cost of living help. There’s also the winter fuel payment if you’re a pensioner.