Good morning. Welcome back to Survival Guide. I’m Isabella McRae.

Big news this week: Keir Starmer appears to have U-turned on the winter fuel payment cuts. He said in parliamentary questions yesterday that Labour will “ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments”.

We don’t have many details on what that looks like yet or how many pensioners might get their winter fuel payment back. The prime minister said an announcement would happen as part of a fiscal event – most likely the chancellor’s autumn budget.

Is it enough to regain trust in Labour? That’s debatable. I recently asked experts that very question and you can read their responses here.

Also in today’s newsletter, we head to a food bank in Guildford, Surrey and hear from guest Paula about how important it is to seek help if you are struggling to afford your essentials. It comes as food banks send a warning to Labour ministers urging them to rethink benefit cuts as demand is likely to surge.

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

‘If you’re in need, don’t be shy to go to a food bank’

I spent a few hours this week at a food bank in North Guildford. It is one of a number of food banks I have visited over the last three years while working as a reporter for the Big Issue and, almost every time, I’ve felt overwhelmed by the welcoming atmosphere and kindness of the volunteers. 

One man has been coming to the food bank every week for four years – and in that time, he’s only ever needed two food parcels. He just comes for a cup of tea and a chat with the volunteers. And an elderly woman comes regularly too for a cuppa and to give a donation. It’s more than just a food bank. It’s a community.

Paula, a mother of six and grandmother, told me how vital it has been to her over the last few years. “Something happened in my life and it limited me with everything I could do with my children and feeding was one of them, and with the cost of living going up and that, I was struggling to do my council tax and my bills.”

“It was leaving me literally with nothing. I was missing dinners myself and limiting what I have for myself so I could give it to my children,” she says.

Her six-year-old granddaughter is with her, and dashes around the church hall looking for chocolate biscuits, which are laid out on the tables.

“If you’re in need, don’t be shy or embarrassed to go to a food bank. You’re always welcome,” Paula adds. She says she felt “nervous” and “a little bit ashamed” when she first needed help from the food bank, but adds: “Everyone’s so friendly, and I wouldn’t do without them. You’re more than welcome.”

You usually need a referral to get help from a food bank – Citizens Advice explains how to get one here.

In case you missed it

Revealed: The areas where more than half of disabled people could lose their benefits. Labour's disability benefit cuts will impact an estimated 800,000 people, of whom half will lose their PIP entirely. Get the breakdown.

'Dangerous' DWP needs 'deep-rooted change' to stop benefit claimants from dying, damning report finds. Far too many people face overwhelming distress when trying to access the social security system. Read more.

Sadiq Khan reveals new plan to end rough sleeping in London for good – with prevention at its heart. 4,427 people were counted as sleeping rough in London between January and March this year – up 8% on the same period in 2024. Read the story.

Croydon family spends staggering 9,500 days in so-called temporary accommodation. Some 130,000 households are currently living in temporary accommodation, emergency housing provided by a local authority. Find out more.

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Food banks urge Labour to rethink benefit cuts amid ‘heartbreaking’ surge in demand

Trussell food banks provided 2.9 million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship across the UK between April 2024 and March 2025, with more than a million of these provided for children.

This represent a 51% increase compared to five years ago, and is the equivalent to one parcel being distributed every 11 seconds. And the figure could be far higher – as it doesn’t include independent food banks like North Guildford. 

Trussell warned that  these figures should be a “wake-up call” for the government to reconsider cuts to disability benefits, which it says “risk forcing more people to food banks”.

“Three quarters of people who are turning to food banks are either disabled themselves or live with someone who is, and disabled people are three times more likely to face hunger compared to the rest of the population,” Helen Barnard, Trussell’s director of policy, told journalist Emily Chudy.

“The idea you would look at that situation and make record cuts to the support that disabled people are relying on really does just seem to be an extraordinary approach to take. Our food banks are saying they’ve got people coming to them saying they are absolutely terrified about how they’re going to survive if that lifeline gets cut.”

Read the story.

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