Cost of living

Cost of living salary increase survey results 

Blogs on the cost of living

All Community posts about the cost of living crisis

Most popular Community threads:

• Cost of living payment – a fair way to target lower paid staff?
• Cost of living increase and probation
• One-off cost of living payments for staff on Universal Credit
• Energy prices: has anyone seen good deals?

If you are struggling, need advice or a sounding board, or would just like to share what is going on for you, simply visit our ‘talk to us‘ page to find out how to contact our support team. Jenny and Tom – both experienced coaches and previous chief executives – understand the issues and will be in touch to arrange a one to one call. If they can’t support you directly, then they will link you with the information or contacts that can.

Members can also access discounted expert, practical support via ACEVO’s corporate partners:

WorkNest’s cost of living hub

IT cost saving (Smartdesc)

10 January 2023 update: https://www.acevo.org.uk/2023/01/energy-bill-discount-scheme-update/ 

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The short-term support provided to charities and businesses under the Energy Bill Relief Scheme should be filtering through energy accounts during November and December. As part of the scheme, the government has committed to finding out more about the needs of specific sectors to plan for longer-term support. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched a survey and The Charity Finance Group provided a checklist to help social enterprises, charities, voluntary groups and community organisations feed in to the information gathering. The Chancellor in his Autumn Fiscal Statement announced a further review into the Energy Bill Relief Scheme by the Treasury, and we have since convened a roundtable of selected ACEVO members to meet directly with the team at BEIS carrying out the review, that will feed into Treasury. We also gathered case studies and input from members for a written submission to the BEIS review and with others across the Civil Society Group and NCVO, have written an open letter to Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State at BEIS to urge the energy bill relief scheme to be extended beyond April to those charities supporting communities most in need. You can also write to your local MP to highlight the issues using this template letter. A decision from Treasury as to who will continue to receive support with energy bills and by which mechanism is expected by mid December.

Manage financial difficulties in your charity arising from the cost of living pressures (December 2022, Charity Commission)

In the face of overwhelming need: supporting charities to navigate the cost of living crisis (December 2022, IVAR)

Bombarded: reducing the psychological harm caused by the cost of living crisis (December 2022, Money Mental Health Policy Institute)

Connecting the cost of living and climate crises: new research (October 2022, On Road)

The cost of living, current and upcoming work (ONS)

News from the frontline – what community organisations are saying about the cost of living crisis by Locality

Cost of living dashboard by Citizens Advice 

A tunnel at the end of the light: Charities and the cost of living crisis (Pro Bono Economics)

The Income Crisis: a Gendered Analysis (Women’s Budget Group)

Cost of living on maternity leave survey (Maternity Action) 

Cost of living briefings (Chartered Institute of Housing)

Coronavirus Financial Impact Tracker (Financial Fairness Trust)

Economic Outlook Briefing 2022/2023 (CFG and Pro Bono Economics)

What UK charities need to know about inflation (Pro Bono Economics)

Inflation, cost of living and financial advice (Charles Stanley)

Cost of living resource hub (CAF)

Cost of living resource hub (CAF)

Guide to financial support from benevolent charities (ACO)

Get help with the cost of living (Citizens Advice)

Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills (Citizens Advice)

Help with the cost of living (Mayor of London)

Tips for organising your finances (Mind)

If you can’t afford bills or food (Mind)

How to reduce food waste (Family Action)

Benefits calculator – what are you entitled to?  (Age UK)

Benefits calculator (Turn2Us)

Advice on saving energy (Centre for Sustainable Energy)

Places where kids eat free during school half terms

Leaflet with practical information for people  who are worrying about money (North Somerset Council)

Cost of living: food insecurity and poverty (Local Government Association)

Lightning: if you’re struggling financially and need help with money, you may be eligible to apply for financial support such as grants, local schemes and discounted tariffs.

Cost of living crisis and your mental health (Mental Health & Money Advice)

Mental health support (Mind)

Cost of living: health & wellbeing (Local Government Association) 

This section outlines efforts being made by councils and other organisations to enhance people’s health and wellbeing, on which the rising cost of living has impacted.

Cost of living funding updates (DSC)

Changing Realities: documenting life on low income to push for change

Stop the Squeeze

Stop the Squeeze is a coalition of civil society groups who are calling on the government to tackle the cost of living crisis by guaranteeing affordable energy, boosting incomes, and raising taxes on wealth

Cost of Living Alliance

The Cost of Living Alliance aims to:

• Build an evidence base of what is happening across the UK
• Define clear areas where changes by government and power holders could make the most change to grassroots communities
• Decide on how we can use our collective influence to call for change

IFAN’s letter to the Prime Minister and Chancellor

#RunningOnEmpty (FareShare)

Donate the Rebate (Crowdfunder)

#EnergyForAll petition (Fuel Poverty Action)

Warm This Winter

UK government: keep everyone warm this winter (Possible)

An open letter to the current and future prime minister on the cost of living crisis and our mental health system (Mind and a coalition of mental health organisations)

Charities call on chancellor to tackle fuel costs crisis (Community Transport Association)

RNIB is calling on the Chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, and the Work and Pensions Secretary, Therese Coffey, to:

• Urgently increase benefits in line with inflation in response to the rapid rise in prices.
• Provide more support to people with sight loss to deal with rising energy bills. This should include, for example, reversing changes which reduce eligibility to the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Letter to the Chancellor organised by Carers UK regarding unpaid carers and the cost of living crisis

Umbrella groups warn of ‘cliff edge’ unless charities get energy support beyond March (Third Sector)

Charities facing ‘cliff edge’ without further energy bills support. government warned (Civil Society)

MPs call for urgent government support for charities during the cost of living crisis (Third Sector)

What does the cost-of-living crisis mean for the charity sector? (Third Sector)

How can charities manage rising utility costs and commit to sustainability? (Energycentric)

The cost of living crisis: riding the perfect storm (Barclays)

Charities communicating about the cost of living crisis (CharityComms)

How can foundations respond to the cost of living crisis? (IVAR)

Confronting the cost of living crisis (NPC)

How much do your household appliances cost to run? (Quaker Social Action)

What actions are people taking because of the rising cost of living? (ONS)

How to prepare for a recession (CharityDigital)

Major disability charity forms first partnership with grant-maker due to inflation (Third Sector)

IT cost-saving resources (Smartdesc)