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Pleas for poverty grants soaring | Pleas for poverty grants soaring |
(about 17 hours later) | |
A charity which helps people facing severe financial hardship says it has seen a dramatic rise in the number of requests for help. | A charity which helps people facing severe financial hardship says it has seen a dramatic rise in the number of requests for help. |
Elizabeth Finn Care spends £4m each year in grants to help people avoid falling into poverty. | Elizabeth Finn Care spends £4m each year in grants to help people avoid falling into poverty. |
Requests for grants have increased by 400% in the past six weeks, it says. | Requests for grants have increased by 400% in the past six weeks, it says. |
The charity says the rise is caused by the increasing costs of fuel, food and bills, which means many families are struggling to make ends meet. | The charity says the rise is caused by the increasing costs of fuel, food and bills, which means many families are struggling to make ends meet. |
Brian Clover, director of casework at Elizabeth Finn Care, told BBC Radio 5 Live that more young families were contacting them than ever before. | Brian Clover, director of casework at Elizabeth Finn Care, told BBC Radio 5 Live that more young families were contacting them than ever before. |
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A family works out their weekly budget | |
They are seeking small weekly grants to help pay for basic needs or one-off sums for essential items such as washing machines or refrigerators. | They are seeking small weekly grants to help pay for basic needs or one-off sums for essential items such as washing machines or refrigerators. |
Mr Clover said: "The last six to eight weeks has seen a really significant increase. | Mr Clover said: "The last six to eight weeks has seen a really significant increase. |
"It's basic stuff. It's the price of food, the price of petrol, it's gas and electricity bills, and it's tipping them over the edge." | "It's basic stuff. It's the price of food, the price of petrol, it's gas and electricity bills, and it's tipping them over the edge." |
No savings | No savings |
The government had pledged to halve the number of children living in poverty from 3.4m in 1998 to 1.7m in 2010. | The government had pledged to halve the number of children living in poverty from 3.4m in 1998 to 1.7m in 2010. |
Progress has been made and ministers say they are on track to meet the target. | Progress has been made and ministers say they are on track to meet the target. |
But critics say the economic climate means the outlook for families is more gloomy than before. | But critics say the economic climate means the outlook for families is more gloomy than before. |
Anne Longfield, from charity 4Children, said severe poverty amounted to living on about £7,000 a year or £19 a day. | Anne Longfield, from charity 4Children, said severe poverty amounted to living on about £7,000 a year or £19 a day. |
"About 84% of families in severe poverty say they can't make regular savings," Ms Longfield told BBC Radio 5 Live. | "About 84% of families in severe poverty say they can't make regular savings," Ms Longfield told BBC Radio 5 Live. |
"It also means about three quarters of them can't replace any furniture, most of them can't have a holiday and about a fifth of them can't go on any school trips. | "It also means about three quarters of them can't replace any furniture, most of them can't have a holiday and about a fifth of them can't go on any school trips. |
"It's really that issue of not being about the afford the basics of life." | "It's really that issue of not being about the afford the basics of life." |