Industry charity NewstrAid have reported that they have received a record number of applications for help during 2023 with the vast majority of people seeking support due to the cost of living crisis.
Katie Babooram, welfare manager for NewstrAid, said: “There is no doubt that the cost of living crisis is having a real impact on people from our industry. We have seen an unprecedented number of applications for help this year and by September had already processed 3 times as many applications than we did during the whole of 2022.”
A large number of the applicants in 2023 have been awarded a grant from NewstrAid’s Cost of Living Crisis Fund. This special fund was launched in Autumn 2022 specifically to provide financial support during the cost of living crisis. It offers a £250 non-repayable grant (per household, per year), to help bridge the gap between income and costs and has already helped hundreds of people who work or have worked in the sale or distribution of magazines and newspapers in the UK.
Katie added: “More and more people are now facing household debt with many using what little savings they have to cover essentials like rent, food or utility bills. As we head into the autumn and winter months and heating bills etc. inevitably rise, we are expecting applications to increase even further. It is important to highlight that those who were awarded a Cost of Living Crisis Fund grant last year, are eligible to apply again this year and anyone with a newstrade connection can apply to NewstrAid for financial help and contact us for advice and emotional support should they need it.”
For more information about NewstrAid and the help they can provide click here. Information about the Cost of Living Crisis fund including the eligibility criteria can be found here.
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