Following the Crisis, Follow the Money

It is already a cliché to say people in low-income households are experiencing a 'perfect storm', in terms of the challenges to their financial wellbeing. The cost-of-living crisis, on top of inflation, on top of the promise of further rocketing energy prices thanks to war in Ukraine, on top of the hardship deepened through the pandemic (with furlough and job losses) is putting households under pressure not known since the 1980s. Many have gone under already, many more are on the precipice. Poverty never left us but has come out of our peripheral vision to centre stage.

While the cost-of-living crisis is a global issue, domestic policy is proving slow to respond. Struggling households need something that is immediate and local, practical and sustainable. Following the Crisis, Follow the Money is an event bringing together practitioners keen to explore what more we can collectively do to support people on low incomes. Speakers will present on the implications of the cost-of-living crisis from a range of perspectives. There is no ‘silver bullet’ and leading into a discussion about the local responses we might collectively make, we will explore one innovative approach called ‘Follow the Money’ that was recently backed by the West of England Combined Authority, which aims to help participants access an average £1,000 of financial gains.

Speakers are being finalised but the session will include:

• The Cost of Living Crisis - Context
• West of England perspectives
• Practical responses: ‘Follow The Money’ - financial gains to mitigate the crisis [Jeff Mitchell, Clean Slate Training & Employment CIC]
• Strengthening the ‘safety net-work’ across the West of England [Break-out Discussions]