Blackpool, a coastal resort town in North West England, is currently experiencing an extreme poverty emergency. This crisis is deeply impacting every one of its residents, from youth to pensioners. It’s below national levels but still troubling, with Blackpool’s population having 17% of people on disability benefits. These factors produce distinct challenges that are adding unprecedented economic pressure on the community. The town holds the grim distinction of having the lowest life expectancy from birth among all local authorities in England, with the gap between Blackpool’s life expectancy and the rest of the country widening.
The dramatic increase in the cost of living has only exacerbated the crisis. Many more families find themselves unable to afford even the basics. In areas like Blackpool, people can receive a standard meal shop which generally costs around £40 for only £8 on Thursdays. Even at this subsidized rate, the price is prohibitive for many local residents. The Big Food Project, a local grassroots effort, provided more than 850,000 meals on Blackpool’s doorstep last year. This year, given the soaring increase in demand, they expect to exceed one million meals.
Affordable mobility, owned and operated by Ken Rollinson provides these key mobility aides, including inexpensive scooters. These scooters improve peoples with disabilities ability to move throughout the town center. As universal credit was rolled out, upcoming cuts to the scheme have raised alarm bells among disabled people. Lindsay Barlow, chief executive of Disability First, said the overall effect of these changes was “catastrophic”.
“We’ve received lots of emails and terrified phone calls,” – Lindsay Barlow
The cloud of doubt hovering over this forthcoming universal credit is adding unnecessary stress for residents who are mostly dependent on state benefits. Jakki Garner highlights that many people use their benefits to purchase food during the initial weeks after receiving them, only to struggle as the funds deplete. Owen Sandford, 27, who has lived in the area for five months, is finding life on universal credit difficult. He’s now looking for a job, actively.
“Energy keeps going up, council tax keeps going up, food shop is rising every week. The only thing not going up is my money.” – Owen Sandford
Sandford condemns the government’s spring statement as a missed opportunity to seriously support people in financial trouble. That same sentiment is found in Blackpool and across the whole country as communities are hit by increasing costs and lack of support.
These struggles are not isolated incidents. They’re representative of a deeper problem affecting thousands of Blackpool’s residents who depend on government help to get by. For now, Rollinson cautions, government cuts are continuing and costs are increasing. This double whammy increases the difficulty to achieve even a modest, no-frills level of equity life.
“I mean, I’ve had people in here crying their eyes out or saying they can’t afford this, they can’t afford that.” – Ken Rollinson
Disability First explains that people with mental health disabilities are especially at risk to these changes. The organization has done suicide awareness training to help those who are made to feel they have no choice but to jump.
“In this particular area, there are a lot of people that have been dependent on the government for their support, and as we see those cuts, we’ve got rising costs across food anyway, it’s going to make it so much more difficult for people to be able to eat properly.” – Ken Rollinson
Disability First reports that individuals with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable to these changes. The organization has undertaken suicide awareness training to support those who feel pushed to the brink.
“We get people who are in mental health crisis on the phone. We have had to have suicide awareness training to help people who have been pushed to the brink, because it’s people with mental health conditions that are really feeling the impact of these changes, because they’re frightened.” – Lindsay Barlow