Citizens Advice Rutland’s newly published report on the Cost of Living Crisis in
Rutland highlights the impact that the crisis has had on county residents.
According to the report, a significant number of people in the county are being forced
to make sacrifices, compromising their health and wellbeing. People are forgoing
essential dental treatment and vital prescriptions due to financial constraints,
potentially leading to long term health complications.
Alarmingly, the report also finds that members of the community have been forced to
go without meals and heating in their homes as they struggle to cope with the rising
costs of essentials.
The report was informed by a survey undertaken by Citizens Advice Rutland which
attracted 422 responses from the local community. Examples of the worrying results
include:
● 80% of survey respondents indicated that their financial situation has gotten
worse in the last year; with 26% describing their financial situation as getting
‘a lot worse’.
● 80% of survey respondents have reduced the amount of time they have their
heating on for.
● Nearly 29% of survey respondents have gone without dental treatment.
● 16% of survey respondents have reduced the amount they bathe and shower.
● 13% of survey respondents have gone without a meal.
Citizens Advice Rutland makes a range of recommendations, highlighting the need
for collaborative efforts, as well as targeted support, to help to alleviate some of the
financial strains Rutland residents are facing. These include raising the amount of
affordable housing, increasing and promoting the range of financial support available
and improving access to affordable NHS services such as dental care.
By producing this report Citizens Advice Rutland hopes to influence the local
response to the crisis and improve the services available.
Duncan Furey, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Rutland said, “The Rutland Cost of
Living Report is an important piece of local research and it demonstrates the
challenges faced by a growing number of Rutland residents who are grappling with
rising costs.”
The full report can be found on the Campaign & Reports section of the Citizens
Advice Rutland website https://citizensadvicerutland.org.uk/
Citizens Advice Rutland provides free, confidential advice on a range of issues
including debt and budgeting, benefits, housing and homelessness, employment,
long term health conditions, relationship breakdown and more. The Adviceline,
01572 723494, is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, or for other ways of getting
help visit https://citizensadvicerutland.org.uk/get-help/
For more information about this press release including images, arranging interviews
or press visit contact:
Duncan Furey, Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Rutland, Tel: 01572 723494
Email: duncan.furey@citizensadvicerutland.org.uk
The Cost of Living Crisis in Rutland, Full Summary Report, August 2023,
Citizens Advice Rutland can be downloaded at
https://citizensadvicerutland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Cost-of-Living-Crisis-in-Rutland-Report-2023.pdf