As the cost of living soars at its fastest rate for nearly 30 years, people struggling with poverty for the first time are being left without adequate support.

New data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed inflation increased to 5.4 per cent in the 12 months to December, driven by rising food costs and energy bills.

Inflation was only higher in March 1992, when it stood at 7.1 per cent.

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People in the county who are experiencing poverty for the first time due to job losses caused by Covid-19 are being doubly hit by the increasing prices.

Emily Connally from Cherwell Community Larder, an emergency larder providing food and essentials, said: “We are literally talking about people who have never, ever been poor in their entire lives.

“They are well educated, they work really hard, they are not the sort of people who the system is set up to help.

“The system is set up to help people who have no money because they drink it away, use drugs or gamble – that is who those advice bureaus are for. They are not there to help people who had everything and then the entire rug was taken from under their feet.”

She added: “If you were just your average working person, going by paying taxes, there is not a lot of help for you right now.”

Mrs Connally said the team at the larder often has to give people “reality checks”.

She explained: “Even though their situation is so dire, they feel they are taking food from someone who needs it more than they do.”

Councillor Susan Brown, cabinet member for inclusive growth, economic recovery and Partnerships for Oxford City Council, said: “It is clear that the inflation that the whole country is currently experiencing will particularly affect our most vulnerable citizens in Oxford.

“Oxford City Council provides a number of measures aimed at helping those in the city who are least able to bear the brunt of inflationary price rises."

Ms Brown explained these measures include: 

•100 per cent council tax reduction for those in greatest economic need

•support through locality hubs for people in hardship. 

•funding advice centres, community larders and community groups to support people in hardship.

•funds to help with food, fuel bills, debt advice, wider community support. 

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She added: “Our Economic Strategy for Oxford, including the work that we are doing to make our economy more inclusive, our work on encouraging take up of the Oxford Living Wage and supporting good quality jobs are also key to enabling people to be able to afford higher living costs.

“The Council provides a dedicated Welfare Reform Team that offers one-to-one support to help people experiencing changes to their benefits or struggling to sustain their tenancy to find work, access training and get other support they may need to improve their situation.”

Ms Connally urged people to "reach out" if they are in need. 

She said: "What sets us apart from other groups is that the majority of our volunteers were originally users of our services. 

"There is help in Oxfordshire from people who have been there before - it is free from judgement." 

You can contact Cherwell Larder at info@cherwelllarder.com or call 01865 817676. 

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