Empowering Communities Through Coordinated Cost of Living Support

Background

In 2024–2025, Monmouthshire County Council’s Community Development Team led a series of initiatives aimed at tackling poverty and supporting residents through the cost-of-living crisis. These efforts included hosting events, distributing resources, and delivering targeted support to individuals and families in need. One such example is the case of a young mother, referred to here anonymously, who accessed life-changing support through a Cost-of-Living event.

Challenges Identified

The resident, a mother of a child with additional learning needs, found herself at risk of homelessness after a relationship breakdown made her housing unaffordable. She was also facing harassment and eviction attempts from her landlord. Her situation was compounded by financial hardship and a lack of immediate support networks.

Support Provided

She attended a Cost-of-Living event organized by the Community Development Team, where she connected with a member of the Gateway Team. This initial contact led to a coordinated response involving five internal council teams and four external agencies. Support included homelessness prevention and temporary accommodation, legal advocacy resulting in the landlord’s prosecution, income maximization and rent top-up assistance, and securing a new, safe home for her and her child.

Beyond individual cases, the Community Development Team’s broader initiatives included hosting 10 major events (including 4 Cost of Living and 6 Pension Credit sessions) with over 30 partner organizations, supporting 30 Warm Spaces attended by 700+ residents, distributing 100 Warm Packs and over 10,000 support flyers, delivering 32 financial well-being sessions in schools, launching the Period Dignity initiative, reaching all Monmouthshire schools and 89 community organizations, providing 360 meal kits and operating 5 community fridges with up to 540 weekly visits, and establishing the Monmouthshire Food Action Network to strengthen local food security.

Outcomes

The impact of these efforts has been transformative. This case illustrates how a single point of contact at a community event can trigger a cascade of support, leading to safety, stability, and renewed hope. More broadly, the initiatives have empowered over 1,000 residents, improved food access, reduced social isolation, and enhanced financial resilience across the county. The collaborative, cross-sector approach has proven essential in addressing both immediate needs and long-term challenges related to poverty and inequality.

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