Happy International Women's Day 2024 to all the strong, beautiful, and inspiring women out there! May you continue to shine bright and conquer the world.   ..read more

Britain’s poorest households have suffered a £4,500 hit to their finances since the start of the Covid pandemic, according to a report indicating that those on the lowest incomes have borne the brunt of the cost of living crisis. Highlighting a dramatic fall in living standards since Boris Johnson’s election landslide four years ago, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) thinktank said soaring costs for energy, food and other basic essentials had hit those most badly off the hardest. For the poorest half of households in Britain, it said living standards would be as m ..read more

Inflation affects everything, from the cost of what we buy off the shelves to the cash in our pockets. It measures the rate at which consumer prices rise and the newest figures show the UK inflation rate rose to 4% in the year to December. But what do shoppers and shop owners think as the cost-of-living crisis continues? BBC News NI went to Kennedy Centre in west Belfast to ask people how much they were feeling the squeeze. "Wild" was one of the words they used to describe the increase in food prices. What help for rising bills is available in NI? Cost of living still hurting homes and busin ..read more

New official data shows that a significant amount of people lost their lives last winter - and it seems as is a lack of governmental legislation and poor insulation could be to blame. Stark new figures estimate that some 4,950 excess winter deaths last year in the UK were down to people living in cold and damp homes. New official data from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition says those figures were recorded during winter 2022/23. The Warm This Winter study also found that, when the average winter temperature in the UK drops below four degrees centigrade, the level of excess winter deaths sky-rocke ..read more

In London and across Britain, households have tightened their purse strings due to a cost-of-living crisis over the last two years that has pushed up the prices of everything from food to furniture. "The cost-of-living crisis continues to hit Londoners hard," Mayor Sadiq Khan said, adding he was setting aside 123 million pounds ($156 million) to freeze transport fares until March 2025. "Not only will this put money back in people's pockets, making transport more affordable for millions of Londoners, but (it) will encourage people back onto our public transport network." The freeze will affect ..read more

Charity to host set of 'winter lunches' Some elderly people on the Island are still having to choose between heating and eating. Age Concern Isle of Man says there are lots of residents who are ‘still struggling’ due to the cost of living crisis. Last year government provided a £100,000 ‘Community Warm Spaces Fund’ – which the charity benefited from – but funding isn’t being continued this year. Steve Dawson and Maureen Cowbourne told Manx Radio that’s not going to stop them trying to help:   Source : HERE ..read more

December 2023 saw a continued rise in candidate availability with economic uncertainty causing redundancies and a slowdown in hiring. Total vacancies fell for the third time in four months. The latest KPMG REC jobs report revealed a reduction in demand for permanent staff for the 15th successive month, after adjustment for seasonal influences, while growth in temporary vacancies eased to a 37-month low. Permanent staff appointments declined at a faster rate than temp billings. However, less expected was a sharp increase in the rate of salary inflation for temps and permanent positions. Recrui ..read more

Thank you so much for supporting our small business in 2023. This past year has been one for the books! We just want to say how thankful we are for your support this year, and we’re wishing you all the best as we enter a brand new year. We’re looking forward to serving you again in 2024! Ebony Elevated ..read more

The Department for Work and Pensions is set to fine UK households £50 if they fall foul of claimant rules. The DWP has warned millions of people who claim benefits from the government they could be at risk of eye-watering £50 fines amid the ongoing Cost of Living crisis.   Government advice warns anyone who claims such benefits could be fined £50 if they fail to let the authorities know of a change in circumstances. This includes things such as having a baby, or getting a divorce, the DWP outlines on its website in the regulations and rules. If you do not report a change you might be pai ..read more

A charity which launched a fund to help people with the cost of living has had to pause new referrals because of high demand. Last month, Bryson Charitable Group said it aimed to support 15,000 households in the greatest need. It has already distributed more than £1m to 5,000 households. A spokesperson said it was a time of "unprecedented need" and it was briefing referral partners. "To ensure that we are able to meet the needs of the remaining target 10,000 households over the harshest winter months, we have decided to temporarily pause new referrals once this phase closes for applications o ..read more