On 8 October, Surrey County Council (SCC) approved a motion to sign Good Company’s End Poverty Pledge. Last week was the United Nations’ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year’s theme is ‘acting together’ to create fairer and more inclusive societies, so on this day, Councillor Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, and Public Health, has proudly signed the pledge on behalf of Surrey County Council. Leading from the front, this move signals SCC’s commitment to developing a comprehensive, community-led Poverty Action Plan to share with partners across the county.
Councillor Nuti, who proposed the motion to council, stated: “In signing the pledge, we have committed SCC to supporting, not just those already struggling to put food on the table and pay their heating bills, but also those who are at risk of financial hardship too. We know the impact of poverty on people’s health and wellbeing can be devastating and lead to even greater demand on services.
SCC needs to target our welfare support offer towards those who need it most, use our influence as a large organisation to ‘buy local’ and improve job opportunities, and advocate for changes to the benefit system to ensure everyone can cover the cost of essentials. We need to work harder and smarter within the financial constraints we face to prevent and mitigate the effects of poverty in Surrey, so no one is left behind.”
Jonathan Lees, Founder and Managing Director of Good Company, said: “We are very excited that Surrey County Council is signing the End Poverty Pledge today and is committed to taking action to tackle poverty. Surrey is one of the wealthiest counties in the UK and yet we see the effects of poverty every day in our foodbank centres and pantries – with too many people unable to afford food, energy and other essentials.
“Our work over the last few years shows that it is possible to reduce the need for the foodbanks. We hope that many more local organisations and individuals will be encouraged to join us and sign the pledge. We can’t do this alone – but together, we can make a difference!”
This winter, SCC’s health and welfare hub will serve as a central information point for those affected by rising living costs. For example, it provides details about SCC’s Warm Welcomes and Energy Advice Tool, about grants for more energy efficient homes and where you can find your local foodbank. This year, SCC’s Fuel Poverty programme has attracted nearly £1 million in funding this year and it has worked closely with partners across Surrey to make sure it reaches those in or at risk of fuel debt. Last year 46,000 residents accessed SCC’s Warm Welcome venues, 86,000 residents benefited from its distribution of the Household Support Fund and its Crisis Fund supported 2,000 of its most vulnerable residents with emergency financial assistance.
Cllr Mark Nuti highlighted these recent efforts and outlined SCC’s future approach: “We’ve made great strides to support our residents with the cost of living. We’ll work alongside those with first-hand experience of financial hardship and learn from them, to make sure our services are even more responsive going forward.”
