Families in Wigan and Leigh are reaching breaking point and desperately need our help. With spiralling energy, rent, mortgage and food bills, the cost-of-living crisis has pushed many families into deep poverty. For many people living in our local communities, Christmas will be a time of desperation, guilt, anxiety, and fear.
The Brick has seen an increase of people in work visiting our Food Community, the numbers of people at risk of rough sleeping engaging with our Outreach team has increased by 24.5% compared to this time last year and the need for our services is already at an unprecedented level.
Every day we hear we have conversations with people who are struggling to keep warm, pay bills and feed their families.
I'm just wondering how I would go about getting a food parcel, I work but I don't get a wage this month and there's no food in for me and my 4-year-old daughter.
I'm so embarrassed to seek out as I've no idea what to do. I start a new job tomorrow and me and my son both need packed lunches.
I fell behind with my rent when I lost work, as I was on a zero-hour contract and the work just stopped without warning, I have struggled to work a full week in 6 months. I've been so stressed and sick with worry.
At The Brick we believe fair pay, affordable bills, enough food to eat and a decent place to live are not luxuries, but they are our rights. Christmas should be a time of celebration, where families can be together sharing food and quality time together, looking forward to a brighter year ahead.
Our poem The Dream was written by Salford born, and now adopted Wiganer Matt Kelly. On the inspiration for the poem, Matt said;
These are unprecedented times for all of us and we need to pull together to help those who are struggling the most. When writing the poem, I drew on my own childhood experiences of how hard it was for my Mum and Dad to make ends meet, particularly around Christmas time and how that made me feel growing up when money was a daily struggle at home. There are so many families who are still struggling in the same way and they need our help now more than ever.
We are raising money to continue to provide food and essentials as well as provide 24/7 web chat support every day over the holidays, including Christmas Day.
Give the gift of choice this Christmas.
DONATE: Via Just Giving or TEXT BRICK£5, (BRICK£10 OR BRICK£20) TO 70480
Your donation will help ease the pressure families and individuals facing poverty and hardship in Wigan and Leigh this Christmas.
Thank you. Together we can give better.
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