Chapter 4: Ensure a healthy standard of living for all

As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK is facing a major cost-of-living crisis. This crisis means that the cost of basic goods such as gas, electricity, and food increases faster than average wages, pushing more people into poverty. As such, many more people will struggle to pay for basic items such as heating, eating or travel to work. Women are more vulnerable to the cost-of-living crisis. Women who were already struggling are now under enormous financial pressure as costs continue to rise.
(Finch D (2022). The cost-of-living crisis is a health emergency too)

While the richest households were able to save during the pandemic, the poorest fell further into debt. Also, poorer households experience higher inflation because they spend a larger proportion of their income on gas and electricity, the two services that are increasing the most.
(Thompson K (2022). What is the cost of living crisis?)

The cost of living in the UK has increased by 10.1% in the year to August 2022.This means that if it cost you £1000 a month for rent, transport, food, in August 2021, it would have cost you £1100 to buy the same goods and services in August 2022. If the current average rate of inflation continues into 2023, then it will cost you £1210 to buy the same things.

Gateshead Council recognises and understands the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in the UK and wants to do more to help its residents, delivering on its 'Thrive' ambitions. Working in partnership with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, a network of 'Warm Spaces' has been created. Everyone is welcome at any of the 80+ registered venues to stay warm, enjoy each other's company and have a hot drink without being judged or asked why they're there. All visitors are treated equally, with dignity and respect.

The cost of living in the UK has increased by 10.1% in the year to August 2022.

This means that if it cost you £1000 a month for outgoings such as rent, transport, food, in August 2021, it would have cost you £1100 to buy the same goods and services in August 2022. If the current average rate of inflation continues into 2023, then it will cost you £1210 to buy the same things.

Women see this cost-of-living crisis as a 'constant source of worry'. 42% of low paid women had fallen behind on household bills, compared to 35% of low paid men, and 35% of low paid women had skipped meals regularly for financial reasons compared to 29% of low paid men. Women are struggling even more to make ends meet on wages that don't provide enough to live on.
(Living Wage Foundation. (2022). Low paid work and cost-of-living crisis disproportionately affecting women)

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is gendered:

• Working women have, on average, a lower income than men.
• Women are more likely to have lower paid jobs, more likely to work part time and are sometimes paid less despite being in similar jobs to men.
• Women are already more likely to be experiencing poverty.
• Women have lower levels of savings and wealth than men.
• Women are more likely to be in debt.
• Women's pensions are about half the size of men's.
• Women are more likely to have caring responsibilities. This means that they are less able than men to increase their hours of paid work and income. Childcare costs were increasing above the rate of inflation for several years before this crisis and many mothers are unable to afford such costs.
• Women are the 'shock absorbers of poverty'. They tend to have the main responsibility for the purchase and preparation of food for their children and families, the purchase and use of cleaning products and for the management of budgets of poor households.
• Women often go without food and other necessities themselves to provide for their children. This is likely to have a damaging effect on women's physical health and wellbeing.

The groups of women who are most likely to be disproportionately impacted are:

• Single parents and unpaid carers
• Women with disabilities
• Women already living in poverty
• Women from ethnic minority population groups, including Bangladeshi, Pakistani and black
• Victims/survivors of domestic abuse, including economic abuse.

Women find it hard to leave an abusive relationship if they don't know how they will support themselves and their children, especially as living costs rise. Women with 'no recourse to public funds', who are excluded from claiming social security benefits, are at high risk of poverty if they lose work, or separate from a partner.
(Sangster G, Stephenson MA and Reis S (2022). The gendered impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Women's Budget Group.)

Women also report feelings of shame and guilt as a result of not being able to afford leisure activities or essential items for their children, contributing to the negative mental health impacts of the crisis. 69% of single parents reported that the cost-of-living crisis was having a negative impact on their mental health, although this is likely to be an underestimation.
(Close the Gap. (2022). Gender inequality means that women are being hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis.)