Ruwani Purcell

charity enthusiast, music lover and mum. All views mine

[BBC Radio 4 Today @BBCr4today]

"People with low incomes just can't cope."

Dame Clare Moriarty, CEO of Citizens Advice, tells #R4Today they are 'very worried' about the rise in energy bills, saying the choices being made by families to afford bills compare to a 'Dickensian' struggle.

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

New report out today from @CitizensAdvice, the first of ongoing work to look at how social tariffs can be better designed to target support to those most in need, to ensure they can have access to essential services.

But, there are some fixes that can be made now. More 👇🏾👇🏾

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

We’ve found that nearly 8 million people have fallen behind on one of their essential bills including energy, water, broadband or car insurance bills in the past year alone.

Today we’re launching a new project to look at how to fix this ⤵️

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

What kind of advice needs do people have when they come to @CitizensAdvice, and how has that changed over the years?

If you're interested in finding out more, sign up to join our free data insights event. Details 👇🏾👇🏾

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

Is the cost of living crisis over?

That’s not what we’re seeing. Our Director of Policy, Tom MacInnes, explains what our data is telling us.

Hear more at our October Data Insights event ⬇️
https://t.co/1DWPuWtjrW #CADataInsights

[Clare Moriarty @ClareMoriarty]

Thank you @miatsf for inviting @CitizensAdvice to today's roundtable on energy support. With millions facing a winter of anxiety about energy bills, it's good to see commitment from all sides to providing meaningful support for people in the greatest need https://t.co/R7poRRBJ4u

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

Last night Citizens Advice Sunderland's office was badly damaged following riots in the city.

We're working with the team in Sunderland to provide support to them and help them be there for the people who need advice going forward.

Our services are closed on weekends (1/2)

[Dave Mendes da Costa @Dave_MdaC]

A partial ban on mid-contract price rises today, 18 months and 2 record breaking price rises after Ofcom started work on this.

We've been shouting about this for years & while action is good to see this saga raises some fundamental points about Ofcom.

https://t.co/i4Q4CMoZTD

[Clare Moriarty @ClareMoriarty]

In today’s #KingsSpeech the new government set out their priorities. 

It’s good to see a focus on support for renters and a commitment to ending no-fault evictions. Likewise a promise to bring in the long-awaited employment rights bill 1/3

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

Important opportunity in today's #KingsSpeech to commit to changes that would improve living standards. With @CitizensAdvice helping someone everyone 5 seconds with a cost of living related issue, it's never been more needed.

[Rachel Beddow @RachelBeddow]

Today's the #KingsSpeech - and @citizensadvice we know the number one issue facing the people we help is living standards: paying the bills, making rent and putting food on the table.

A few thoughts on what we're hoping to see from the new government..

[Dave Mendes da Costa @Dave_MdaC]

With water bills set to rise above inflation over the next 5 years, the key conversation we need to be having is how to fix the broken system of water social tariffs to ensure that those on the lowest incomes are shielded from these rises.

Short🧵

https://t.co/34NmdNOKqd

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

If you faced a negative budget, with not enough money coming in to cover the essentials, how would you spend the money you have, and which household costs would you cover? These are the choices that many people supported by @CitizensAdvice face every single day; more below 👇🏾👇🏾

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

Nearly 5 million people are in a negative budget.

This means they're building up debt to get by, cutting their essential spending back to unsafe levels.

If this was you, would you be able to survive on a negative budget? ⤵️

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

The next government must prioritise how people's living standards can be improved in the here and now. Read more from @ClareMoriarty, writing for @BigIssue. and @EmerDemeza 👇🏾

[Clare Moriarty @ClareMoriarty]

In the 5 weeks since this election was announced, @CitizensAdvice has helped 30,000 people with access to crisis support. That’s food banks and charity grants.

It's essential that both leaders set out how they plan to tackle the landslide in living standards. #LeadersDebate

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

🚨 Just released - our latest energy customer service ratings.

Find out how your supplier is performing ⤵️
https://t.co/mw1Sj1Xw9A

[Meri Åhlberg @AhlbergMeri]

Wages rising 6% is good news, but will it make a difference for the 636,000 working households in a negative budget?
1 in 3 households in a negative budget include someone who’s in work. More than half these households include someone working full time. 🧵1/

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will head to Grimsby and Cleethorpes this evening to set out their priorities for government in the #BattleForNo10 Sky News debate.

Let's zoom in on what issues are a priority for people living there... ⤵️🧵

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

💬 “What about living standards?”

This is the number one issue for voters this election. But will the next government have a clear plan to tackle this?

Join our next #CADataInsights event to hear more ⬇️
https://t.co/eTORkz5q3D

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

.@CitizensAdvice helps over 1,000 people a day with disability benefits. We understand the difficulties that too many face. A new government has a chance to address this, rebuilding a system genuinely centred around people's needs. Read more from @KayleyHignell on how.

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

Meet Suzanne*. She came to us for help managing her council tax bill. She’s a registered carer for 2 relatives, which means she can only work part-time. The family live on a low income and struggle to pay their energy bills.

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

.@CitizensAdvice has been supporting more and more people struggling with Buy Now Pay Later products. For those with limited income it can seem like a lifeline. But a lack of regulation can mean sharp practices, and inadequate support when things go wrong. This needs to change.

[Ruwani Purcell @PercyRu]

As the main political parties launch their manifestos, will any commit to policies that will turn the tide on falling living standards? Through the advice we offer @CitizensAdvice, we know it's a key issue for voters. More from @EmerDemeza on why

[CitizensAdvice @CitizensAdvice]

63% of people say that cost of living will sway how they vote in the #GeneralElection.

Here's why we need a #manifesto for living standards ⤵️ #LivingStandardsElection2024
https://t.co/JfBD9h3Ucf