Guarantee Our Essentials Campaign

Universal Credit has never been based on what essentials cost. Help us change that!

Trussell, alongside the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, is calling on the UK government to Guarantee Our Essentials. Join us in standing together for a social security system that’s fit for purpose and guarantees everyone can afford life’s essentials.

 72% of the public, across all political parties, support the Essentials Guarantee, reflecting a broad consensus on the need for this change. 

What is the Essentials Guarantee?

In a country as wealthy as the UK, hunger isn’t caused by a lack of food – it’s caused by a lack of income. It is unacceptable that millions of people are forced to rely on food banks because they cannot afford life’s essentials. While food banks provide vital emergency support, lasting systemic change is needed to ensure everyone has enough money to cover the basics.

The Essentials Guarantee would ensure Universal Credit is based on the real cost of essentials, so everyone can afford food, heating, housing, and other basic needs. It would provide a safety net that is fit for purpose and prevent people from having to make impossible choices between life’s necessities.

Here’s something you might not know about Universal Credit…

The amount of Universal Credit has never been based on what essentials cost, such as food, bills, or a bus ticket. Just a political decision. And unlike the minimum wage, it is not based on independent evidence. Nobody properly or regularly checks whether Universal Credit is enough to afford the rising cost of essentials.

The Government has a chance to change that…

Together with Trussell and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, we’re calling on the Government to introduce an independent process for setting Universal Credit rates. We already have an evidence-based system for setting the minimum wage—it’s time we did the same for our social security system. Not a promise to do better, but an independent process that reviews Universal Credit at least annually, based on the real cost of essentials like food, rent, and bills.

And We Need YOUR Help! 💚

In less than 5mins, you can make a significant impact by contacting your local MP and urging them to support an independent review process for setting Universal Credit rates.

Here’s how you can help:

📧 Copy the Draft Email: Below, you’ll find a draft email that you can copy and personalise.

✍️ Visit www.writetothem.com: Use this website to find your local MP, send the email, and be done in less than five minutes!

📣 Share with Others: Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to do the same and give this campaign a little boost by sharing it on social media.

Every email counts more than you might think. Your voice carries weight, and by speaking up together, we can build the momentum needed to create a fairer system where everyone as access to life’s essentials. 🤝🗳️

Email Template

Dear [MP’s Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing as one of your constituents and a supporter of Bromley Borough Foodbank because I am deeply concerned about the continued need for food banks in Bromley and across the UK. 

Last year, Bromley Borough Foodbank provided more than 8,200 food parcels to local people facing hardship. While this was broadly in line with the previous year, the number of children supported increased by 5%. Across the UK, Trussell food banks are still providing 45% more emergency food parcels than they were in 2019.

In a country as wealthy as the UK, hunger isn’t caused by a lack of food – it’s caused by a lack of income. It is unacceptable that millions of people are forced to rely on food banks because they cannot afford life’s essentials. While food banks provide vital emergency support, lasting systemic change is needed to ensure everyone has enough money to cover the basics.

I am asking for your support in calling on the Government to introduce an independent process for reviewing Universal Credit rates, similar to the way the Low Pay Commission independently advises on the National Minimum Wage. This would ensure Universal Credit rates are informed by independent evidence of what people need to afford life’s essentials and live with dignity.  

Any one of us could need support at some point in our lives because of illness, job loss, caring responsibilities or a family breakdown. Universal Credit should provide a reliable safety net during these difficult times. However, the current rate is not based on what it actually costs to afford essentials like food, household bills and day to day necessities. As a result, too many people are being pushed into hardship and forced to turn to food banks. Around 75% of people referred to Trussell food banks receive Universal Credit, demonstrating that the current system is failing to provide enough support. 

An independent review process would create a fairer, more transparent system that keeps pace with the real cost of living, helping to build a social security system that is fit for purpose and protects people from hardship. 

I urge you to support an independent review process for Universal Credit rates in Parliament and help bring about the systemic change that is so desperately needed.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Best regards,
[Your Name]

The Essentials Guarantee is a crucial step towards ensuring that everyone in our community can afford life’s essentials without having to rely on food banks.

By taking action and contacting your local MP, you’re helping to bring the systemic change that is so desperately needed. Thank you for your support in helping to create a more just and dignified society for all! 

Want to join the movement? Contact us: [email protected]

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