THE former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has praised churches that are opening their doors to the elderly and poor this winter — but he warned that the need will be “overwhelming” as fuel costs rise.
Writing in the Church Times this week, Mr Brown says that tomorrow the cap on energy bills “will rise to an unprecedented £2500 a year”, which will leave families that are dependent on Universal Credit £1500 a year worse off than last year. “How is the loss so great? This is because, even as the new cap is introduced, family fuel bills will increase by an average of £10 a week, which is on top of April’s rise of £14 a week.”
The Government’s awarding of £24 a week extra for such families “is not enough to prevent hardship”, he writes. Families with more than two children, and disabled people, will be even harder hit.
Mr Brown commends initiatives such as the Warm Welcome campaign, a national effort to align all churches and community venues as easily accessible warm spaces (News, 2 September).
He concludes: “The campaign led by churches and faith groups for compassion and justice deserves all our support.”
Read the full comment from Gordon Brown