Poll shows millions of UK nationals skipping meals in cost of living crisis
October 20, 2022, 9:33 am

Poll shows millions of UK nationals skipping meals in cost of living crisis

Selection of vegetables in London market - Pixabay

Millions of Britons are skipping meals in current the cost-of-living crisis, a consumer group warned Thursday (Oct 20), having already forecast that many risk fuel poverty after the UK curbed its energy price freeze.

The news came after data showed UK inflation jumped back above 10 percent in September on rampant food prices, as economic troubles pile up for beleaguered Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Half of UK households are cutting back on the number of meals, consumer group Which? said citing a survey of 3,000 people.

A similar proportion are finding it harder to eat healthily compared with before the crisis, while almost 80 percent are finding it difficult financially.

“The devastating impact of the cost-of-living crisis is, worryingly, leading to millions of people skipping meals or struggling to put healthy meals on the table,” said Sue Davies, head of food policy at Which?.

Poll: Millions of UK nationals skipping meals in cost of living crisis - Photo. Pixabay

Separately, the consumer group stated Wednesday that the UK government’s decision this week to curb its energy price freeze would leave millions unable to adequately heat their homes.

In a series of humiliating budget U-turns, new finance minister Jeremy Hunt announced Monday that he would pull the plug on the flagship energy price freeze in April instead of late 2024.

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“The government’s decision to end universal energy support in April risks throwing millions of households across the country -- not just the most financially vulnerable -- into fuel poverty,” warned Rocio Concha, head of policy and advocacy at Which?.

“The government must clarify how they will support those struggling to make ends meet beyond the spring and ensure that as energy prices remain incredibly high, consumers are not left out in the cold.”

The price freeze was aimed at protecting consumers from sky-high domestic fuel costs, which have rocketed on key energy producer Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Britain has meanwhile been blighted by strikes this year, as workers protest over wages that has failed to keep pace with runaway inflation.

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The retail prices index -- an inflation measure which includes mortgage interest payments and is used by trade unions and employers when negotiating wage increases - leapt to 12.6 percent in September from 12.3 percent in August, data showed Wednesday.

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of umbrella grouping the Trades Union Congress (TUC), demanded this week that Truss step down.

She told the TUC’s annual gathering in the English seaside resort of Brighton: “I have a message for Liz Truss: Working people are proud of the jobs we do. We work hard. We work the longest hours in Europe."

“Yet thanks to your party’s 12 years in government, millions are struggling to make ends meet.”

Source: alarabiya

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”