LONGER READ: Providing meals, support and friendship at Cafe 1668 in Inverness to people at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis
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Against the background of chatter and dishes of mac ‘n’ cheese being served at Cafe 1668 in Inverness, Diana reflects on the soaring cost of living.
“I’ve got rid of the tumble drier,” she says. “And if I am cooking a meal, I make sure I am cooking several meals at the same time.
“I also do a buddy system with a couple of other people – we get a big bag of tatties and split it three ways and split the costs three ways to keep costs down.
“They might just be little things but I try to think ahead,”
The 46-year-old is also a regular at Cafe 1668, a social cafe in Church Street.
It provides a safe place for vulnerable people to get a free meal three days a week, or a hot drink, plus support, advice and company.
Many are at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis and have their own individual stories of how it is impacting on their lives although they do not wish to give their names.
Some speak of difficulties and confusion over benefits entitlement while others are worried that their situation is set to worsen.
Diana, who has disabilities due to her mental health and nerve damage to her hands and feet, fears more people are being driven to contemplate suicide.
“A lot of people I speak to say they cannot afford to live,” she says.
“They don’t know how to go about claiming benefits. They don’t have a computer, or have no internet.”
She maintains the UK government should give extra help to people in the Highlands, given its geography and climate.
“We have higher costs with the transport of food,” she says. “Everything is more expensive than people realise.”
Angela (60), a former hotel worker, collects a tin a beans and a packet of pasta from the community larder at the cafe which she describes as a “godsend”.
On occasions, she has used food banks.
“I don’t really eat a meal – I live on beans on toast or pasta,” she says.
“I cannot afford to pay my council tax or my TV licence. I cannot afford to buy a new pair of shoes.”
She works 10 hours a week as a cleaner and receives Universal Credit but has sought help from Citizens Advice regarding her entitlements.
Harry (32), who worked as a kitchen porter in the south of England before the pandemic, is homeless and living in a tent having travelled around Britain.
“People are struggling,” he says. “If it was not for places like this, I would starve.”
Another person who is grateful for the project’s help is David who receives £132.30 in benefits every two weeks having become unemployed in May.
“I have been struggling for money,” he said. “I come here every day I can to get a coffee and something to eat.”
He says the cafe has been invaluable in helping him to apply for a job – which he hopes to start soon – and giving access to a computer to fill in forms online.
“I have a phone but when I use my own data, it diminishes so quickly,” he explains. “Quite often people want to do a video interview so that uses up all the data.”
He is appreciative of the emotional support, too.
“If you are on your own, you can feel very isolated especially when you have no money,” he says. “This is a community. You feel valued.”
Roy Harrison is team leader at the cafe which is supported by the Highland Third Sector Interface and offers a safe place and “no questions asked” policy.
He explains that central to the project’s philosophy is that anyone can find themselves needing a helping hand and it will offer support where possible.
It also tries to combat food waste thanks to donations of surplus food, while another core belief is that employment and skills can make a difference to building positivity in people’s futures and life chances.
He says numbers of free lunches being taken up have risen from between 20 to 25 a day to between 30 and 40 per day.
“Although you would expect to see people who are homeless or receiving benefits, now we are seeing families and people who are working especially during the holidays,” he says.
“People are worried about the winter – it is starting to be a topic of conversation.”
Link worker Angela Ellis provides support and signposts individuals seeking support to relevant agencies.
“We are getting busier,” she says.
“A lot of people feel isolated and come in for a cup of tea and a chat.
“The cost of living is a massive issue.”
In addition to paid staff, the cafe also has a team of volunteers including Rev James Bissett, part-time minister of Old High St Stephen’s Church.
He says there is “a bubbling undercurrent of uncertainty” as people becoming increasingly concerned about rising prices and he warns poverty will hit hard, especially in the Highlands.
The congregation at St Stephen’s is helping by having monthly food collections and also held a harvest event at which people donated food items and cash.
But he feels the government should do more and says it should not rely on churches and charities to keep people fed and warm..
“We have a welfare state which should help people out,” he says.
