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WITH fuel bills for the average family expected to spike to £500 a month in the new year, those on the frontline of the cost-of-living crisis in Portsmouth predict a huge rise in families in need – and increasing desperation is stoking an ‘us versus them’ mentality.

Bills of £500 a month could hit the average household in January, according to utilities consultancy firm BFY Group, with the cap on energy bills expected to rise to an eye-watering £3,850 in 2023.

It comes as inflation hits 9.4 per cent, pushing even more families into needing support from food banks and charities.

In Leigh Park, volunteers at FoodBank PO9 report a 20 per cent increase in attendees across the last four months – and now staff fear the numbers will double come January, when hundreds of people each week may need food donations.

Food banks across the area have warned about spiraling demand if energy prices rise again as expected. Stock Picture: Sam Stephenson

Darren McKenna, a senior volunteer who has been with the organisation since its founding ten years ago, said: ‘We saw a big spike when prices last went up.

‘Unfortunately, what you see is donations go down – because of course everyone is feeling the pinch.’

At The Roberts Centre, a family support charity in the heart of the city, staff said the prolonged crisis means there are few things people can cut back on.

Carole Damper, who for 22 years has served as chief executive, said: ‘The very real danger is that people will fall behind on rent, mortgages and homelessness will increase.

‘Families, like us all, struggled through Covid and now face the fear of getting into debt increasing pressure on the family.’

And the desperation is now creating a sense of resentment, according to Darren.

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Addressing the political climate, he said: ‘The people I speak to week in, week out, they feel it’s us versus them. (Politicians) don’t care about us and there’s nothing we can do about it.’

Changing legislation was the best hope for change, according to the food bank volunteer.

He said: ‘That is the biggest thing.

‘If there was a cap on profit that would a big difference.’

Meanwhile, the CEO of the Roberts Centre called for a cross-party group of MPs to address the crisis.

She said: ‘Whilst it is interesting to know who is going to be Prime Minister, there needs to be a cross- party group including social welfare experience experts to meet together – rather like the Covid advisors – to come together to ensure there is a focus on how people – real people – are coping or not coping.

‘Benefits and pensions having increased by 3.1 percent and prices in the shops far exceeding that and then to face unthinkable level of fuel cost rises, means that something has to give.’

Earlier this month, The News revealed that more a thousand families across Portsmouth and the surrounding towns are missing out on vital food vouchers from the government as the cost of living crisis worsens, with charities calling for a change to the way the benefit is paid out.

Energy bill cap rise could see families in need double, Leigh Park foodbank warns as it contends with rising demand and falling donations