‘We can’t keep up’

Leicestershire Cares has today published the findings of a rapid assessment of the impact that the cost of living crisis is having on vulnerable young people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The Children and Young People team consulted with 20 young people from across our youth projects to explore if and how rising costs of living were affecting them, the impact of increasing energy costs in particular, what (if any) support they had received, and what their concerns were for the future. Overall, our findings suggest that the cost of living crisis is already taking a huge toll on young people’s mental and physical health. Our participants reported skipping meals, struggling to afford bills, increased stress about their finances and significant worry about further increases in energy and food prices. Young parents were particularly vulnerable, and described their worries about providing for their children. Read more.