Wrexham community hub has taken a hit as energy prices soar in the cost of living crisis as they battle to balance their bills.
Yellow and Blue (YaB) has had to cut costs by limiting their takeaway services, which saw a drop in demand due to customers opting to save money and cook at home.
As a result, YaB has lost a big source of income and has also had to lay off staff to make bills more manageable. Takeaways are now available two nights a week as opposed to the original four and have had to move toward deli-style food, which may become a problem in the colder months.
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Founder Peter Humphreys said they were “going into a winter of uncertainty” as they wait for news on how businesses like YaB will be supported in the crisis.
YaB supports everyone in the community and offers “no judgment” when someone walks through the door. The worry is that those dependent of YaB and its services will be the ones hit hard by the cost of living crisis.
Peter said: “We did a fundraiser for the heating last year and we managed to get the heating installation in place. We’re looking at becoming a ‘warm bank’ for the winter so when the colder months come we’re looking at supporting people with learning disabilities, parent supports groups, homelessness, and recovery groups.”
He added: “We are hearing it’s going to be a choice between heating and food and it’s a bit crazy in 2022, especially after the last few years and what we’ve been through. It's going to hit people mentally. I think there’s a lot of worries and we're not really getting any news or feedback on what’s going to be done about it.”
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The hub is reliant on electricity and Peter said it is “a bit scary” opening an electric bill but that for the community they are remaining enthusiastic and have resources to help those who might be struggling, like their food larder and weekday meetings.
Peter explained: “There are community projects out there that can help. There’s the food bank. We’ve got the food larder here and we have a lot of mental health support here, especially with the Be Inspired sessions on a Thursday night because that’s just starting up.”
READ MORE: The Yellow and Blue "family" continues to grow to support the community
The Be Inspired sessions have trained councillors available and practice active listening.
Peter added: “Please feel free to come down and see what we're offering and I’m sure we can signpost other services as well.”
For more information on Yellow and Blue, please visit https://www.yellowandblue.org/
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