Cost of Living
02 Sep 2026
Families Urged To Check Free School Meal Eligibility
More than 500,000 additional children in England are expected to become eligible for free school meals from this month, as entitlement expands to all children in households receiving Universal Credit....
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10 Aug 2026
Food Poverty Highest Among Households With Children Under Five
New analysis from the Early Years Observatory highlights the scale of food poverty among families with young children, with almost a quarter (24%) of households in England with a child...
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28 Jul 2026
Record Numbers Still Unable To Afford Essentials
A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) suggests the cost of living continues to place significant pressure on millions of households across the UK, despite some improvements in...
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01 Jun 2026
Heating Oil Support In North Northamptonshire
North Northamptonshire Council is encouraging local organisations, parish and town councils, and community groups to help raise awareness of an emergency support scheme for residents who rely on heating oil...
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26 May 2026
Government Announces Summer Cost Of Living Support Package
The Government has announced a new package of measures aimed at helping households and businesses manage ongoing cost-of-living pressures, including free bus travel for children across England during August. The...
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18 May 2026
Households Continue To Feel Cost Of Living Pressures
A newly published House of Commons Library briefing has highlighted how households across the UK are continuing to feel the lasting effects of the cost-of-living crisis, despite inflation easing from...
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16 Mar 2026
Rising Heating Oil Costs Draw Westminster Attention
Rising heating oil costs highlighted in last week’s Rural Bulletin have continued to draw attention in Westminster, as ministers step up scrutiny of fuel pricing amid volatility linked to tensions...
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09 Mar 2026
RSN Warns Rural Households Will Be Hit Hardest By Oil Price Surge
The Rural Services Network (RSN) has warned that rural households and businesses are particularly exposed to rising oil prices as global energy markets react to escalating tensions in the Middle...
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02 Feb 2026
UK Poverty: The 2026 Picture
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s UK Poverty 2026 report shows that poverty remains a persistent feature of life for millions of people across the UK, with little overall change in headline...
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29 Jan 2026
Why over 7,500 rural households have responded to a government heating consultation
by Malcolm Farrow, director of marketing and external affairs at OFTEC Over the past few weeks, thousands of oil heated households living in rural areas have stepped up to ensure...
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