Over the course of the past month I have held a number of cost of living support sessions across my constituency in Ashington, Stakeford, Newbiggin and Bedlington.

The sessions brought together a range of organisations operating in our region, offering support and advice to people ahead of the harsh winter months in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis for decades.

The events hosted representatives from a range of sectors, from Citizen’s Advice and Northumberland Communities Together to groups organising training programs and employment opportunities.

Unfortunately these kinds of events are needed now more than ever. With the rising costs of everything from energy to food and surging inflation levels there are more people than ever before feeling the pinch.

An unseasonably warm November has allowed for some respite from turning the heating on but the cold will inevitably snap, and people face surging bills with little to no support from the government to help.

Those who rely on benefits in particular face a difficult winter and beyond if the government fail to keep their promise and raise benefits alongside inflation. Otherwise the most vulnerable people in our communities will see a huge reduction in income at the worst possible time.

Despite this, these cost of living sessions show that there is support available. I urge anybody who either is, or knows of anyone who may be struggling, to contact my office or keep a look out for future events to find out about what support is out there from people willing to help.

A fine example of people coming together to support one another in hard times is the Wansbeck Christmas Campaign, a project to deliver Christmas presents to families with children who would otherwise not be able to afford them across Wansbeck.

This campaign has been a roaring success over the past few years delivering hundreds of presents around the constituency ensuring that every child will wake up to presents on Christmas morning. Sadly they anticipate they will be busier this year than ever before.

The thousands of gifts that have been donated to the campaign over the past few years is a testament to the extraordinary generosity and community spirit here in Wansbeck that we saw so many times throughout the pandemic and long before.

Keep your eyes peeled on my social media for information on future cost of living support events.

To learn more about how to donate to the Wansbeck Christmas Campaign Click here.

To nominate a child to receive a gift on Christmas day Click here.