--- title: "Stories of Hope: Cost of Living" date: 2022-10-27T09:00:00+01:00 author: Rosa Hutchings canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/stories-of-hope-home/stories-of-hope-cost-of-living" section: Pages --- **This year we have witnessed the cost of living grow exponentially. While rising bills have impacted most of us in some form, those on the lowest incomes have been hit the hardest. Many are having to make difficult decisions between heating their homes or putting food on the table.** The situation some are faced with is very bleak. But in the midst of the bleakness, there is hope. As John 1:5 says: ​“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”. Christian organisations, churches and individuals across the four nations have been responding creatively and compassionately to meet the needs of people in their local area and display the hope of Jesus. Hope for the Christian comes not just in meeting physical needs (although Isaiah 58 provides us with a strong biblical mandate to do so), but also in meeting spiritual needs. These spiritual needs are ones that no one is exempt from, no matter their income or status, and they can only be satisfied through a personal relationship with Jesus. We have put together this *Stories of Hope* series to show some of the different ways in which the church is bringing the hope of Jesus to communities across the UK. We want to encourage and inspire churches to respond to the crisis, to learn from each other and to build good working relationships with local authorities that will help them have even more of an impact in their community. May our faith be one that compels us to be people of hope in dark times. Download [ PDF Stories of Hope Oct 22 1 8.6 MB Download ](https://www.eauk.org/assets/files/downloads/Stories-of-Hope-Oct-22-1.pdf "Download Stories of Hope Oct 22 1") > “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19” ### Read more stories of hope: [ ![I believe the church can restore hope in this crisis – here’s how](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/History/pexels-brett-sayles-1343325.jpg) ![Pexels brett sayles 1343325](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/History/pexels-brett-sayles-1343325.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/i-believe-the-church-can-restore-hope-in-this-crisis-heres-how) [#### I believe the church can restore hope in this crisis – here’s how ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/i-believe-the-church-can-restore-hope-in-this-crisis-heres-how) Natalie Williams encourages us to respond locally to the cost of living crisis [ ![Natalie Williams](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/natalie-williams) [ Natalie Williams ](/author/natalie-williams) 31 October 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/i-believe-the-church-can-restore-hope-in-this-crisis-heres-how) [ ![Hope for today: partnership response in times of crisis](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Hannah busing Zyx1b K9mqm A unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/hannah-busing-Zyx1bK9mqmA-unsplash_2022-10-31-152119_auqm.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/hope-for-today-partnership-response-in-times-of-crisis) [#### Hope for today: partnership response in times of crisis ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/hope-for-today-partnership-response-in-times-of-crisis) Be informed and inspired by the work of Dorset-based charity Faithworks as they respond to the varying needs of their community [ ![Alistair Doxat-Purser](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alistair-doxat-purser) [ Alistair Doxat-Purser ](/author/alistair-doxat-purser) 31 October 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/hope-for-today-partnership-response-in-times-of-crisis) [ ![Church leaders, here's how to work with MPs, mayors and more](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![I Stock 166022769](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/iStock-166022769_2022-11-01-123851_bjon.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/church-leader-heres-how-to-work-with-your-elected-representatives) [#### Church leaders, here's how to work with MPs, mayors and more ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/church-leader-heres-how-to-work-with-your-elected-representatives) Mark Cowling explains how we can create stronger working relationships with our MPs, MLAs, MSs, MSPs, mayors and councillors [ ![Mark Cowling](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/mark-cowling) [ Mark Cowling ](/author/mark-cowling) 31 October 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/church-leader-heres-how-to-work-with-your-elected-representatives) [ ![Finding hope through the weekly grocery shop](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Food Bank](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/joel-muniz-3k3l2brxmwQ-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/finding-hope-through-the-weekly-grocery-shop) [#### Finding hope through the weekly grocery shop ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/finding-hope-through-the-weekly-grocery-shop) Danielle Campsall from the Message Trust shares how their community grocery project has seen lives transformed through the hope of Jesus [ ![Danielle Campsall](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danielle-campsall) [ Danielle Campsall ](/author/danielle-campsall) 31 October 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/finding-hope-through-the-weekly-grocery-shop) [ ![Church and policymakers unite in parliament to talk cost of living](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Panel Speakers](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/IMG_8266.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/church-and-policymakers-unite-in-parliament-to-talk-cost-of-living) [#### Church and policymakers unite in parliament to talk cost of living ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/church-and-policymakers-unite-in-parliament-to-talk-cost-of-living) Parliamentarians, civil servants and Christian leaders discuss how the church and government can work together to tackle the cost of living crisis [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 03 November 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/church-and-policymakers-unite-in-parliament-to-talk-cost-of-living)