#LivingWithout a cooker? Help is available

Today we have launched the first phase of our #LivingWithout campaign. We know that living without basic household appliances, like a cooker, is not just an inconvenience but often an injustice that only exacerbates a variety of problems.

To fully understand the issue, we undertook some research to find out how big a problem this actually is.

Campaign Research

We surveyed 2,000 people across the country earning on or below the average national household income of £35,204.

Our findings showed that:

• Over one in 20 are living without a cooker
• Almost one in 10 private renters are living without a cooker
• Six percent of people with disabilities are living without a cooker
• Eight percent of single people are living without a cooker
• Around one in 12 self-employed are living without a cooker
• Six percent of working aged people are living without a cooker
• Nearly one in 12 people earning below £15,000 are living without a cooker

Help is available

If you are living without a cooker, or with a cooker that needs replacing and cannot afford a new one, you may be eligible for help.

The first port of call should be grants. These are gifts of money, goods or resources awarded by charities to people who meet their eligibility criteria. You don’t have to pay them back.

To find a grant that you are eligible for, use the Turn2us Grants Search.

Depending on your circumstances and background, charities that might be able to help include:

• Buttle UK
• Family Fund
• Friends of the Elderly
• League of the Helping Hand
• Percy Bilton Charity
• Glasspool
• GroceryAid

Dawn Jackson, Head of Grants at Turn2us, said:

“Basic household appliances are not a luxury - the reality of living without a cooker at any time of year is grim; it takes away dignity, leaves families further out of pocket and the impact on children or other dependants cannot be overstated.

“Turn2us speaks to thousands of people each year who cannot afford to buy new or replace faulty cookers and as a result we have launched the Living Without campaign.

“Together we can help end this vicious poverty cycle and give families the ability to make home cooked meals rather than relying on expensive and unhealthy alternatives.”