Story The increasing cost of living is having a negative impact in Stoke & Newcastle. Household bills and the cost of food are continuing to rise, but household incomes are not. More than ever, people are experiencing economic hardship, especially those in our communities who are most vulnerable. New figures from the National Office of Statistics show that seven of Staffordshire's poorest neighbourhoods are in Stoke-on-Trent, with Hanley & Etruria having the lowest disposable household income of any area in the whole county. Whilst demand for our services continues to grow, access to funding for us to keep our vital work going is becoming increasingly difficult. This is why we have created the Alice Charity Cost of Living Crisis Campaign. Since the start of 2023, we have already supported 892 individual families in Stoke & Newcastle, showing the severity of the current situation, and why we need more help than ever to keep our vital services running.