A Benwell charity says those needing support has increased every year for the last 5 years
The Cornerstone Benwell are expecting to see a rise in people struggling and needing support this year
A Benwell charity says the number of people needing support in winter has increased every year for the last five years.
They tell us they are expecting the number to rise again this year.
Amy Sturdy, operations manager at the Cornerstone Benwell, says in this day and age things should not be like this.
She said: "The cost of living has been quite catastrophic for a lot of people.
"The prices in the supermarkets are starting to get to a point where they're actually getting out of control for quite a lot of people who are dependent on benefits."
She tells us the number of people struggling have "been rising every year since COVID and not by small amounts either.
"We've noticed anywhere between a 10% and a 25% increase each year, so quite huge numbers.
"I think the main problem that people are facing is just the cost of the prices of food.
"The price of food is so high for people at the moment, it's just really starting to spiral out of control for people."