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Understanding the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on Eastern European families in the North East

A blog by Dr Hayley Alderson, Newcastle University.

In 2024, we undertook a collaborative project between the International Community of Sunderland (ICOS), Newcastle University, and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC).

It aimed to explore the extent to which the cost-of-living crisis impacts on the wellbeing of Eastern European families living in Sunderland.

The work consisted of interviews, creative art-based workshops and a live artist workshop with Eastern European women and children.

What is the issue?

We know that Eastern European families have limited access to mainstream networks, lack their own voice and face issues of discrimination and multiple, intersectional disadvantage. This has been exacerbated further due to the cost-of living crisis.

Our research focussed on issues facing Eastern European women and their children living in Sunderland and surrounding areas.

It explored the extent to which the cost-of-living crisis impacts families’ wellbeing, and also explored the acceptability and role of ICOS’s interventions in supporting families to deal with the crisis.

The project highlighted some of the significant challenges faced by Eastern European families, and led to the co-production of a creative visual depiction of the findings so they could be shared in an impactful and accessible format.

Working together to develop the research

The work began by establishing a Project Steering Group involving Eastern European women who regularly volunteer for the ICOS Women project.

The women involved had knowledge and lived experience of needs and issues facing Eastern European women and families living in the North East.

The project steering group met on regular basis to shape the project, and their involvement included:

• Consultations on recruitment
• Designing research project questions
• Delivery of creative workshops for children
• Establishing wellbeing support for women and children for those who took part in the project
• Involvement in a dissemination workshop

Key findings

The project triangulated findings from interviews and images from creative workshops with Eastern European Women and their children.

A final workshop was held bringing together professionals and people with lived experience to sense check the findings and co-produce a piece of visual artwork representing key outcomes and areas of consideration regarding the cost-of-living crisis.

Our research showed that the cost-of-living crisis impacted on Eastern European families in multiple ways, including:

Family circumstances: Women expressed difficulty paying rent or mortgages, but they were unable to take up employment due to several barriers including childcare, caring responsibilities, and language barriers.

Impact on children: Families were unable to participate in activities with their children as they used to e.g. after school activities, going out on trips, visiting families in their home countries due to financial issues. They also expressed concerns around not being able to afford necessities for children such as hygiene items and clothing.

Effects on wellbeing: Families were experiencing distress due to the rising prices of energy bills, in some circumstances they were unable to afford to pay their bills, putting their household in debt.

Changes in shopping habits: Due to the rising cost of groceries and food, they had to change their shopping habits. This included shopping at discount stores, purchasing discounted food with ‘yellow stickers’ and buying products which are less healthy due to them being cheaper.

Accessing more support: Many participants had accessed many different charities for various support, including financial advice and food banks.

Things that could help

Participants were asked what support could be provided to help them navigate the issues they were facing.

They told us:

• There should be financial support towards school uniforms from the local authority.
• The support provided should be long term – at the moment, it is short term for example a one-off payment, voucher, or top up.
• People should be signposted to services they don’t know about we need more awareness of those support services.
• They would like more information on saving money, and other support people can apply for.
• They would like more opportunities for employment, especially for mothers with care responsibilities and flexible employment opportunities.
• They would like more places within the community that provide free meals (including for the elderly or single parents) such as soup kitchens and community cafe spaces, which are also child friendly.
• Continue providing vouchers for gas, electricity and shopping through charities and local authorities.
• Free activities for children and families would be helpful.
• More information needs to be provided to the healthcare sector wellbeing on support that is available, and the services need to be mapped out and well-coordinated, e.g. foodbanks open at different time and days.

They also discussed:

• More access to mental health support services for adults, as well as children.
• Regional cooperation of charities and support services, working in partnership.
• More flexible support from the local authority with less strict criteria for support.
• More support for those in full time employment who are not eligible for benefits.
• Better support with childcare for mothers who would like to go into employment or training.

Gathering children’s views

The project also involved creative art workshops with children and young people, who were asked to explore their understanding of the cost-of-living crisis – and it was clear from these workshops that children were very aware that their families were struggling.

Through their art, children illustrated how the cost-of-living crisis has impacted their families in many ways.

Shopping habits were particularly highlighted, including parents buying cheaper food which is not as healthy, and children showed an awareness that the prices of healthy foods have risen.

Some children mentioned going to the shops with their mum and not being able to get what they wanted, and some reported being worried about the rising prices of groceries, housing and energy prices, but wages and earnings not going up,

Some of the older children were worried about how the cost-of-living crisis would impact their future, including getting their first car or attending university.

Providing support as part of this project

As part of this work, we were able to offer help with some of the issues that were raised.

For example, some women expressed worries about being able to afford Christmas presents for their children in 2024. A project worker referred two women to Love Amelia’s Christmas Gift Appeal, and another woman received support with getting a new stroller.

Gas and electricity bills were a big concern among the families interviewed. Three women received further support in relation to gas and electricity – two got support with top ups, and one with an application for British Gas Energy Trust to help with outstanding debt.

Women also received support with maximising their income, including four women who were given support with applying for benefits. Two women received support with employability and one received support with applying to the Child Maintenance Service.

Shining a spotlight on significant issues

The research findings highlight that cost-of-living crisis is impacting Eastern European women and their children’s physical and mental wellbeing in a negative way.

This includes through increased stress due to rising costs of bills and groceries, being unable to participate in various activities due to the costs involved, and having to rely on short-term emergency support provided by local charities such as foodbanks, energy vouchers and clothing banks.

The research also showed that Eastern European women have a limited access to opportunities due to limited language skills and caring responsibilities which are often linked to a lack of support network due to families living outside of the UK.

The research also highlighted that children and young people are worried about the cost-of-living crisis and can see how it is impacting their families.

What happens next?

Our research has been developed into a written report as well as a creative visual, which we are sharing with organisations and decision makers so they can understand how they can support Eastern European women and their families more effectively.

The report includes recommendations around the delivery of support services including wellbeing and cultural activities for mothers and children.

It also recommends tailored support and advice services, including employability support, access to welfare benefits, financial advice and support with skills, leadership and training.

You can download the full report and summary report, below.

This work was led by Dr Hayley Alderson and Dr Steph Scott (Newcastle University), Professor Eileen Kaner and Dr Felicity Shenton (NIHR ARC NENC), and Ms Julia Wysocka (ICOS)