More than 10,000 households in Southend were in fuel poverty before the national energy crisis, new figures show.

Statistics from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show 12,177 households in Southend were in fuel poverty in 2020 – the most recent official figures.

This was up from 11,904 the year prior, meaning 15% of people lived in a property with an energy efficiency rating of band D or below and, after heating their home, had a remaining income below the official poverty line.

However, these figures do not account for the current explosion in fuel prices, which saw the energy price cap increase by 54% in April, meaning many households can expect to pay around £700 more per year on their bills.

Meanwhile in Basildon 12.3% of households in the borough, equivalent of 9,728, were in fuel poverty during 2020 while the figure was 11.4% in Castle Point equalling 4,519 households.

Echo: Cass Francis is campaigns manager at the foodbank Cass Francis is campaigns manager at the foodbank

The figures came as no surprise to Cass Francis, Media and Campaigns Coordinator at Southend foodbank.

While she said the pandemic had led to hardship for many in 2020 it was alleviated by an uplift to universal credit and the furlough scheme. With these now gone she said the figure would now be much higher.

She said: “I’d imagine the figures for last year and this year will be really distressing in contrast to 2020.

“Fuel poverty makes you choose between one bill and another. You’re borrowing money from somewhere else to buy things you need to get.

“If you need to feed your children and that means you may not make a direct debit the next day it’s a decision you have to make quite often.”

She added: “When the weather changes it becomes slightly less of an issue but in October this year we’re due to have another increase in fuel costs. I wouldn’t know where to begin on guessing how many are in fuel poverty now.”

Elsewhere in south Essex other charities were also seeing the effects of the cost-of-living crisis including Basildon-based New Life Wood who provide work placement opportunities for those who fall into poverty.

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Operations manager Peter Hall, 58, said he was bringing to see an increase in the numbers of people coming to the charity for help in recent week.

He said: “It’s not always the people you would expect who would struggle with financial difficulties, particularly with the cost-of-living crisis.

“Its having an impact on a much wider section of society. People are making tough decision on whether they can afford to eat or keep their heating on.

“The people who come to us have often spent time in prison. Invariably it’s these people who are most worse off in society, due to offending or drug and alcohol use, who are in financial difficulty.”

He added: “It’s a vicious cycle and there’s clearly a lot of hardship in the Basildon and Pitsea area.”