The elites are nice and warm.

I'm from a middle class background, I have a PhD, but I've fallen on hard times financially. I see such a sharp divide between people who aren't even fussed about the hike in prices, who aren't even bothered, and people like us who have to keep the heating off all winter, although we can afford hot water so I'm aware how privileged we are. But this situation isn't going to stop the rich using the same amount of gas as before. It's just the poor who will suffer.

The government is spending 7 million a day on housing illegal immigrants in hotels with central heating, and meals, they also get an allowance. We have British people sitting in the cold and dark, afraid to use any power and unable to afford to feed themselves adequately, there’s something very wrong here.

Food bank and heat center SHOULD NEVER EVER exist. This is what happens when gov't FAIL the working class for 50 years

Warm space to have company is a good temporary 'fix', however the badly insulated housing stock will get damp and mould if the heating in their homes is on at at minimum.

Seniors & elderly can not leave home bedridden.

It's so sad our country has come to this. Great that there are places to keep warm and get food, but it can only be for a few hours. Will the warm spaces become the place for homeless people to go to for as long as possible, only natural. What about the elderly who are not mobile, what is to become of them. I don't think our so-called government gives a toss. It is heartbreaking.

I can't understand why this is happening in a country where there are royalties prancing around in their fine clothes, waving to the people, sleeping warm and eating good food.

Beyond disgusting situation, warm spaces are such a tragic concept. This has got to change by any means necessary.

It is unacceptable for people to have to suffer in this way. The government has taken away its citizens basic human rights. I am so sorry this is happening to you. My family emigrated to Canada from Northamptonshire in the 1920s. I am a second generation immigrant here. I hope things improve for you all very soon.

It absolutely does NOT have to be this way. If the people could only understand what/who is behind this; then, we could rise to end this suffering. Unfortunately, until they do-people will suffer.

But “refugees” are put up in luxury hotels. With everything they need. What is going on?

It's terrible in this day and age. I grew up poor in Atlantic Canada. We get blizzards. It gets really cold here, -30° is not unusual. We had no indoor plumbing, no running water, no central heat, the wind literally blew through the shack we lived in and the roof leaked. We collected water from the mountain spring across the road all year round, but in the winter we had to chop through the ice first. We had a propane stove that kept the shack barely above freezing. It was difficult but we were a hardy bunch and used to such conditions. We dressed warmly in layers. Had candles for light and a bit of heat. These folks are not acclimated to living in the cold weather with minimal heat/resources. Thankfully, it doesn't get to -30° or colder there. It's shameful that four decades later, people are still enduring such conditions. It's bad enough in a 'poor' country, but this is happening in a wealthy country! The lower middle class are now poverty stricken. Spending all their money on just food and utilities, and still falling behind.

This is disgraceful, a modern country having to open warming centres because families can’t afford to pay their heating or electricity.

It’s bad that this should even have to happen. A lot of elderly and disabled people are housebound

Very sad. How about the new "king" donate part of his billions to help people of his nation. That has to be very frightening for most people. I live in the US and have been preparing for something like what is going on right now, since I was a teen living in Germany during the "cold war" when WWIII was a possibility. Here we are 60 years later, facing the same thing, thanks to very rich people who don't care about anyone but their money.

As long as people accept what they are doing it will get worse. Still waiting for everyone to collectively hit their limit.

God bless these people helping others, they are helping people at the ground level, god bless them

The cost of living crisis is heartbreaking. God bless people that are struggling ❤️

its disgusting. we going backwards in this day and age it shouldn’t be like this.

Unless the people actually rise up, this will continue. The every day person is being screwed over by a system that prioritises corporate greed. Rise up. People are protesting in Europe, about the costs of living, but the media never shows it. Go figure...its abhorrent this mother should have to worry about her beautiful baby's health.

Very soon the country would be gathering to cheer the King in his Coronation Ceremony ! Long Live the King ..... that's simply medeival mindset ! God knows how much energy is being needed to keep the Buckingham palace warm !

i’ve notice in my house knocking off the heating my house is going damp people need to turn on their heating to dry their homes.

I'm very worried about the ill and the elderly this winter, it's going to be very tough on them. I live on my own so I don't have my heating on hardly. I wear jumpers and have a quilt around me on my seat, and I'm quite happy because I live alone... It's going to be awful this winter for some, we all need to check in our elderly neighbours if we have them, because they will need help...x

My gas and electric came up to £400 without me turning the gas on ..i work husband work n 3 kids really struggle for everyone in the UK

This is what happened in Romania under Chaushesku. The only difference is in UK is done democratically.

this country is now back in the Charles Dickens times, people with black missing teeth because the working class cannot access dentist, squalid living conditions, ill health because of length of NHS waiting times, not even basic eating or heating, while the government and the illegal immigrants are living in comfort, no worry about heating bills, three meals a day, life is good for them. this UK needs a shake up, we need a general election and a complete new government.

This is utterly shameful, and all to feed the bank accounts of shareholders.

That poor old man, sitting alone, has really upset me. What the hell has happened to Britain?edit: that young Mother seems lovely and caring, and has a good head on her shoulders.

I’m in tears reading this. So unnecessary. Doesn’t have to be this way. A former great nation. So sad beyond words. I saw so much wealth on display at the Queens funeral.

i grew up without heating. we used to wear two gowns and two winter socks and sleep under multiple blankets but even so, some nights it was so cold that my arms and legs and FEET would just never warm. and people forget about the damp when you cant use the heating. i would get into bed at night and it just felt sweaty, and would get worse as my body heat warmed the damp blankets. a very uncomfortable way to live and it simply shouldn't happen nowadays, especially considering the only reason the prices have gone up THIS high is because the oil and gas giants are price gouging. Yes an increase was necessary due to the current conflict in Ukraine, bit not this much. Nowhere near this much. They're robbing us blind and the government is doing nothing to punish them or reign them in

Oh I just want to give that young mum a hug. I hope she and bubba are ok ❤❤

Absolutely disgusting that people have to leave their homes just to keep warm.

I am in Canada, I grew up with no heat, we dressed warm. It wasnt pleasant but we survived. It IS a shame that the UK govt cares NOTHING for its people in this day and age there is no excuse for this, and also they allow poor in council flats to go without electricity so they have no way to cook. and to let in so many foreigners doesnt help. Its an island, not like Canada where we have lots of land, and there is only so much room there. they talked about putting the migrants in tents, well they will have to put citizens in tents too if this keeps up.

It is a disgrace that this should happen in a prosperous western Country that actually has it's own access to oil and Gas in the North Sea etc. The people that are only on state pensions and have to decide whether to heat or eat are on less than £8,500 per year which is individual state pension..compare that to their local MPS salary and their very generous pensions they can all look forward too! Not every old person has another independant income or private pension! I know because I am one of them, I worked for 20 years as a foster carer for local authority and left without a work pension (classed as self employed for that purpose!).Why does this Country just pay lip service to equality, there is no equality for the poor and needy in this Country,. True religion is to look after the poor and needy and especially to provide for the widows and Orphans in their distress! It is not happening in the UK, they are getting left behind! How many people on the streets are ex-care leavers? Even the government fuel handouts 2022 are still only a small percentage of the massive fuel increases for most families, it is not enough! I think before being employed as a member of parliament all politicians should serve a 3 year apprenticeship living on minimum wage in the areas they will serve, they might just be qualified then, to represent us as true public servants .

That young mother has an amazing strength, just appreciating that there is a place to go to keep warm and chat with others. There will be others, though, who are too far away from warming centers to take advantage of them. Others may not avail themselves of them because they are more private individuals. To think that a populace must huddle in public buildings just to keep warm and maybe get a bag of donated food when they are working and just trying to survive. We are becoming more third world every day, while the money is being spent on war and weapons is simply immoral and stupid. The fat cats bet on Wall Street with their money, and corporations are all marching to similar tunes. The people, once again, get left in the dirt.

What is the point of these people have homes but no heat to live in them. This is a human crisis! It’s happening amongst all industrialized “rich” nations. There is only one rich though. The corporations and their CEO’s that can pay criminally low wages to increase their profits! We don’t take care of our seniors, disabled, veterans and mothers who are at home and can’t work because they are raising young children. They are not lazy! The have worked, they have served, they are raising the next generation. They deserve to be treated as a human being with dignity and deserve to have heat! Goddammit!

To everyone you are not alone , you are loved ❤

I'm very sorry for all those affected. Prices are rising all over the world for different things, but utilities going up so dramatically in the UK is devastating. ~I wish you all well from Canada 🇨🇦

Prayers for all these people 🥺

Our grandparents lived through the great depression. The US & UK experienced tremendous growth & prosperity post WWII. The good times are over. The dream is dead. Current management can't get it together. History could repeat very soon. Providing for our families becomes more difficult each month.

I cant afford to put my heating on and its cold , im dreading it getting colder 😩

Sorry but I vehemently oppose 'warm spaces'. It's not even a band aid solution and these places are open a few hours at best a day and not when it's actually 'cold cold' whilst putting much more strain on public and third sector services whilst the government turn a blind eye. These places are thinking they are doing good but the reality is, it's the cheapest way to give PR. In these situations (and I fall into that bracket too) - preparedness and shopping around is key. Stop normalising such crap as if we should expect this for decades to come from our dickensian government

Sitting here in south west florida without electricity still...no the power is up but due to damage and loss of income and no fema funding coming in yet we cant get our power back on. It is sweltering for November but i wont sweat to death so i am sending thoughts and prayers to those who cant keep the electric on this winter🙏 Super Stressful this 2022 STAY STRONG PEOPLE 🤘🏾🤗💪🏾💗

A cost of living crisis results from labor being chronically underpaid. Cost of living crisis is a euphemism for poverty.

It’s time to rise and make the forgotten voices heard

This breaks my heart.its a blessing to be able to get a bit of food and stay warm yet people should be warm at home.

I left UK last year with my family, before the war,the prices at that time was already rising, I think we made the right choice,hope the British people stay safe 🙏 and warm,I have to much love for your country where I did many friends and learned a lot about life ,I had my second baby in uk ,I worked many nights at home cares , special needed children, all this make me a better person, I'm grateful for everything. Stay strong Best wishes from Brazil

If most people had critical thinking brains in their heads, then the collective rage in their hearts would change the world. Neither seem to be present, despite how fast many things are going down hill globally. The enemy must have succeeded in confusing, dividing and conquering to so easily enslave people without a fight.

God love everyone going through this 💔 How very sad living this way in 2022😥

This is shameful on the UK government.

This should not have too exist!!! What an absolute disgrace in a western country!! I am totally shocked by this and disgusted by the government who have let this happen by their policies.

Remember, there's always plenty of money out there, it's just in the wrong pockets.

Can anyone actually see a way that the UK is going to get out of this whole mess? I cannot see a way out, the country as a whole is up to the eyeballs in debt, everybody moaning, strikes, NHS in meltdown, food banks, warm banks, mortgage rates up, private rent going up and so many people dependent on state help. I know it sounds grim & it is, the question is how will we get out of this turmoil?

How has the UK managed to get to the point of people not being able to afford to pay for basic energy use? There is hardly any insulation in UK homes and it’s damp in the winter, the heat in the house just goes out through the walls and roof.

Britain’s resourcefulness always amazes me. They can get through misery like no other.

It's just horrendous! No simple people should suffer so much. I hope every international quarrels will end soon and you will live peacefully

Holy mackerel. I’m In New Zealand and didn’t know things were like this overseas. In England!

Parent who cannot afford bills and food may feel like they have to give up their children to care homes. How sad to repeat these times.

It's not a new idea to go to public places that are warm. I did this when my son was in school and I worked nights while his step dad was in work during the day. I'd sit in the library for hours reading and using the computer. You could have a tea or coffee for 20p or bring a flask. It's frustrating with both of us working we struggled to pay bills back then. Now things are completely ridiculous. Yet the rich stay rich and and working families are poor. 😥

This is absolutely evil. In this time, in a first world country, this should not be happening.

The rich just keep price gouging and getting richer.

People who lived in Western nations in the late 20th century would find the current state of the West horrifying.

Ive read that electricity and water is being shut off and denied to paying renters. Shut off at random times so that the ill or people with diff work schedules can’t bathe or have heat, these are PAYING renters

This is so sad I'm really sorry for what these people are going through

The times we are living in are definitely challenging

We grew up without central heating & used hot water bottles to warm our beds up . If cold of an evening we would snuggle up in a blanket. The lounge would be cosy when we had a log fire. Filling the flask with boiling water is a really good idea for hot drinks or soup later on. When we didn't have much money we would make delicious healthy meals like chicken stir fry, pasta bake, curry, shepherd's pie that go a long way . My husband could make 1 chicken do 10 meals including a tasty chicken & sweetcorn soup. The last few years we only had a small balcony but managed to grow spinach, tomatoes, radishes, strawberries, chives, mint even a capsicum. It's worth doing to add healthy food to your meals.

I was born in the UK, and it was completely normal that our house never had any heating. But I can say that we had plenty of blankets one the beds. I will never forget always quickly jumping under the sheets and curling up into a ball to hold on to body heat, and then wait until the sheets warm up before uncurling.

I am without heating and on a 1.8w Bulb just to see, my luxury is the internet , I dont have a TV anymore as I cannot afford the license . I can barely afford to eat . I dont smoke or drink or do drugs but I DO work . Majority of my money goes out in bills . TIP: If you can , invest in a good quality flask and when you have boiled the kettle for a cuppa put the remaining hot water in the flask. This way , water and gas is not being wasted to give a little hot water from the tap . I can fill a sink full of water before it starts to come through warm. Total waste. its surprising how little hot water you need to do the pots. After I have done the pots I can top up the flask with the kettle after making evening drinks . I take the flask upstairs and use it to get a wash on the night and in the morning . Its an investment but it DOES save lots of water and gas being wasted and unlike running the tap its INSTANT !

I think families and neighbors and friends will be living together again like in old days, you cannot manage otherwise

This lasts as long as you ALLOW it and you do

They’re wearing coats inside at the warming center. This seems insane to me that these people cannot heat their own apartments.

Yup, so much for the 'developed ' world, the UK will suddenly remember why they built an empire

The UK is a poor country with some rich people. The money is there. Its just not distributed in the right way.

It's absolutely disgraceful to leave people suffering like this yet their taking migrant's in costing millions absolutely no sense whatsoever

NO EXCUSE FOR THIS SUFFERING

The government needs to get off its behind and FIX THIS. There's no desire or duty of care. 👎👎

I wish I could adopt that family..no one should have to face that.

I am so sorry to read how you are making the best of life at the start of Winter. I am in Cape Town and today, i needed one, good quality brown bread, 2litres of full cream milk, a 50 gr, packet of baking powder, and 750 ml bottle of Sunflower oil. This added up to R91.95. which is about 4£'s. I gave cashier a R100 note so my change was R8.10.

Help your CITIZENS first!!!!

British people at risk of freezing yet people who enter the country illegally are fed, clothed and kept in warm hotels, all at tax payers expense, the government should be doing the same for the British people who need it 🙄

This disgusting in the twenty first century in Britain, food banks now warm spaces, while companies are making huge profits.

The government couldn’t care less, their motto is I’m ok Jack!!!!!!!!

I wish the King would assist his subjects

In the 1980s this situation was considered 3rd world - now its UK and greed of the UK wealthy - but where would they be without the UK poorest to do the work? If they test this \i think they may soon find they themselves ruined?????

It is shameful that so many need help... however it is great that programs such as these are there to assist...

People getting poorer, while corporations and billionaires are getting bigger...more directly involved in legislation...and reporting record profits. I don't think that's a coincidence.

The Kelurgi Plan marches on.

It is a good idea but really the government needs to get a grip. They cannot pay tax payer money to keep illegal migrants in 4 and 5 star hotels with meals and heat while this happens to citizens. Utter disgrace.

I feel really sorry for the people suffering like this. It's horrifying. We're not rich by any means, we have to rely on a Universal Credit top up although my husband works full time. The help we've had with Cost of Living payments and the £400 energy top up has meant that we haven't had to suffer like this, and for that I'm grateful. Although I can say that since moving out of a poorly insulated new build property that only had electric heating to a smaller gas heated property that is well insulated it has meant that we don't ever put the heating on at the moment anyway and that has probably saved us a lot. I used to think that people in a bad way were only in that position because they aren't spending wisely, are smoking, drinking and have debts up to their ears, and although that may still be the case, I feel for those who aren't doing any of the above and are still suffering. I think it does help that we're really frugal people. We definitely wouldn't survive if we had debts to pay off each month, if either of us had to fund bad habits, if we were picky eaters or materialistic. We deny ourselves and our children a lot compared to the average household, but we're still incredibly blessed and have so much, and are grateful for what we do have. We're also nearly 6 in a small 2 bed flat, but we're happy where we are and our children are all still young and get by sharing a small bedroom together. We have no plans to move anytime soon and don't really see the fuss or the need to do so. I only hope that things get better for people out there.

Moving into one room and using a space heater for 3 hours/day basically keeps us warm. Blanket + microfiber on top works to keep us cozy overnight.

These warm spaces seem like a great place to organize support like in ww2. Learn to make quilts really warm (wool), buy in bulk splitting with large groups, learn to cook good food for very little money. Learn to raise rabbits and how to process them and use the furs. Wish I could be there to help with any tips I have. I’ve spent 15 years learning skills to be comfortable through another Great Depression. Appreciate and learn from the elderly people who come to stay warm!!! They def know things that can help!!

They don't want you to talk about rent prices. If not for high rents, there would be no cost of living crisis.

It would be interesting for someone to do a study on how interpersonal interactions change through socializing in these small neighborhood spaces. In a way it may have the unintended consequence of bringing those people closer together and allowing them to communicate on a level that they missed during the pandemic.

With as much is paid to the monarchy, this is what they watch happen to their own people. This is very sad and disgraceful. King Charles needs to fork over some of his haul so his subjects won't freeze to death.

This is where the system of Corporate Fascism is leading, you need to become politically aware and to get out and vote.

No way should this be tolerated !

If heating centers become crowded there is a chance that they can become infectious spaces too. I'd use a mask at the least. I am sorry that Great Brittain and Europe are suffering. In the United States prices have gone up drastically as well and food is getting hard to afford. I don't use the heat or air conditioning in my apartment except to heat the bathroom for baths. We are on water restriction also so that's a thing for us too. I bundle up. There are blankets on chairs and sofas. My bed is so heavy with blankets it's hard to turn over and flannel sheets are a blessing. Thankfully it doesn't hit freezing here very often, and I can get by in winter but summers are really tough. We sometimes get 100 degree days for a week here. That's hot!

My husband had a meeting with the bank the other day to go over our mortgage and even the guy working in the bank said he and his wife (who had another high paying job) are struggling !! Like even if you have a high paying job nowadays it doesnt necessary mean your safe 😓😥😮

Why dont you ask your King to help? Im sure Buckingham Palace is warm enough and spacious!