The Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland through a major report from it’s Council on Social Responsibility, written in conjunction with The Trussell Trust and Christians Against Poverty has observed with great concern the continuous and ever deepening cost of living crisis.

It is all so apparent that many more individuals and families in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland are encountering real hardship as a result of increased energy costs, inflation, especially food price inflation, increases in National Insurance and public transport, as well as general travel costs.

The Methodist Church in Ireland is very exercised about the impact of poverty in all aspects for all people, but in particular the health and well-being of so many of those who are unemployed, homeless, disabled or in low-income families, especially those with children.

Whilst acknowledging recent well-thought-out and targeted pledges from the UK Exchequer and the previous NI Executive, it is our view that these interventions have been too slow, reactive and insufficient.

Conference calls for

1] All the political parties recently elected to the new NI Assembly to make the elimination of poverty the number one priority and to do everything in their power to get the Assembly and Executive functioning immediately so that measures can be put in place which will directly help the most affected by poverty in society.

2] The immediate implementation of those mitigations announced by the UK Exchequer which fall under its remit.

3] The implementation of the Anti-Poverty Strategy which was ready for Executive agreement prior to its collapse.

Conference also commends the partnership arrangement between the Council on Social Responsibility, Christians Against Poverty and the Trussell Trust as it seeks to encourage Methodists on the island of Ireland to pray, learn and act with regard to poverty.

Furthermore, Conference directs the Council on Social Responsibility to gather information and reflect prayerfully on the nature of poverty on the island of Ireland and to report to Conference next year on a series of evidenced-based recommendations to local administrations – north and south – and to the Methodist people with regard to reducing poverty as well as encouraging practical actions to support those most in need.

ENDS

12.6.22

Issued by: Rev. Roy Cooper (+44 (0)7710 945104)

Contact:
Rev. Dr. David Clements