Data from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council suggests that 27 per cent of people in the district live in relative poverty, in comparison to 17 per cent in Northern Ireland. 

This data refers to the 2018-2022 period and the Council are now working towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy and Action Plan to tackle this issue.

Deirdre O’Connor (pictured) is the Council’s Anti-Poverty Officer, having been appointed in August of last year to provide support to those in the community who are finding it difficult to keep up with the increased cost of living.

Working in close collaboration with key stakeholders, and informed by engagement with those with a lived experience of poverty, Mrs. O’Connor explained: “While this long-term approach is critical and will work towards solving the root causes of poverty, the Council recognises the urgent need to respond to the great need within our community at this time.

“Many residents across the district are very vulnerable to rises in living costs, with some people facing extreme hardship.”

Last year, the Council undertook a scoping exercise with Community and Voluntary Sector Partners to ascertain the difficulties currently being faced within communities, and to identify any practical measures that could be taken to support people.

“The scoping study identified those living with disabilities, families with children and older people as being particularly affected,” said Mrs. O’Connor.

‘Primary concern’

“The primary concern was around household heating and energy costs. A significant number of respondents also indicated that the cost-of-living crisis is having an impact on people’s mental health, due to increased anxiety and stress.

“Housing costs, food insecurity and access to transport were also identified as notable concerns.

“The food banks in the area report rising demand, yet we know that food bank use very clearly does not represent the entirety of need – many more people appear to be facing serious hardship without such help.

“Working poverty is on the rise, and our schools are also increasingly concerned about ‘holiday hunger’, given the loss of holiday payments to families in receipt of free school meals.”

In response, a targeted £250,000 package of support was implemented by the Council in 2022/23 including a fuel support scheme; additional food support for children and young people; support for food banks; additional food support for older people; financial support for local community transport providers and local independent advice providers; a network of ‘warm spaces’, and additional financial support for community premises.

In July, councillors approved a further package of financial assistance for residents in this financial year to the value of £310,000, with funding support from the Department for Communities Hardship Fund.

“This programme of support, to be rolled out from autumn, will focus on the provision of a further fuel support scheme, a significant package of additional food support, to be distributed through schools and a range of charitable and community organisations.

“Crisis support by way of discretionary voucher payments will also be available through a small number of partners, including the Action for Children Family Support Hubs in Enniskillen and Omagh, and local independent advice providers.

“A target communications plan will be developed to support the delivery of these measures,” added Mrs. O’Connor.

With work ongoing in tackling the present challenges, Mrs. O’Connor said there are also other issues coming to the fore which are affecting those living the in area.

“It is now widely acknowledged that the cost-of-living crisis is evolving into a debt crisis, as people cannot afford the essentials and instead, are forced to turn to borrowing, by way of family and friends, overdrafts, credit cards, Buy Now Pay Later agreements, doorstep lenders and pay day loans.

“This scenario is borne out locally with both our local advice organisations reporting unprecedented levels of debt enquiries, including priority debts such as mortgage, rent and rates arrears.”

Both independent advice organisations, as well as charities such as Christians Against Poverty, have indicated an increase in clients being in a negative budget, where a person cannot meet their living costs, meaning there is no scope for correction; and almost all clients presenting have no savings.

‘Specific challenges’

Mrs. O’Connor continued: “There are also very specific challenges in a rural area, particularly in relation to transport poverty.

“Recent research carried out by the University of Ulster on behalf of the Council has provided additional evidence of geographical areas [in the Council district] which are potentially more at risk of food, fuel or transport poverty. This data will be used to target specific areas for support.”

The Council also recently commissioned two research reports, on Food and Fuel Poverty, and Transport Poverty.

This research provides additional evidence of geographical areas within the district that are at greater risk of poverty and will be used to target resources in specific areas.