The Budget comes at a time when public services continue to face significant pressures and demand for support remains high, particularly for people experiencing homelessness, financial hardship and complex health and social care needs.
Responding to the Budget announcement, Turning Point chief executive Julie Bass said:
“We welcome the government's measures to help ease cost-of-living pressures, increase social housing, and devolve greater power and resources to local communities.
“The additional £432 million announced this week to address rough sleeping is particularly encouraging, and we support the ambition to ensure everyone has access to safe accommodation this Christmas.
“Turning Point supports this increase to the National Living Wage, building on the government's recent positive steps in raising pay for low-paid workers. It must, however, be recognised that this is another material payroll pressure for social care providers and this increase must therefore be met with appropriate funding. Unless local authority contract rates are uplifted to reflect these rising employment costs, providers will face more growing financial pressures that could undermine the sustainability of essential services.”
For more information on the Budget announcement, click here.