Dudley MP Sonia Kumar has praised volunteers helping people beat the cost of living crisis as the best in the borough. During National Volunteers Week, she visited FoodCycle at St Francis' Church in Dudley, a charity that fights loneliness and food insecurity.
Volunteer Visit
On May 26, Ms Kumar helped out at FoodCycle, which is now in its fourth year. The charity provides food, support, and companionship for people in a region hit hard by the cost of living crisis.
Ms Kumar said: "It was a privilege to spend time with the fantastic volunteers who give up their time to help others and create such a warm, welcoming environment for local residents. As we celebrate National Volunteers' Week, I wanted not only to thank them, but also to get involved directly - which is why I'm delighted to now be a registered FoodCycle volunteer myself."
She added: "Projects like this show the very best of Dudley: people coming together to support one another."
Deprivation in Dudley
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Dudley is the 64th worst-off of 316 local authority areas in England. In 2019, 15.6 percent of the population were income deprived. The ONS breaks down the data into 201 Dudley borough neighbourhoods, which demonstrates that 59 are among the 20 percent most income deprived in England.
Low incomes are linked with poor health. According to the ONS, in 2021 Dudley ranked in the bottom 30 percent in England on its Health Index, which measures categories ranging from physical and mental health to living conditions and access to green space.
Food Bank Use
In a survey for Black Country Foodbank published in February 2026, Healthwatch Dudley said: "It became clear that the majority of people who use BCFB do not do so on a short-term basis to get through a point of crisis. Instead, many people experience long-term financial hardship and food bank use has become a long-term solution to providing for themselves and their family."
The survey noted that ill-health or disability was a common reason for long-term food bank use. Welfare provided to people with unavoidable health conditions was often insufficient to meet basic needs. Another group of people who regularly attend food banks are asylum seekers and refugees. Without permission to enter employment, these groups struggle to survive on the money provided to them while they move through the asylum process.
Government Response
The UK government says it is tackling poverty with measures including encouraging economic growth, increasing the living wage, and introducing more free child care, while taking steps to bring down the cost of everyday essentials.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "We now have the fastest growing economy in the G7, net migration has fallen, and NHS waiting lists are at their lowest level in three and a half years. Our plan is working. And as summer begins, we are going further to bring down the cost of living and make life easier for families, so they have more room to enjoy it."
He added: "This government will keep pushing forward to deliver the change the country voted for."
