Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to European gas prices reaching record highs, with charities struggling to cope with rising costs.
The conflict and subsequent sanctions could drive the price of oil to $150 a barrel, or £3 per litre, when households already dread the massive hike in the energy price cap set for April.
Gerard Woodhouse, councillor for County ward and chief executive of the L6 Community Centre, said: "It hasn't hit the people yet, and what they tend to do is, they wait until it hits them.
READ MORE: Energy bills, council tax and everything else that will cost more from next month
"Three months down the line, they get their first bill in and they can't pay it, and that's when the issue starts.
"We put classes on in the L6 Centre and we try and work with people who are really struggling. We try and get them into a rhythm of paying what they can of the bills, and we are quite successful on that.
"I just don't know if I can carry on running that course. Is there any point? How can I tell someone on benefits that their electricity is going to be going up by £1,000 a year, let's say. That's £100 a month.
"I just feel as if we're p***ing in the wind.
"We've tried to work with the government, but we're not getting anywhere. There's only so much that you can do. Whether we like it or not, the bills are going to go up.
"I'm dreading it and I live on my own, and I'm working. I would say I'm comfortable.
"We're seeing it in the shops and everything - petrol. I looking now at having to cut down the amount that our minibus can go out."
The very organisations helping the most vulnerable in society, who've been hammered by a decade of budget cuts, stagnant wages and rising prices, are themselves grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.
The L6 Centre might have to limit use of its free laundrette service, which costs £200 a week.
It could cut back on the amount of food given to people coming there for a hot meal, which might mean kids they keep off the street for an hour in the evening are roaming around outside.
Gerard worries a squeeze on services will have a knock-on effect on mental health and crime.
He's not alone in his concern that rising costs will push people over the edge.
Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: "Any further rises to already sky high energy bills are a huge concern to the millions of people facing fuel poverty.
"But any attempts to push all the responsibility for the energy bills crisis onto the Russian invasion does not give the whole picture.
"Any pain which is suffered by the public as a result of increased energy prices is a political decision by the UK Government.
"We have been warning for years that fuel poverty is a social justice crisis, a public health emergency and a national security priority, but the Government took little action.
"We now need urgent help for households in fuel poverty now combined with a long-term plan to improve energy efficiency of our homes and a sustainable, renewable-led, energy mix.
"The Government has talked about this for long enough, but fails to match words with action - the Chancellor's attempt to provide support for people through a "loans dressed up as grants" scheme is a prime example of this."
