People who may have a difficult winter this year are being encouraged to join a protest at Stormont tomorrow, Tuesday December 14, at 1.00pm.
This winter has seen massive increases to energy prices as well as the loss of the £20 Universal Credit boost that became essential to many families during the pandemic.
In light of this, a Winter of Hardship protest has been called on the final day of the sitting of the Assembly before Christmas.
Organisers see this as their last chance to put pressure on the Executive to put measures in to help ease the burden on many families across Northern Ireland.
Derry City and Strabane District Councillor Shaun Harkin is encouraging those in Derry to make the trip to prove the seriousness of the situation.
He said: "We are urging people to back the protest at Stormont to make a direct call on the Executive to declare a hardship emergency. If there's no action on hardship, there should be no Stormont holiday recess.
"How can they go on holiday when families, individuals and children might have the lights and heat turned off during Christmas?
"The Executive should immediately put in place protections for the growing numbers of people who are being hammered by spiralling energy costs, the cut to Universal Credit, below inflation real term pay cuts and other rising costs.
"Food banks are overwhelmed and advice services are under immense strain.
"The last full Assembly sitting is scheduled for Tuesday December 14. If the Executive hasn't put emergency protections in place for people facing extreme hardship MLAs shouldn't be going on holiday.
"We are committed to a coordinated and sustained campaign across the north for a fundamental reordering of government priorities."
For more Derry news, visit our new site MyDerry.
