London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Mar 22, 2023

Cost of living: The hidden poverty in England's least deprived area

Cost of living: The hidden poverty in England's least deprived area

Christmas is looking "cold and very, very bleak", says Anne-Marie, a domestic abuse survivor who volunteers at her village's toy library.

She is one of a number of people who use the food bank in Prestwood, Buckinghamshire, part of which is officially England's least deprived area.

The prime minister's country residence - Chequers - sits less than three miles (5km) away.

Anne-Marie, whose energy bills have tripled, has occasionally seen the prime minister driving through the village.

"You've got the two cars and you've got the prime minister," she says. "You've got the motorbikes that go out first. That's great when you see them living the life that you don't have."

The government's Indices of Multiple Deprivation uses seven categories to assess deprivation levels across the country including income, employment and people's health.

While Jaywick in Essex and Blackpool are the country's most deprived areas, the northern part of Prestwood sits at the opposite end of the spectrum.

But it does not feel that way to some who live in Prestwood.


'We're very much hidden'
Sam and Anne-Marie are both regular users of the Prestwood foodbank


Like Anne-Marie, Sam also uses the village food bank, volunteers at the toy library and is struggling to make ends meet on benefits.

Sam says she has had to borrow money to cover the cost of looking after her two children.

"Drive around Prestwood and walk around you can see beautiful houses, some very lovely areas," she says.

"But there are places like where I live that is very deprived and I do feel that there is a major gap.

"I'm borrowing money, unfortunately, which is going to put me into debt.

"I can only speak about what I see, and where I live I feel like we're very much hidden."

She says her financial worries are affecting her mental health.

"It's been a very hard time, especially with Christmas coming up. You don't want to let your children down.

"And keeping the heating on in this cold weather - so, electric, gas, all of that - the cost is a lot higher than it was.

"It's a very big struggle."


'Heartbreaking'
Local head teacher Amanda Cook says many residents are not aware of the deprivation in their midst


The difficulties experienced by Anne-Marie and Sam seem all too familiar to Amanda Cook, the executive head teacher of the Prestwood Village Schools Federation.

Just over one in 10 of her 400 pupils are on free school meals, while 61 qualify for the Pupil Premium, which gives schools extra money to support the most disadvantaged children. And those numbers are rising, Ms Cook warns.

She says less well-off parents of pupils with special educational needs often struggle to obtain a diagnosis for their child and find "navigating the system" to access the right support difficult.

The wealth in the area entrenches inequality in accessing services, she says.

"If a family have the knowledge and the money," she says, "they can go and access a private paediatrician or obtain a private diagnosis and push it through."

The Prestwood food bank was set up after Ms Cook started meal packs for pupils in 2016. She describes the situation as "heartbreaking".

She recalls a councillor coming in for a meeting one day and spotting the meal pack bags in the school office.

"He wanted to know what it was about," she says. "He didn't realise there was that need in this area."

Ms Cook has written to the last five prime ministers asking them to pop into the school on their way through the village "to have a look what is going on in the real world".

Each time she has been told there was not enough time for such a visit to take place. The BBC approached No 10 for comment.


'Things can derail you'
Local head teacher Amanda Cook says many residents are not aware of the deprivation in their midst


Reverend Deiniol Heywood, the Rector of Prestwood and Great Hampden, has what he calls his "two pothole" theory of how even relatively well-off residents can face financial difficulties.

Housing in the village, he says, is expensive and many people will stretch themselves when buying a home.

It means their household budgets are often very tight.

"When you're living in a way where income and outgoings match very closely, things can derail you very easily," he says.

"It's a perennial thing on Facebook and things like that - people get very irate about potholes. You think well, 'Why did people get so concerned about potholes?'

"But the thing is, if you pop a tyre at the start of the month, probably all your excess cash for that month is going to go on fixing that tyre.

"But if it happens again in the same month, suddenly you lack the funds to sort that out and that pushes you into debt and immediately you've crossed that threshold."

Most of Prestwood falls within the top 10% of least deprived communities in England


'Data can mask the real experiences'
Councillor Peter Martin says the deprivation data can mask big disparities even in small areas


Peter Martin represents the Great Missenden ward, which includes Prestwood, on Buckinghamshire Council.

Asked about Prestwood's "least deprived" status, he says: "Statistics like this are not always helpful as they can never tell the whole story of a particular area."

"While we don't dispute the findings of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation around this very localised area, the reality for many Prestwood residents is very different.

"It's an area with some affluent households and is also home to many people and families facing significant struggle and hardship.

"This is why resources such as the local food bank are still vitally needed in places like this. In some ways the headline data can mask the real experiences of individual households and we have to make the case even more strongly as to why they still need resource and support."


'Two worlds colliding'
Fran McLean is the families worker based at Holy Trinity church in Prestwood


Fran McLean works with some of the village's most deprived families as a support worker attached to the local church.

She says the hardship is focused in a particular area of the village which many local people are unaware of.

"The congregation here at Holy Trinity, their eyes were opened - they didn't think I needed to be doing that work because they didn't realise that the deprivation was there.

"My children go to a local school and they were invited to a birthday party in a very big garden," she says. "I know that two children were there from (this area) - two worlds colliding - and how lovely that the friends could play together.

"But you have got such different families all at that one primary school.

"You've got a lot of wealth and then you've got a lot of need."

Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
Close
0:00
0:00
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
You're Beautiful - James Blunt (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda as asylum deal remains mired in legal challenges
You Are So Beautiful
Goldman Sachs cuts outlook for European bank debt over Credit Suisse crisis
Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
An old French tune (by Georges Brassens) Pomplamoose ft. John Schroeder
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
Sattahip Motor Show 20
Orbán Viktor: the restructuring of the power relations in the whole of Europe is taking place
SONATE AU CLAIR DE LUNE - Moonlight sonata
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
A kiss to build a dream on
The BBC problem about China
Wiz Khalifa - See You Again ft. Charlie Puth, Furious
Strikes-Hit UK Pledges 94 Billion Euros In Cost-Of-Living Budget
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
Mean Blues
"Will Fly Wherever International Law Allows": US Warns Russia After Drone Incident
La Chansonnette
UK face biggest fall in spending power for 70 years
Pattaya Addicts
Jeremy Hunt insists his Budget will get young parents and over-50s back into work
Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
Dream a little dream of me
Announcing GPT-4
Tu Vuo' Fa' L'Americano - Hetty & the Jazzato Band
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
Unchained Melody sung like you've NEVER heard!
Drew Barrymore
Dave Brubeck - Take Five
China is calling out the US, UK, and Australia on their submarine pact, claiming they are going further down a dangerous road
Édith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (Sofie)
A brief banking situation report
Rondo Alla Turca
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Kiss of fire
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Amadeus violin cover instrumental)
'No relation to the American SVB': India's SVC Bank acts to calm depositors amid brand name confusion.
Tom Jones - I´ll Never Fall In Love Again 1967, 1989, 2001
Good news: The U.S. government is now guaranteeing all deposits, held by, Silicon Valley Bank, and the funds are available as of today
Israel Cachao López - Guajira Clásica
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
Edward Maya - Stereo Love (feat. Vika Jigulina) (Extended Mix)
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
Strauss - Radetzky March - Karajan
Saudi Arabia has announced a major breakthrough in diplomacy with Iran after two years of intense talks
La vie en rose
BBC Director General, Tim Davie, has apologized, but not resigned, yet, following the disruption of sports programmes over the weekend
Despacito (Piano Cover) - Peter Bence
A Mississippian man, who was once considered a “ticking time bomb,” has lost a whopping 165 kilograms! What motivated this incredible transformation?
The Temptations - My Girl (Smokey Robinson Tribute) 2006 Kennedy Cent
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
Orlando Cachaito Lopez Redencion
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
Edith Piaf - NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
RADETZKY MARCH-2008-Wien, New Year Concert
Fitness scam
Only you (And you alone)
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
Beautiful in White x Canon in D (Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)
A primitive judge in Australia sparked outrage when he told a breastfeeding woman to leave his courtroom for being “a distraction"
Strangers In The Night
Barcelona is feeling the heat as they face corruption charges over payments to former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
Charles Aznavour - La Boheme
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
Summer time
Watch: “They are wounded but unbowed, unbreakable.”
Sting and Stevie Wonder - Fragile (from Sting's 60th birthday concert)
Silicon Valley Bank: Struggles Threaten Tech Startup Ecosystem"
Aux Champs Elysees
The unelected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an immigrant himself, defends new controversial crackdown on illegal migration
Stand By Me - Ben E. King (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Old clip of Bill Gates saying Ukraine is a big, fat, corrupt sinkhole is going viral
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) – Avalon Jazz Band
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
She
Motorist fined £650 after council ‘paints disabled bay around his car
Nathalie Song by Enzo Petrachi Stjepan Hauser Cello
Brexit Deal Falls Short: UK Regains Few Pre-Brexit Benefits
Shape of My Heart - Sting (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
Radiohead - Creep
Brexit is done (sort of), again
Quizás,Quizás,Quizás - Andrea Bocelli - Jennifer Lopez
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Multi-Couples
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
Pentatonix Havana
JPMorgan has become the first City of London forecaster to predict that Britain will stay out of recession in 2023
Paula Cole - Autumn Leaves
How do stolen goods end up on Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace?
Oscar Benton Bensonhurst Blues
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
OH NANANA vs ABUSADAMENTE
Nina Simone - ”I Put A Spell On You”. Vezi aici cum cântă Jeremy Ragsd
NIGHTWISH - The Phantom Of The Opera
Motorshow 2016 Tanjay Negros Oriental
Monica Bellucci - Ti Amo
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Milena The Voice France 2018
Michael Buble (Help Me Make It Through The Night) feat Loren Allred
Memories Canon In D - Maroon 5 (Boyce Avenue piano acoustic cover)
Matteo Simoni - Marina
Maroon 5 - One More Night
Maroon 5 - Memories
Mark Knopfler - Brothers In Arms (Berlin 2007 Live)
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Romeo And Juliet (Real Live Roadrunni
Marina, Marina - The LUCKY DUCKIES intimist live concert at Guimarães
Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On Mauranne The Voice France 2016
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet - Joslin - Henri Mancini, Nino Rota
LoLa & Hauser - Love Story
Linkin Park Jay-Z - Numb Encore (Live 8 2005)
Hallelujah Mennel Ibtissem, The Voice France Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
Leonard Cohen & Natasha Rostova - Dance me to the end of love
La casa de papel - Bella Ciao
La Camisa Negra
L'italiano (Toto Cutugno) - The Gypsy Queens
Juanes - La Camisa Negra
Jonathan and Charlotte - Britain's Got Talent 2012 Live Semi Final - U
John Powell - Assassin's Tango
Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On (LIVE in Dortmund)
Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart 2002 Live
Joe Cocker - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Jay Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind LIVE
Jason Mraz - Im Yours (live)
Jarrod Radnich - Bohemian Rhapsody - Virtuosic Piano Solo
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
James Blunt - You're Beautiful & Bonfire Heart (Live at The Nobel Peac)
If You Go Away - Helen Merrill & Stan Getz (Tribute to Virna Lisi)
I'LL BE MISSING YOU
I Say a Little Prayer
Hotel California ( Eagles ) 1994 Live
Historia de un amor - Luz Casal. Vezi interpretarea Biancăi Sumanariu
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover) on Spot
Heart - Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin - Kennedy Center Honors
HAVANA by Camila Cabello Zumba Pre Cooldown TML Crew Kramer Pastra
HAUSER and Señorita - I Will Always Love You
HAUSER - Waka Waka
HAUSER - Sway
HAUSER - Lambada
HAUSER - Historia de un Amor
HAUSER - Despacito
Great Pretender
Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice Samba to 'Volare' - Strictly Come
Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues
GIPSY KINGS VOLARE Penelope Cruz
Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song
French Latino - Historia de un Amor
For A Few Dollars More The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Live)
Flashdance • What a Feeling • Irene Cara
Filip Rudan - “Someone You Loved” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sez
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Enya - Only Time
Enrique Iglesias - Bailando (English Version) ft. Sean Paul
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos
Elena Yerevan Historia de un amor
Ed Sheeran - Shape of You (Official Music Video)
Ed Sheeran - Perfect Symphony [with Andrea Bocelli]
Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Official Music Video)
Easy On Me - Adele (Boyce Avenue 90’s style piano acoustic cover) on S
ERA - Ameno
ELENA YEREVAN- Cancion Del Mariachi-IN STUDIO-2017 DPR
Dust In The Wind - Kansas (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Despacito x Shape Of You - Pentatonix
Deep Purple - Child In Time - Live (1970)
David Foster When A Man Loves A WomanIt's A Mans World (SealMichael Bo
Dance me to the end of Love ( Pi-Air Design )
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) [Official Music Video]
Conquest Of Paradise (Vangelis), played on Böhm Emporio organ
Cielito Lindo
Chico & The Gypsies - Bamboleo
Canción Del Mariachi - Antonio Banderas, Los Lobos • Desperado
Camila Cabello - Havana (Audio) ft. Young Thug
Camila Cabello - Havana ( cover by J.Fla )
California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas José Feliciano (Boyce Ave
Buster Benton - Money Is The Name of The Game
Hallelujah Pentatonix
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy (Official Music Video)
Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door Emilia The Voice Kids France
Besame Mucho - Cesaria Evora
Ben E. King - Stand by Me Sax Cover Alexandra Ilieva Thomann
Bella Ciao
Bella Ciao - INSTRUMENTAL
Beautiful in White x Canon in D (Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)
Bad Romance - Vintage 1920's Gatsby Style Lady Gaga Cover ft. Ariana Savalas & Sarah Reich(1)
BELLA CIAO 2020 - KARAOKE ITALIANO
BAMBOLEO - Gipsy Kings • Antonio Banderas, Katya Virshilas
BAILANDO (original)
Awesome Ukrainian yodeler - SOFIA SHKIDCHENKO (with English subtitles)
Avicii - The Nights
Atom - The Great Gig in the Sky
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Official Ly
Antonio Banderas - Cancion del Mariachi (Desperado)
André Rieu - Zorba's Dance (Sirtaki)
André Rieu - Can't Help Falling In Love
André Rieu & Mirusia - Ave Maria
Andrew Reyes Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down The Voice 2020 (
Andreas Kümmert Whiter Shade Of Pale The Voice of Germany 2013 Showd
And I Love You So
All About That Bass - Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Alan Walker - Faded (Piano Cover)
Ain't No Sunshine -- Bill Withers (cover by Canen 12 y.o.)
African music
Adriana Vidović - “Creep” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
Adriana Vidović - “Believer” Nokaut 3 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
A Fistful of Dollars - The Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Tuva
4 Beautiful Soundtracks Relaxing Piano [10min]
2CELLOS - Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
2CELLOS - Smooth Criminal (Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo)
2CELLOS - Smells Like Teen Spirit [Live at Sydney Opera House]
2CELLOS - Despacito [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
13 Year Old Girl Playing Il Silenzio (The Silence) - André Rieu
094.All About That Bass
00 - SADNESS PART 1
(Ghost) Riders In the Sky (American Outlaws Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams (Boyce Avenue ft. Conn
What a wonderful world
Moon river
×