RCT Council backs call for Essentials Guarantee in Universal Credit
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has voted in favour of a motion in support of the Essentials Guarantee, a campaign led by Trussell and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and championed by the foodbank networks in RCT, that calls for Universal Credit to be set at a level that ensures everyone can afford life’s essentials.
The motion, passed at the full council meeting on Wednesday, 25th June, highlights the need for further reform to the UK’s social security system to prevent people from being forced to turn to food banks to survive.
The decision makes RCT one of a growing number of councils across the UK, and the second in Wales, to support the campaign. The foodbank networks in RCT (Taff-Ely Foodbank, Pontypridd Foodbank, Rhondda Foodbank, and Merthyr Cynon Foodbank) have seen a substantial rise in the number of people needing emergency food parcels, with 16,634 parcels distributed in RCT in 2024/25, a 30.2% increase compared to 2019/20.
Currently, 5 in 6 low-income households receiving Universal Credit nationwide are unable to afford the essentials such as food, bills, and toiletries. The Essentials Guarantee campaign calls on the UK Government to ensure that social security provides a genuine safety net for all, so no one has to turn to food banks to get by.
Deputy Leader Councillor Maureen Webber BEM, who presented the motion, said, “All residents should have access to afford the basic essentials to live.”
A spokesperson for the food banks said, “We welcome the council’s endorsement of the Guarantee Our Essentials campaign. The motion represents a significant step forward and underscores the growing recognition of the importance of our campaign in Wales and across the UK.”
If you have experiences of hardship as a result of Universal Credit and would like to learn more about or get involved in the campaign, please contact Matthew Stevens at 07936 554850 or Matthew@taffely.foodbank.org.uk.
For further information or enquiries, please contact:
Matthew Stevens
Campaign Coordinator at Taff Ely Foodbank
07936 554850 or Matthew@taffely.foodbank.org.uk
Learn about Guarantee our Essentials
Taff-Ely Foodbank is working with foodbanks across the UK on the Guranatee our Essentials campaign. To learn more about it, check out Trussell's website.
