Point North Chairs Bank of England Citizens’ Panel in Darlington
At Point North, we work with hundreds of charities and community groups as well as businesses across County Durham, Tees Valley and the North East.
Every day, we hear how the cost of living is affecting their work, their staff and the people they support.
So, when our Chief Executive, Michelle Cooper, was invited to chair the Bank of England Citizens’ Panel in Darlington, we knew it was a valuable opportunity to bring some of those voices into the room.
The panel brought together policymakers, economists, charity leaders and local residents. It was a chance for the Bank of England to hear what’s really happening on the ground.
And what they heard was honest, heartfelt, and at times, difficult.
What are Citizens’ Panels?
The Citizens’ Panels are a way for the Bank of England to hear from the public about how their decisions are affecting them.
Attending a Citizens Panel means you can put your views directly to people who make decisions that affect you.
Local Insight, National Impact
Professor Alan Taylor, from the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, and Gareth Harrison, Deputy Agent for the North East, joined the event to hear directly from people living and working in our communities.
The conversation covered a range of topics including inflation, housing, interest rates, and the pressures facing both households and organisations.
Among those who shared their experience was Nicola Rahman-Knight, who runs a children’s nursery in Middlesbrough.
Like many others across the country, Nicola has seen costs rise significantly over the past year. Increases to the minimum wage, National Insurance contributions and food prices have all added additional financial pressure.
As a result the nursery responded by reducing its core hours and charging a premium for wraparound care.
“It breaks my heart,” Nicola said, “but it’s the only way we can survive.”
She explained that although staff are due to receive a pay increase in line with the minimum wage rise, the reduction in working hours means many will not see a real increase in their pay. “It’s hit us really hard.”
Nicola’s story is one we’ve heard from charity leaders across our region. It speaks to the wider challenges charities and community groups are facing.
Demand is high, budgets are stretched, and every decision involves trade-offs.
And it’s the same for households.
Barrie, a pharmacist, explained he’s having to work extra hours just to pay the bills.
“It has squeezed any type of spare income that I had,” he said. “The only option I had when my mortgage went up 18 months ago was to work more. You end up working more just to pay the bills and to keep your head above water.
“I’m now used to working those extra days, but I’ve got three teenage kids and they want to go to university. That will be another massive increase in costs that I’m going to have to absorb and that will probably mean my wife and me having to work even more hours just to get them through university.
“A few years ago I would have thought I’d have been able to help them get a car, go to uni, and help towards a house. Now I’ve had to change my expectations.”
The effects of economic policy
For the organisations we support, economic decisions don’t exist in isolation. Interest rates, inflation, wages, are policies that have direct consequences for how they operate day to day.
The panel also heard from young people who shared the pressures they face. One student explained she works both days of the weekend alongside her studies but is still unlikely to afford learning to drive. Others spoke about the housing market, and how ownership feels completely out of reach.
“It was interesting to hear from both landlords and tenants,” said Gareth Harrison, “especially about the impact of rental price inflation in the North East.”
This kind of insight, grounded in lived experience is essential to shaping more responsive policy.
“I know from my day job what a hugely challenging time it is for charities in the region. They’re facing high demand for their services, rising costs and more limited funding opportunities.
“The cost of living has been and remains very high, and that is forcing people to make some tough choices.”
A better today and a brighter tomorrow
As a place-based funder proudly rooted in the North East, we see our role not just as providing financial support, but also in bringing together people to have these conversations.
Our role is to make sure their voices are heard. To bring evidence and insight to the table. And to keep advocating for the conditions they need to build a better today and a brighter tomorrow.
The cost of living crisis continues to shape the choices charities, families and businesses have to make. And while some pressures may ease in time, right now local people and organisations are doing their best, but many are at breaking point.
