The Cost of Living Crisis and Inclusion: Who’s Being Left Out?

By Samantha Stimpson (Founder & CEO: SLS 360)

Credit: Vitória Gonzalez, 2024

The cost of living crisis is often talked about in numbers: inflation, energy caps, rent increases. But behind the headlines are very human questions. Who can afford to take part in cultural life? Who can access opportunities? The arts? Go on holiday? Who gets left behind when costs rise and budgets tighten?

For people on low incomes, disabled communities, carers, or those in insecure work, the current pressures aren’t just about money. They are about choice, dignity, and participation. Being priced out of heating your home is devastating. But so is being priced out of social connection, professional development, or cultural spaces that bring joy and belonging.

While economic experts and aid organisations often frame the cost of living in terms of hunger, famine, or inflation, social scientists have paid it less attention. This means we sometimes miss how deeply it shapes people’s lives, emotions, and sense of dignity.

That’s why researchers are now calling for a broader view. One that connects the ‘big picture’ politics, global economics, humanitarian aid with the ‘small picture’ of daily life: family budgets, emotional wellbeing, and even the sensory experience of eating or heating a home.

Put simply, the cost of living isn’t just about numbers on a graph. It’s about how people live, survive, and make meaning in the face of rising prices.

When inclusion work is framed only as “nice to have,” it risks slipping down the priority list in tough times. Yet this is precisely when it matters most. Because exclusion compounds inequality. When organisations cut “extras” like outreach, access funds, or concessions, the people who need them most are the first to lose out.

So what can be done?

• Acknowledge the pressure: Be open with your communities about rising costs and the challenges you face.

• Target support: Think about who will feel the squeeze hardest and how you can adapt (e.g. payment plans, travel bursaries, flexible attendance options).

• Protect inclusion budgets: Even small, ring-fenced funds can make the difference between someone participating or being shut out.

• Foster empathy in teams: Encourage staff and volunteers to notice signs of financial stress in audiences, participants, or colleagues — and respond with care, not judgement.

The cost of living crisis is a shared challenge. But the impact is not evenly spread. Inclusion means recognising that, and acting so that no one is pushed further to the margins.

What we’re doing at SLS 360

SLS 360 supports organisations and individuals to be bold and brave in your efforts to affect positive change. For more information on SLS 360 and the I.D.E.A.L Network, visit www.sls360.org. You can also subscribe to receive our fortnightly audio cast, monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about special offers and events in the world of inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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