WE are creating a mental health crisis as millions of people are left excluded from Government support during Covid-19 pandemic, campaign members say.

ExcludedUK is a volunteer-led campaign which aims to bring an end to the exclusions brought about by UK Government support grants.

Tim Smith is one member who started his job at ‘the wrong time’ back in March and was not eligible for financial support from the Government.

He now plays an active role in the ExcludedUK campaign along with other volunteers, to reach out to those who need support the most and who have ‘slipped through the cracks’.

He told the Leader: “We are creating a mental health crisis. There are three million people not eligible for any financial support from the government, but it goes beyond that because it affects their families also.

“We’ve had 12 members sadly take their own lives, but what about the people who haven’t found our support network? These people are at such a loss they feel there is no way out.

“People are tormented, they need help and for a lot of people, this is the first time they’ve experienced mental health challenges.

“These mental health scars are going to be long-term. People found out in March last year they would have to close their businesses. Nearly one year on and they still cannot get financial support.

“Government said if you can’t access furlough or SEISS you can get Universal Credit but 60% of those excluded aren’t eligible for UC for many reasons like they took out a pension or their partner works.

“Since the lockdown, it’s history repeating itself. So many people aren’t able to get any income whatsoever and I don’t understand why action hasn’t been taken.

“It’s going to lead to an awful lot of unemployment. Outgoings don’t change, it’s the income that does and it’s like a self-inflicting wound that’s getting bigger and bigger and all Government is doing is sticking a plaster on it.

“At some point I feel it'll cause the economy to bleed out and then we all struggle. We know Austerity killed, we've lost enough lives due to Covid, let's not lose more needlessly.”

“This won’t stop when the pandemic ends. Many businesses cannot keep running, being locked out of financial schemes. We were told they couldn’t save all jobs and all businesses, this isn’t about that anymore, it’s about saving lives.”

The campaign aims to end exclusions but also offers mental health support, financial advice, welfare advice, debt advice and more.

Tim, who is a chef, said when he lost his employment, he received nothing from UC due to being paid by his employer for the 12-days he worked and then had to wait until May for a full payment.

After moving back to Buckley, he has put his time and effort into raising awareness of the campaign and to help people through the pandemic.

The campaign has also raised £20,000 to help the most vulnerable who struggled to put food on the table over Christmas, assisting 140 during the festive period.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid-support-fundor https://www.excludeduk.org/donate

They also partnered with WeMakeEvents to raise £30,000 which 20% went to Crisis charity.

He added: “Many members are having to rely on foodbanks for the first time in their lives. It’s heart-breaking. We are all excluded but now some of us are managing people’s lives.

“We’ve noticed a severe decline in members' mental health, especially over Christmas. We do what we can to help but it’s all online and dealing with people we’ve never met which makes it more challenging.

“My situation has improved, I moved back to Buckley and have a roof over my head but there’s people losing homes because they have no income. It’s a really bad situation to be in. We were asked to stay home to save lives and protect the NHS, who would have done that if they knew by doing so they would lose their homes and need the NHS more than ever?

“This is damaging so many businesses and so many people. I don’t think people understand the severity of this, unless they have been left behind by the government. People need to be put before politics.

“People feel abandoned during a national crisis. Why isn’t the government doing more to help. They need to act fast.

“Welsh Government has done more in terms of offering financial support but so many are still falling through the gaps.

“The sheer damage that’s been done, not only businesses but mental health, this will be a crisis far into the future. Government is changing the goalposts all the time and is creating an even bigger divide than there already was.

“We are creating something awful. We are creating poverty, some can’t even afford to put food on the table.

“It makes me angry. We have had some success stories but the government need to do more to help their people.

“Our goal, we’ve had since the beginning, is parity. We want nothing more or less than what others have received and that’s fair. UC is not a solution, the welfare system is not support.

“You want thriving communities, Buckley used to be but if support is not forthcoming, businesses will go under and employees lose jobs, for some it will already be too late.

“We just want support.”

Tim added people are being left behind for ‘silly reasons’ such as being newly self-employed and don’t have three years history or new parents on maternity leave, the full list can be seen here https://www.excludeduk.org/excluded-taxpayers

To date, the campaign has 260 MPs from all parties as part of the All Party Parliamentary Group and has garnered support from metro mayors and John Caudwell.

A HM Treasury spokesperson said: “It’s very upsetting to hear of anyone taking their own life and our sympathies are with families and friends that are grieving.

“The government has done all it can to help as many people as possible, providing support worth over £280 billion.

“Funding is designed to target those who need it most and protect the taxpayer against fraud and abuse.”

For anyone struggling with mental health issues HM treasury said they encourage them to use services offered by organisations including Samaritans and Mind.

Flintshire County Council’s Chief Executive, Colin Everett, added the council responds to the pandemic by supporting communities.

He said: "It's the role of both Governments to set policy for the provision of financial support during the pandemic and who fund/determine the level of payments available under the benefits system.

“The Council has supported the prompt deployment of several Welsh Government grant schemes throughout the pandemic paying over 6,400 grants to date totalling £41.8 million.

“This is in addition to implementing the extended Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Relief meaning hundreds of additional businesses do not pay Business Rates for 2020/21. These grants have been issued to businesses who receive a Business Rates bill ranging from sole traders to larger companies.

“Additionally, the Council has administered schemes of discretionary grants for businesses who do not pay Business Rates, extending a lifeline to many more small local businesses who have either been forced to close or had a significant reduction in turnover due to the restrictions. Further information on current schemes and support can be found at www.flintshire.gov.uk

“We continue to assist households to meet the financial challenges and consequences of the pandemic. This support includes providing Council Tax Reduction Support to lower Council Tax bills for those whose income may have reduced, administering the £500 Self Isolation Support payment, and agreeing extended tailored payment arrangements with those struggling to pay their Council Tax.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson added: “We are committed to doing all we can to support businesses and people during the pandemic.

“Our package of business support complements that available from the UK Government and is the most generous in the UK. Since March more than £1.674bn has reached businesses with more applications being processed every day. We will continue to develop our package of support aligned to any necessary restrictions beyond February.

“We are also providing £40m as part of our Covid Commitment to support anyone who needs help to find work, education or training or to start their own business.

“As part of our Economic Resilience Fund, a discretionary grant fund has also established and provided to local authorities to support the likes of sole traders. To date more than 12,500 grants have been awarded and the fund remains open.”