Families in Rawmarsh, a town in the constituency of Chancellor John Healey, are facing increasing financial difficulties due to the rising cost of living, according to a local charity. Rawmarsh East and Rawmarsh West, two of the area’s wards, have levels of deprivation significantly higher than both the borough and national averages. In fact, parts of Rawmarsh are among the top 20% of the most deprived areas in England. While Healey has spoken publicly about supporting local businesses, families hoping for direct financial assistance will have to wait until the upcoming budget announcement at the end of next month to see if any help is on the way. Leomi White, a project coordinator at Activate Rawmarsh, a local charity, explained that working families on low incomes are struggling to afford basic expenses and are missing out on support programs like free school meals and subsidized holiday activities. "Everyone always comments on food prices," she said, noting that a supermarket box of cereal can now cost nearly £7. "As the years have gone on, everything's become more expensive. But we are not earning enough. Families just can't keep up." White added that the charity supports not only families receiving benefits but also those who are just above the threshold to qualify for assistance. "They are being hit hard," she said. "They are working and getting no help from anywhere." One such family is Zoe Hatt, a 36-year-old single mother who works part-time and is considering applying for Universal Credit. Even if she successfully claims the benefit, she says it will still be difficult to cover her expenses. "I enjoy my job, but I may need to look for another one because the money I earn isn't covering the bills," she said. "I don't get support with any of my bills apart from council tax. Even on a low income I'm not entitled to free school meals. My anxiety is hitting the roof with finances and trying to bring up a child. It's a big struggle." White called for more government support for working families living on the edge of financial hardship. She highlighted the government’s holiday activities and food program, which helps children who receive free school meals. "It's absolutely fantastic for those children," she said, "but working families have to pay for childcare or clubs over summer while they work." She emphasized that while she does not want to diminish the importance of supporting children on free school meals, all children should have access to summer programs. "It's actually the children from working families who are missing out on these nice summer clubs," she said. The BBC has contacted the Department for Work and Pensions for a response to these concerns.