'We're seeing people who never needed support before': Pre-Christmas calls to SVP hit record high

SVP reports record demand for help as winter cost pressures intensify and energy credits end.

There was a surge in calls for help to the Society of St Vincent de Paul in the run-up to Christmas, as the total number of requests for assistance rose by 6% last year to a record 260,799.

In December alone, requests for help were 12% higher than the same month in 2024, as households faced severe pressure to meet costs during the winter period.