Cost of Living Challenges in St Helier Central
The number of families in Jersey relying on food banks has tripled over the past four years. Additionally, a representative of the island's Portuguese community reports that many members are relocating back to Portugal and Madeira due to the increasing cost of living.
These issues were highlighted during conversations with voters in St Helier Central, Jersey's second most populous district with 12,500 residents, as part of a BBC roadshow visiting every voting district ahead of the 2026 general election.
Patrick Lynch, head of Caritas Jersey, a charity supporting vulnerable islanders, noted that prior to the 2022 election, the food bank operated by St Vincent De Paul was assisting 195 families. Currently, that number has risen to 650 families.
"From 2022 and 2023 inflation and interest rates went up and a lot of people were seeing rent increases of 20-30%."
"So, with those increases in rent, those people on low wages whose salaries used to get them to the end of the month previously, no longer got them to the end of the month."
"Therefore, the only resort is to go to a foodbank because there literally is nothing left in the bank account."
Lynch described the cost of living as the predominant topic of the election but expressed concern that no clear or prompt solutions are being proposed.
"We would ask all candidates to commit to introducing a living wage over the lifetime of the next assembly.
So for somebody working 40 hours, that's an extra £1.51 for each of those 40 hours, that could be the difference between them getting to the end of the month or not."
It is noted that the living wage increased to £15.10 in January 2026, while the minimum wage rose to £13.59 in April 2026.
Costs Have Skyrocketed
Approximately 12% of the population in St Helier North originates from Portugal or Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal.
Claudia Alves, a community advocate born in Madeira, stated that a significant portion of the Portuguese community is now leaving Jersey and returning to Madeira, largely due to the rising cost of living.
"The costs in Jersey, especially with accommodation and food, has sky rocketed in the past decade and people are struggling to make ends meet,"
"I think the community now feels that Jersey doesn't have much left to offer, back in the 70s, 80s, 90s coming to Jersey was a symbol of empowerment for people because they were able to earn money that they couldn't do back home."
"In Madeira there has been an increase of job availability, which means that people now see a future back home, which they didn't see a few years ago, and they don't see a future in Jersey, so that is the shift."
Alves also highlighted the impact of Brexit on the community.
"Businesses are struggling to hire staff and with the restrictions put in place post-Brexit, its becoming harder to employ people that aren't Jersey residents already.
And because so many Portuguese residents are now moving back to Portugal, it's became hard to replace restaurant staff, construction staff and cleaning staff."
Patricia Czapka, a resident of St Helier Central, shared that the pressures of the cost of living have led her to consider relocating to the UK, particularly due to housing costs.
"One day I want to have a home not just a rental, I want to be able to relax in my own home, I want to be able to paint the walls, have a garden, have my own private parking space, I just want to be able to live in peace."
The general election is scheduled for Sunday, 7 June. The list of candidates standing in St Helier Central is available online.
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