Millions of Britons are engaging in "prepping" for potential major disruptive events by keeping cash at home, stockpiling tinned goods, and ensuring they have battery-powered torches, according to new data from Link, the UK's ATM network.
Rising Concerns Drive Contingency Planning
With ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, increasing frequency of extreme weather, and warnings about cyber-attacks threatening UK infrastructure, many people feel the world has become more dangerous. Some are preparing for bank IT failures, natural disasters, or even societal collapse. UK experts have advised households to maintain an emergency food supply.
Survey Findings on Preparedness Actions
Link surveyed over 2,000 UK adults. When asked what they would do if card and mobile payments stopped working, 54% said they would withdraw cash from an ATM, 46% would use home food supplies, 41% would use cash on hand, 36% would use cash at home, and 31% would shop online. Notably, 15% would rely on a dedicated stash of banknotes and coins.
Regarding current preparations, 49% have battery-powered items like torches, 47% stock tinned goods, 37% keep a power bank, 20% have a portable gas hob, 15% own an analogue radio, and 17% have a cash stash at home. Only 27% have done nothing to prepare.
Recent Increase in Prepping
Of those who have taken preparatory actions, 23% did so within the last three months. Graham Mott, Link's director of strategy, noted that cash plays a growing role in resilience planning amid public concern over power outages, cyber-attacks, and payment disruptions.
The UK government's Prepare website recommends emergency items like tinned food, bottled water, a first aid kit, torches, radios, and power banks. Specialist prepper shops have also seen a boom since the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The survey, conducted by YouGov in March, included 2,137 people and was weighted to represent all UK adults.
