Last month on the 13th March, the BPI attended the Resolve Poverty Conference in Manchester which focused on ‘working locally to end poverty nationally’. The event welcomed nearly 300 people and included sessions on several UK poverty-relevant topics ranging from housing support and infrastructure, to the national Child Poverty Strategy, to the impact and experience of poverty in the UK asylum system. It was an excellent and informative day and inspiring to be in a room with so many people working for a common goal – to end poverty.
Have a look at the agenda for the day then read on for the key points from the four sessions the BPI attended.
Session 1: Keynote – The state of affairs (UK Poverty)
Speakers: Carey Oppenheim (Strategic Project Lead, Nuffield Foundation), Danny Sriskandarajah (Chief Executive, New Economics Foundation)
Key Points:
We need a ‘child poverty lock’ – Carey Oppenheim emphasized the critical need to prioritize children in both local and national policies. She warned that without significant action, 1 in 3 children could be living in poverty by the end of the current government term. She advocated for the abolition of the benefit cap and the two-child benefit cap, whilst also highlighting the necessity of increased funding for early intervention programs like Sure Start (Sure Start has proven effective in reducing health disparities through prevention). She also suggested that we think about a ‘child lock’ – much like the ‘pension lock’ (or ‘triple lock’) which ensures that the state pension keeps up with the cost of living – to sustain a lasting child poverty strategy.
Extractive, shareholder-led economic strategies are detrimental – Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation, focused on the importance of localizing economic control and experimenting with cooperative models. He criticized the current extractive, shareholder-led economic strategies and suggested that bringing economic control back to localities could foster more sustainable and inclusive growth. Danny highlighted the disconnect between national and local agendas, stressing the need for more devolution to empower local communities. He pointed out that cooperatives have existed in Manchester for 200 years, demonstrating the potential for localized wealth-sharing models.
Not AI or tech, but people – Danny also discussed the concept of a “living income” experiment, exploring how benefits should not punish individuals for being disabled or out of work. He emphasized the opportunities for re-wiring the economy to prioritize people over technology – he said that, therefore, the central question is not how do we bring AI and tech into our state, but how do we bring people back in?
An embedded child poverty strategy is needed – Carey advocated for using the term “social security” rather than “welfare,” emphasizing the need to provide stability and security at an adequate level. She praised Scotland’s efforts in tackling child poverty, noting that Scotland has more power to implement effective policies. Carey argued that national policies should support local initiatives, creating a cohesive strategy to address child poverty that is embedded and not just a tick box exercise.
Well-being over GDP growth – Danny stressed the importance of protecting civil society to safeguard democracy. He highlighted the chronic underfunding of civil society and suggested reframing societal goals around wealth distribution. Danny proposed developing new metrics to measure progress beyond GDP growth – that the government should clearly outline and demonstrate progress on – focusing on distributional impacts and the well-being of communities. He warned that inequality is growing and called for a reset of societal values and for protecting civil society to be at the core of initiatives to ensure it has the resources to thrive, and for us not to sleep walk into a crisis.
An urgent need to address poverty and inequality – Overall, the keynote session underscored the urgent need for systemic changes to address child poverty and economic inequality. The UK is currently a very centralised country, with concentration of wealth in London and the south east – the proposed Heathrow expansion is an example of this. Carey and Danny thus emphasized the importance of local solutions, community-driven approaches, reframing of societal goals to prioritise well-being, and a cohesive strategy that integrates national and local efforts in order to tackle these growing challenges.
Session 2 – Mid-morning Session: Navigating the labyrinth: the impact and experience of poverty in the UK asylum system
Speakers: Jo Walby (Chief Executive, Mustard Tree), Agatha Phiri (Founder, Agatha’s Space and lived experience expert), Fatou Jinadu (Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit), Farid Vahidi (Refugee and Asylum Participatory Action Research), Kate Percival (program coordinator, Caritas), Alimamy Bangura (Growing Rights Instead of Poverty Partnership (GRIPP))
Session Handout: (To be uploaded when available)
Key Points:
A ‘right to work’ needed for asylum seekers – Jo Walby, CEO of Mustard Tree, highlighted the increasing number of asylum seekers facing homelessness, with the percentage of Mustard Tree’s homeless clients in the asylum system rising from 30% to 60%. She described this situation as “political poverty,” emphasizing the extra disadvantages faced by asylum seekers. Jo shared examples of initiatives to make refugees feel welcome, such as creating prayer rooms and providing breakfast. She noted the need for employment opportunities and housing, as many asylum seekers do not want handouts but rather the chance to work and integrate into society. Jo also mentioned the “right to work” pilot by Manchester City Council to encourage local businesses to employ refugees.
16 years without a proper home – Agatha Phiri, founder of Agatha’s Space, shared her personal struggles within the asylum system. She has now lived in the UK for 16 years without a proper home. Agatha received only £5 a day from the asylum system, and nothing through the benefits system. She emphasized the need for action and support for black and minority groups, highlighting the exhaustion of constantly sharing her story without seeing change. Agatha described how she started volunteering for Sawn and eventually founded her organization – Agatha’s Space – to help people from Africa with HIV. Despite her efforts, she remains homeless and faces the challenge of having to raise £10,000 to stay in the UK in 2 years-time.
The 10-year route and hostile environment – Fatou Jinadu, a community organizer with the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, discussed the challenges faced by migrants due to restrictive policies, such as the 10-year immigration route and the hostile environment that limits employment rights and social security. Fatou explained that even if a child is born in the UK (from a migrant parent that hasn’t been naturalised), they do not have the same rights as others, and families are often punished by policies like the NHS surcharge and costs of citizenship. She stressed the importance of supportive action groups and changing the narrative around migration, noting that migrants are often forgotten in broader discussions about poverty and inequality. She said that when other people come to the UK they are referred to as migrants, but when British people go elsewhere they are not considered migrants.
Migrant energy-poverty is also about having enough food to have energy to be self-reliant – Farid from RAPAR highlighted the intertwined layers of poverty, including lack of access to adequate ‘energy’ (in reference to energy-poverty) and cultural-specific foods, which isolates people further. He explained that energy poverty is more than just a lack of access to heating and lighting; it also includes access to food to produce bodily energy and overall well-being. Without adequate energy – for heating, lighting and sustenance / nourishment – it hinders everything they do and integration into society. Farid emphasized the need for targeted education and support to build self-reliance through system literacy, inviting attendees to recognize the cycles of poverty that trap migrants and commit to collective action to dismantle these cycles.
Migrant hotels – segregation and a struggle with the bare minimum – Kate Percival, program coordinator at Caritas, described the dehumanizing conditions in refugee hotels in Manchester (a sentiment echoed in refugee hotels in Glasgow too), where people lack agency in their daily lives and are often referred to by their room numbers – these places feel like prisons, she noted. She shared that some people have live in these hotels for up to two years, experiencing a lack of control over what they eat, wear and launder. One person was not allowed to wash a dirty jacket throughout the whole winter. The money they receive – £5 per day – is not enough to buy two bus tickets, let alone other items or food they may need. Some of the hotels are located in rural areas and the migrants are segregated – especially when the money received is not enough for bus travel. Kate stressed the migrants don’t feel respected and linked-in to their community, and they aren’t given opportunities to feel valuable. She also noted that the privatization of the asylum system has led to significant profits for hotel owners while asylum seekers struggle with the bare minimum.
Disabled disadvantaged and qualified asylum seekers not recognised – Alimamy Bangura, GRIPP leader, discussed the negative impact on asylum seekers and disabled people, emphasizing that disabled individuals face even greater disadvantages within the asylum system. He shared stories of individuals who receive inadequate support, leading to severe mental health issues and even suicide. Alimamy highlighted the importance of allowing asylum seekers to work and contribute to society, noting that many are qualified but their certificates are not recognized. He called for training programs to help asylum seekers utilize their skills.
Overall, the session underscored the urgent need for systemic changes to support asylum seekers, including the right to work, adequate housing, and community integration. The speakers emphasized the importance of local solutions and collective action to address the complex layers of poverty and dehumanization faced by asylum seekers.
Please also have a look at the handout (to be uploaded here when available) which accompanied this session on poverty in the asylum system to find explanations of key terms such as the ‘Asylum Seeker’, ‘Migrant’ and ’The 10-Year Route’.
Session 3 – Mid-afternoon Session: The Future of Local Welfare Provision
Speakers: Vicky Powers (Public Health Practitioner, Derbyshire County Council), Ramzi Suleiman (Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Carers Trust), Arianne Clarke (Network Policy and Research Officer, Trussell), Fahmida Rahman (Senior Policy Officer, Greater London Authority)
Key Points:
Proactive welfare support better than crisis support – Fahmida Rahman from the Greater London Authority opened the session by discussing strategies to maximize local welfare provision and highlighted that the government have put more into crisis support, as a result of shortcomings in welfare support. Millions of pounds in welfare support goes unclaimed each year due to such systemic shortcomings. Fahmida emphasized two necessary work streams: providing crisis support services and proactively sending out advice to eligible households. These measures aim to ensure that those in need are aware of and can access the support available to them.
A successful cash-first scheme – Vicky Powel from Derbyshire County Council shared the success of their cash-first scheme, which partners with the post office to deliver cash payments within 30 minutes. This approach provides a more dignified response to financial crises, allowing individuals to address immediate needs without resorting to food banks. Despite concerns about potential abuse, analysis showed that most people used the service genuinely, with an average of 2 payments per person out of a possible 8 that can be claimed, indicating that the majority of users only sought help in genuine times of need.
What’s needed is a Financial Crisis and Resilience Fund – Arianne Clarke from Trussell discussed the positive impact of cash-first systems on overall finances and wellbeing. She advocated for the establishment of a new government Financial Crisis and Resilience Fund of multi-year, ringfenced funding to provide clear referral pathways and services that offer income maximization and access to affordable credit (including cash-first approaches). Arianne emphasized that financial hardships often have multiple contributing factors, and a comprehensive approach is necessary to help individuals move towards financial resilience. She shared findings from a UK review by Trussell, which found that “over half (53%) of people referred to Trussell food banks had faced a large and unexpected cost that they had difficulty paying in the previous three months” (Source: rebuilding discretionary crisis support in England).
The challenges of unpaid care – Ramzi Suleiman from Carers Trust highlighted the challenges faced by unpaid carers, with 30% living in poverty and many more close to the poverty line. He stressed the importance of wrap-around support to help carers navigate financial crises and other challenges. Ramzi explained that a cash-first approach can provide immediate relief, but it must be accompanied by ongoing support to address the underlying issues that contribute to financial instability.
Proactive support, not reactive support – The speakers collectively emphasized the need for multi-year ringfenced funding and statutory support for local crisis systems. They noted that proactive measures are essential to prevent crises and improve access to support. Fahmida suggested that councils should identify and target households eligible for help using data to proactively reach out to those in need. This approach aims to prevent crises before they escalate, ensuring that individuals do not miss payments or fall into deeper financial hardship.
Councils struggling financially – Vicky highlighted the financial struggles faced by many councils, including Derbyshire, which rely heavily on the Household Support Fund. She warned that without continued funding, councils might have to close essential services. Arianne echoed this concern and advocated again for a statutory fund to support local crisis systems, noting that some local authorities have already advised food banks to prepare for increased demand.
Make the application process easier – The session concluded with a discussion on the importance of improving access to support, telling people what they are entitled to, promoting financial resilience, and reducing the need for crisis intervention. Vicky suggested promoting credit unions and ensuring that local council housing is adequately equipped and furnished. Arianne emphasized the frequency of financial shocks, such as job loss, bereavement, broken white goods, divorce or birth of a child, and the need for cash first schemes to help individuals who find themselves in these circumstances. She also highlighted having an easier mechanism to access multiple types of support – i.e. one application which would result in all the support needed for multiple challenges. Ramzi highlighted the importance of linking different areas of support, such as housing and food, to provide a holistic approach to helping individuals in need. He would like to see a narrative change too – to not portray benefits as a handouts, but as needed assistance.
Session 4: Panel Discussion
Speakers: Ashwin Kumar (Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)), Matt Hyde (Lloyds Bank Foundation), Rekha Patel-Harrison (Right to Succeed), Ruth Welford (Barnardo’s). Session chaired by Justin Watson (Good Work With).
Key Points:
69% of children in poverty come from working homes – Ashwin Kumar highlighted the epidemic of low-paid work, noting that 69% of children in poverty come from working homes. He discussed the UK’s productivity problem, which directly impacts wages and contributes to child poverty.
Abolition of the two-child benefit cap – Ruth Welford discussed the disproportionate impact of poverty on children in care, disabled children, and children from minority backgrounds. She stressed the need for government targets to measure progress and advocated for the abolition of the two-child benefit cap. Ruth highlighted the increasing requests for basic necessities like beds (through her work at Barnardo’s), which have quadrupled over the last four years.
Empower and fund communities to decide their priorities – Rekha Patel-Harrison emphasized the importance of community-led initiatives and long-term investment in systems change. She discussed the challenges of securing long-term funding and the need for communities to decide their priorities.
It is essential that civil society campaigns for change – Matt Hyde discussed the role of civil society in reducing poverty, noting that it provides essential services and essential campaigns for change – such campaigns create the space for government action and ensures communities are involved in decision-making. He stressed the importance of public support and accountability in achieving systems change.
Speakers advocated for a holistic approach to support individuals, linking areas such as housing, food, and financial resilience.
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Please also have a look at the Conference Bulletin which contains five articles on the following topics –
- Disability and poverty
- The right to health
- Temporary accommodation
- Affordability of childcare
- Accessibility to advice.