State of Child Poverty 2023

As the cost of living crisis remains ever prevalent across the UK, chances for children have surveyed over 1200 frontline workers who collectively support over 200,000 children and young people. The findings are stark, with a significant increase in children living in destitution and or some school is becoming a luxury they are struggling to afford.

Universal Credit falling so far short of the cost of essentials is putting the health of millions at risk say health bodies and charities

Organisations representing hundreds of thousands of health and care professionals, and the millions who use their services, warn that so many people are routinely going without the essentials it poses a serious risk to the UK’s health.

Precarious pay and uncertain hours: insecure work in the UK Labour Market

A top-down perspective of a formally dressed individual pointing at their laptop screen

Several shockwaves have been sent through the UK Labour Market over recent years. Covid-19 saw all non-essential economic activity grind to a halt, leaving millions of workers furloughed and a smaller (though not insignificant) number fall out of the labour market due to long-term sickness or caring responsibilities, many of whom are yet to return. More recently the cost-of-living-crisis has also left its mark, the clearest manifestation being the real-term pay cut most UK workers are currently facing, despite nominal wage growth being at historically high levels – hitting 7.2 per cent in April 2023.  

FROM COMPLIANCE TO ENGAGEMENT

There has been growing political concern and criticism about benefits sanctions in recent years. As well as causing severe hardship for those affected, driving many to rely on emergency support such as food banks, sanctions are rightly seen to epitomise the often punitive nature of our social security system. This has led to scrutiny of the effectiveness of sanctions, with a focus on what happens to people who are subject to them.