New anti-poverty network launches in Lancashire

In today’s newsletter, we share an update on our anti-poverty work in Lancashire. We also reflect on the first year of this government, and Policy in Practice outline new findings on Universal Credit deductions.

New anti-poverty network launches in Lancashire
By Patsy Davies, Network Development Coordinator (Lancashire) at Resolve Poverty


On Wednesday 11 June, Resolve Poverty launched the Lancashire Anti-Poverty Network (LAPN) in Burnley with our partners, the Lancashire Association of Councils for Voluntary Service (LACVS).

The morning saw both Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations and public sector professionals coming together in solidarity to look to the future of tackling poverty in Lancashire.


The network seeks to create a space for good practice sharing and collaboration between the VCFSE and public sector around poverty, and to identify strategic, policy and practical gaps in anti-poverty responses. If you would like more information about the Lancashire Anti-Poverty Network, or would like to be involved in its future activities, please contact [email protected].

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A year of 'change'? A look at Labour's progress on poverty
By Laura Burgess, Head of Policy and Research at Resolve Poverty


It’s hard to believe that this week marks one year since the Labour Party swept to power in a landslide election victory (and a year since we rebranded to Resolve Poverty!), which saw Keir Starmer’s party win a majority of 156 seats.

Labour entered office on the promise of ‘Change’,  to put the country “on track towards a decade of national renewal”.


The manifesto pledged to improve living standards and give children the best start to life, based on the foundation of economic stability. One year into the government’s tenure, how “on track” is the country towards these goals?

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Hidden Holes: Deductions and sanctions for people on Universal Credit
By Rory Ewan, Senior Policy and Data Analyst at Policy in Practice


Universal Credit (UC) is set to become the UK’s sole means-tested benefit for working-age adults.

While much of the debate has focused on whether award levels are adequate, the more pressing issue is that many claimants don’t receive their full entitlement. Deductions, used to repay debts or imposed as sanctions, routinely reduce payments, undermining financial security and pushing many households into deeper hardship.


To fully understand UC’s role in poverty and economic insecurity, policymakers must look beyond headline award rates and focus on the actual amounts households receive.

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Policy and research updatesWe are providing a summary of the latest news and policy developments to keep you up to date with what is happening across the UK.

• The DWP have released new impact analysis of the disability benefit reforms. It reflects the latest proposal* that, among other concessions, changes to entitlement rules for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and UC health element will now only affect new claimants. The headline finding is that there will be an estimated 150,000 more working age adults in relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/30 due to the reforms, compared to baseline projections.
  
  
  * At time of writing, the second reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has passed Parliament in its original form. The concessions have not (yet) been written into the Bill.  
  
  
  
• The JRF’s latest research uncovers that there are too few employment opportunities in Britain to make the government ambition for more disabled people to enter work a reality. They find that there is only 1 vacancy for every 7 people receiving unemployment or incapacity benefits nationwide, with just 1 disability-confident job advert for every 121 people receiving incapacity benefits. They find that the original set of reforms would have pushed many of the most vulnerable further into poverty.
  
  
  
• The IFS have also recently published analysis of the original set of government proposals for disability benefit reforms. As well as findings on the distributional impact of the reforms, they uncover that health problems for most people tend to start several years before they submit a claim for health-related benefit.
  
  
  
• New research from the Resolution Foundation analyses how the rising price of essentials is affecting low-income households. They recommend that benefits are uprated more frequently to keep pace with inflation, that a new social tariff for energy bills is introduced, and that action is taken to increase the take-up of concessionary bus passes among low-income people on benefits.  ​
  

Training and events
How to solve the housing crisis and reduce homelessness


Wednesday 9 July, 1pm-2:30pm @ University of Manchester

Manchester, despite its booming economy over the last 25 years, had the third highest local rate of homelessness outside of London in 2024, and the rate of people living in temporary accommodation was three times the national average in 2022.  


Join Dr Isis Barei-Guyot, Lecturer in Urban Development at the Global Development Institute, to explore the nature of Manchester’s housing crisis and discuss how local and regional policymakers can work together to create sustainable homes for social rent.

Learn more and book your place

Maximising Household Income


Thursday 17 July, 10am-4pm, online

Understand our social security system and the financial support available to help people find and access what they're entitled to.


You’ll learn sources of financial support for people on low incomes and how to develop your organisation’s approach to help maximise people’s income.
Discounted places are available for the VCFSE sector and small organisations.

Learn more and book your place

Valuing Lived Experience


Wednesday 30 July, 10am-4pm, online

Learn better practice in engaging with people with lived experience of poverty.


You’ll learn best practice around working with people with lived experience, how to set up and facilitate lived experience spaces and how to use them to enhance your work. Discounted places are available for the VCFSE sector and small organisations.

Learn more and book your place