You don’t make Britain safer by further impoverishing families, pensioners, young people and those with health conditions. Social security should be the bedrock of opportunity and equality in our society. In volatile times, we need this collective protection more than ever.

Happy Renter's Reform day 🥳 I'm one of the last people to lose my home through a section 21 eviction. It's been the most dehumanising and stressful time being forced to move at such short notice. Today I signed a contract to rent a new home 🎉 Grateful we'll be a little more secure from now on.

When families’ incomes fall, involvement with children’s social care increases and when incomes rise, the need for more intensive intervention reduces. That’s the conclusion of a new study by @kingstonuniversity.bsky.social, @Sussex.ac.uk @researchip.bsky.social Read more: buff.ly/nlwh0yy

Early start to give evidence to select committee on child poverty. Prep reminded me anew just how vital it is to scrap the Benefit Cap 300,000 children would be in less deep poverty if the cap were to go (@cpaguk) & DWP figures suggest 60,000 will not fully benefit from 2CL abolition while it stays

A truly terrible social policy, finally consigned to history. Proof of the power of social security to lift huge numbers of people out of poverty. A wonderful day for our whole society!

A statistic to make your eyes water The impact of Nestle’s actions: “We estimate that Nestlé’s entry into LMIC formula markets caused about 212,000 infant deaths per year among mothers without clean water access…led to approximately 10.9 million excess infant deaths between 1960 and 2015.”

Unconditional cash transfers are the best way to end poverty

‘A cruel penalty’: hundreds of thousands of disabled people will have their benefit cut if their conditions are deemed not to be lifelong. My report in today’s paper: www.theguardian.com/politics/202... 1/5

A first ever birthday party for a 10-year-old, being able to afford the school trip without getting into debt, a new mattress for the kids - this is the kind of difference scrapping the two-child limit will make.

The headline should read 'at least unaffordable since 2015'. House prices in England only passed 5x earnings (which the ONS regards as the affordability threshold) in 2002 and at 7.6x earnings are still more unaffordable than before GFC in 2007 www.ft.com/content/a1b9...

New stats show rents have increased by over 25% in some areas since LHA rates were frozen. Rent growth recently has been exceptionally high, levels of housing support are inadequate. The result? Families cover their rent with money meant for food and toiletries.

🚨 New findings published today! 🚨 Graduates who grew up in deep poverty still earn £2,800 less than their peers 10 years on, even if they earn the same degree, and do the same job in the same firm. Read 'The long shadow' here 👉 buff.ly/5VfX2Fi

📢 📢 📢 We are in the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy and are recruiting for a research assistant (Glasgow University G7) to join us in our research using administrative data on inequalities in children and young people's education. Please do share this fantastic opportunity widely!

Terrifying but necessary read on the likely economic consequences of USA/Israeli war on Iran. A powerful minority will exploit the food and fuel shortages to make immense profits, while those with the least will pay the highest price.

Wrong, Amol Rajan! "Welfare spending" is not out of control. www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/is-w... #R4Today

What does it take to sustain place-based systems change? We've supported Renaisi's research - the findings launch on 21 April! Register for this free event: www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-eve... #Grantfunder

After a very long wait, I finally had my Access to Work assessment today. The assessor was incredibly kind, empathetic and helpful - I genuinely felt heard and understood. A really positive experience. If only all DWP interactions could be this way!

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights’ has just published a memo on child poverty in the UK. He welcomes scrapping the two-child limit and calls for a fully resourced, human rights-based approach to end child poverty. No child should be left behind. rm.coe.int/memorandu...

Child poverty is set to fall by 3 percentage points in 2026-27, primarily due to the two-child limit being abolished. But in the following years, the child poverty rate will start rising again. By the end of the decade, the projected rate is just 0.5 percentage points below last year.

Speedy analysis from @jrf-uk.bsky.social . This is how modelled household incomes evolve over the Parliament after deducting housing costs. It's a disappointing picture. Let's hope the Government beat the forecasts, although the headwinds from the current conflict shouldn't be underestimated.

Are you or anyone you know affected by the two-child limit? The government has announced it will be lifted in April, and we want to hear from affected families. Please share: www.surveymonkey.com/r/two-child-...

We’ve joined with disabled people, organisations and charities to write to the co-chairs of the Timms Review. See our joint open letter with our recommendations for the steering group here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/latest-news/timms-review-recommendations #TimmsReview

The recent cut to the LCWRA element makes attempting work even riskier for many seriously ill and disabled people on UC. Legislating the right to try is meant to reassure people, but broader rhetoric about 'reducing the benefits bill' means many will still perceive this as a way of cutting support

Mikey Erhardt, a campaigner for Disability Rights UK, expresses concern about what the Timms Review will mean for personal independence payment (PIP) in the future.

I mean it's only a matter of time before a woman without access to cash support living in an asylum hotel support goes into labour and needs to get to hospital. Irresponsible & dangerous policy change.

According to Jonny Roberts, a @changingrealities.bsky.social participant and Universal Credit recipient, the system is too often defined by a lack of trust. But there are better (and simpler) ways of doing things, especially when it comes to childcare ⤵️

Excellent new report, grounded in the lived experiences, collective reflection and strategic insight of @changingrealities.bsky.social participants. As Alara says, "claimants can be great individual case studies to learn from, but, collectively, can be great co-workers for this change process"

Overall poverty rates have flatlined since 2005/06 at just over a fifth. The longer a family spends in poverty, the worse the effects on that family. The longer we tolerate unacceptably high levels of poverty, the worse it is for our country. ⏳ The time for action is now.

Co-production is a very effective way of dismantling the 'broken society' narrative. It challenges technocratic regeneration methods because it is fundamentally about shifting power. Bringing together lived and learned experience to organise civic life builds people's sense of agency and belonging.

An emotional day today, my last working for @cpaguk.bsky.social In January I'm starting as social change manager @turn2us.org.uk It has been such a privilege to work with the brightest, kindest people during my time at CPAG. Behold the magnificent gingerbread trophies they made for my send off!

There was a welcome fall in the *price* of food last month, as costs dropped by 0.2 per cent on the previous month. But this chart reminds you that the big picture remains one of a huge rise in the cost of essentials, hitting those on lower incomes hardest.

Over half of teachers in England have worked with children who are homeless in the last year, new research shows – with those pupils are arriving at school exhausted, missing school days, and experiencing poor mental health schoolsweek.co.uk/52-of-teache...

Festive activities should be open to everyone. Schools could offer free or low-cost events, supported by PTA or community resources, so all pupils can take part. Learn more about making activities accessible here. https://neu.org.uk/latest/library/tackling-poverty-classroom #NoChildLeftBehind

'I will never be sorry for standing my ground and standing up for what I believe is right.' Vital, if hard to read, words from Stacey @changingrealities.bsky.social about why she won't be stopped from speaking out about poverty by trolls www.changingrealities.org/blog/why-i-w...

Plugging this as a reminder, if there are deadlines that may affect you, you may need to take action or get a fit note dated before the 5th January. Do read to make sure you're prepared:

What difference will scrapping the two-child limit make to children's lives? Shauna says she'll be able to buy her children a new mattress.

Chancellor said lifting 2-child limit means "Biggest reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since records began." Estimated 400k reduction would be, but modelling is always uncertain. What is certain is that removing the 2 Child Limit is pivotal to the fall.

"The removal of the two-child limit brings my family a deep sense of relief. Without the cap hanging over me, I finally feel less weighed down by constant financial worry and more able to make choices that genuinely reflect what each of my boys’ need." (Kim, CR parent) #2CL #Budget 🧵1/3

Scrapping the two-child limit will be transformational for children.

A wonderful day for children's rights, as the two-child limit is finally consigned to history 🎉 Very proud of everyone who has worked so hard to make the case for its abolition. Especially colleagues at @cpaguk.bsky.social, who have campaigned tirelessly on this issue for so many years.

When the state fails to provide families with enough money to live on, other public services pay the cost. Educators, in particular, go above and beyond to mitigate the child poverty crisis caused by insufficient social security. Many do so out of their own wages. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

It's pretty hard to have a serious discussion about child poverty and still be entertaining, but this podcast manages it!

With govt’s child poverty strategy expected soon, new evidence shows most teachers want more action on child poverty. 86% of teachers polled by @NEUnion say child poverty is limiting opportunity for their pupils to some extent. Two in five say it's limiting it greatly. 1/5

We’re expecting the Child Poverty Strategy any day. We asked children what they’d like to say to the PM about their hopes and concerns. Banujan, Year 7, said: ‘It’s hard to feel happy if you don’t have enough food, warm clothes, or a safe place to live...

Growing up in poverty violates children's rights in multiple ways every day. As Sioned says, it's not an abstract economic condition but a persistent violation of dignity, security and health. Full incorporation of the UNCRC is long overdue. All public bodies in Wales should operate in its scope.

Less than two weeks till the budget. Today, I'm sharing a letter sent to MPs by parents affected by the two-child limit & benefit cap a year ago, which set out their simple plea that every child be treated the same. Listen and share it (please) @cpaguk.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kW-...

We’ve joined more than 100 organisations in calling on the government to scrap the two-child limit in full. Every child deserves the best start in life, yet this policy is pushing too many families into hardship. Read more here: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli... @cpaguk.bsky.social

At the Cost of the School Day summit young people told Scotland's First Minister what more they think needs to happen in their schools to make sure poverty doesn't have an impact on learning. Find out more: tinyurl.com/2t4cpbfu

Interesting to note how designing pleasant dining spaces and using coproduction to develop menus helps young people in Sweden make the most of the free food on offer in their schools.

We’re turning 60! Join our live broadcast marking 60 years of Child Poverty Action Group, featuring keynote speaker Rt Hon Gordon Brown. 📅Thursday 6 November ⏰9:45–11:45 am (online via Zoom) Register for your free place: cpag.org.uk/60years