The Treasury Committee has published its inquiry into the Financial Inclusion Strategy. Our verdict echoes theirs: a welcome first step, but not yet a complete plan. fairbydesign.com/response-tsc...

@fairbydesign.bsky.social @fair4allfinance.bsky.social @fininclusionscot.bsky.social @callumandersonmp.bsky.social @thefinancelab.bsky.social

In the latest episode of the Vulnerability Matters Podcast our Director Rebecca Deegan discusses our new research on the poverty premium. Thank you to Money Advice Trust and Chris for having us on, it was a pleasure. 🎧 Listen to the episode: open.spotify.com/show/2oI3irS...

Today we've launched new research Paying More for Less: The Poverty Premium in 2026. To mark the launch our Director, Rebecca Deegan, has written an article in The New Statesman on what a bolder approach to the poverty premium could look like. www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/ec...

Premium finance is still a poverty premium. New Which? research shows APRs close to 30% for those paying car insurance monthly, hitting lower income households hardest. uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/motoris...

We set up our Lived Experience Panel so people facing the poverty premium shape our strategy, not just comment on it. As Sam steps down after a year, she reflects on the panel and her own story where she was refused credit when she needed it most. Read it here: fairbydesign.com/sam-reflecti...

"Sometimes the issue isn't the person, it's the system they're stuck in." In our latest blog Charlotte, a member of our Lived Experience Panel, and Barbara Hughes from the FCA reflect on what it means to bring lived experience into regulatory policy. fairbydesign.com/why-regulato...

Thanks @lbc.co.uk for letting me have my say on the price cap rise today. The next energy bill crisis starts on 1 July and households need short and long-term support to be ready. www.lbc.co.uk/article/ener...

We’re delighted to welcome Yvonne Fovargue CBE as Chair of our steering group. To mark her arrival in LabourList, Yvonne reflects on her 14 years as an MP fighting the poverty premium, and why tackling it is essential to rebuilding trust and securing public support for the Government.

It's been a year since @mchshe.bsky.social's documentary was shown - find out what has happened in the #FairBankingForAll campaign since then.

Ending the poverty premium isn’t niche, it’s a popular idea with the public. Our latest blog turns our polling with YouGov into a set of data visualisations to tell the story of political attitudes on the poverty premium. Read the article 👉 fairbydesign.com/public-attit...

While global shocks push prices up, they aren’t the only reason for the cost of living crisis. We rely on poorly regulated markets for essentials, driving a poverty premium. From loyalty premiums to higher monthly charges, millions overpay. Ben Cooper on why Gov must step in @labourlist.bsky.social.

📉Today's price cap news: “Brief relief for some. A real worry for millions.” For households already in energy debt, April's fall offers little comfort. [1/4]

“𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞.” Our Director, Rebecca Deegan, has a new article in the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ Think series, looking at whether pricing models should reflect the world as it is, or help to build a fairer one. actuaries.org.uk/think-editio...

💥 Today we’re joining forces with 50+ orgs who’ve signed our open letter You can tell the government to stop July bill hikes and give us our fair share of cheap, clean energy #MakeGreenFair 🖊️ Sign the petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/ma...

The Government has announced support for heating oil to help vulnerable households, delivered through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) from April, this is a welcome and necessary intervention. Our response 📷

Yesterday’s report by @thecccuk.bsky.social shows that the journey to net zero is an opportunity to reduce energy costs for everyone. We need to unite behind this and make sure it works for people on low incomes.

Our Director, Rebecca Deegan’s, latest article in The Actuary looks at the poverty premium in car insurance - and why actuaries have a key role in making motor cover more inclusive. www.theactuary.com/2026/03/10/r...

Too many people on low incomes continue to face a postcode lottery when it comes to getting help with their water bills, forcing them into potential water cutbacks. We're calling for a national social tariff for water in England and Wales to fix this unfair system. Sign the petition ⬇️

Today’s energy price cap announcement is welcome news, with the typical annual bill dropping by £117 a year. However, the ‘standard credit premium’, the added cost for paying your bill when it arrives, is still £131 a year. Watch @mariacbooker.bsky.social explain the issue.

We commissioned YouGov to produce nationally representative polling on the British public’s attitudes to the poverty premium and solutions to it. The answers were emphatic: people from across political parties, and regardless of their income, wanted action to end the poverty premium.

Great article from our Director, Rebecca Deegan, in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social today. It covers our new polling with YouGov, which shows the public backs action on the poverty premium. www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/ec...

Some ICYMI Friday reading for your feeds, our recent blog on what ‘lived experience’ really means and why creating spaces for people to be genuinely valued matters.” Blog: fairbydesign.com/blog-what-li...

We’re always keen to highlight local initiatives that successfully tackle the poverty premium, which is why we’ve written a blog about the Soundpound scheme in Greater Manchester. fairbydesign.com/soundpound-r...

Our Head of Policy, @mariacbooker.bsky.social, responds to the continuation of the Warm Home Discount, and other recent energy announcements the Warm Homes Plan & Fuel Poverty Strategy. Full response: fairbydesign.com/our-response...

Our latest blog, written by members of our Lived Experience Panel, explores the language we use and asks 'What Does Lived Experience Really Mean?' fairbydesign.com/blog-what-li...

Some words from our Head of Policy, @mariacbooker.bsky.social, looking back at our Give Me Some Credit exhibition. The article is a deep dive on the process we followed and looks at the value of involving people with lived experience in our work. www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/g...

The Govt’s newly announced Warm Homes Plan sets out a new approach to fixing Britain’s coldest homes. With £15 bn committed, the plan focuses on helping households cut energy waste and reduce their reliance on expensive gas, through a mix of insulation, clean heating and home-grown power. [1/3]

Disappointed to see that the Government White Paper on water does not include proposals for a national water social tariff. This means people on low incomes will continue to face a postcode lottery when it comes to getting help with their water bills, forcing them into potential water cutbacks.

New research from The Centre for Responsible Credit finds that millions of people are cutting back on essentials like food & heat, and avoiding support in order to preserve their credit scores. Full report👇 www.responsible-credit.org.uk/reports/good...

Brilliant support for the Fair Banking Act from @gareththomasmp.bsky.social, proud to be part of the campaign 👊

"A Fair Banking Act is a common sense, proportionate measure which could have transformative benefits for businesses and communities across the UK, and I commend this Bill to the House." 👏 @gareththomasmp.bsky.social #FairBankingForAll #FairBankingAct

Fitting that my first post is to celebrate my brilliant colleague @mariacbooker.bsky.social contribution to this piece on interest rate caps on @bigissue.com Affordable credit is crucial - and we know people in poverty pay more to borrow money. But to fix this we need to look at the big picture 👇

“If you get the line wrong, firms will simply withdraw products and then people are pushed towards other sources of credit." Our Head of Policy @mariacbooker.bsky.social is quoted in the @bigissue.com discussing why interest rate caps alone aren’t enough to tackle the cost of credit.

Shifting Warm Home Discount costs from standing charges to unit rates is fairer for everyone as it gives people more control over costs. Combined with energy measures in the 2025 Budget it will mean low-income households aren't worse off. Full response: fairbydesign.com/wp-content/u...

We’ll be taking a brief break over the festive period and returning in the new year, ready to continue our work ending the poverty premium. We’re grateful for the partners, collaborators, and advocates who have worked alongside us this year, see you in 2026 ❤️

Last week the Government launched its Motor Insurance Taskforce's Final Report. Read our full response 👇 fairbydesign.com/motor-insura...

Huge thanks to @guardianheather.bsky.social for highlighting the call for a #FairBankingAct to bring banks together with #creditunions and #CDFIs to ensure people can access #affordablecredit when they need it. bit.ly/44dqFAv @coopparty.party.coop

Today is the final day at Fair By Design for our amazing colleague Camila, who has been an integral part of our work over the past three years. We’re grateful to Camila for everything she’s contributed to our work and wish her well in her next chapter.

Access to a car can open doors to jobs, education & healthcare, but our latest data snapshot showed that rising insurance costs are shutting people out of the market. We’ve created a one-page explainer that shows the key drivers of why people on low incomes can't access affordable car insurance.

Today’s publication of the Child Poverty Strategy reflects a much-needed commitment to improving the lives of children across the UK. Child poverty has a devastating effect on children’s lives today and limits their opportunities for the future.

We’re very excited to have Laura Aznar Herranz join us as our new Public Affairs Manager. Laura joins us from Chance UK & brings a wealth of experience in public affairs ensuring that the voices and knowledge of people with lived experience at the heart of decision-making 🎉 😀

Initial thoughts on the #Budget’s impact on the poverty premium 🧵🧵🧵 There are positives on energy bills support and removing the two-child benefit cap, but much more must be done to lift people out of poverty and reduce low-income households’ bills.

Everyone deserves a warm home. On #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay, we urge the Government to act by making energy affordable for all with proper bill support and long-term investment in energy efficiency.

The government has published their Financial Inclusion Strategy. What comes next? #FinancialInclusion #AffordableCredit #FairBankingAct #CommunityFinance #FairBankingForAll @thefinancelab.bsky.social @fairbydesign.bsky.social financeinnovationlab.org/the-governme...

Today’s energy price cap means people paying by Standard Credit, those who pay after receiving their bill, will pay £136 more each year, simply because of the way they pay.

Access to a car isn’t just about convenience. It helps people get a decent job, attend a good college and access healthcare. That’s why it’s so unjust that high insurance premiums are pricing many low-income households out.

We've co-signed a letter to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, alongside energy companies and charities warning her that cutting energy efficiency schemes in the budget would be damaging for people and planet. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

This would be a huge mistake🚩 The Warm Homes Plan is a vital step towards making homes more energy efficient and reducing bills for those on low incomes.

Today marks the launch of the Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy must be seen as an important first step that sets the direction of travel to ending the poverty premium and financial exclusion. Read our full statement here: fairbydesign.com/response-uk-...