Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)

📓 JRF's annual report on the state of #UKPoverty launched this morning, revealing some stark truths. 👇      📊 The latest analysis from our researchers shows a worsening picture of poverty in this country, with families in poverty now on average needing thousands to get out of poverty.   The average person in poverty has an income 29% below the poverty line, equating to a gap of £6,200 for a couple with two children under 14.   📈 With 14.4 million living in poverty in 2021/22, our politicians must take action on this vital issue.    🗳️ A general election is on the horizon, and we are demanding practical solutions from political parties to address this.    Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ebJWWJ_R

Great to read Sophia O.'s reflections on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)'s #NextFrontiers2024 conference, with special mentions for Maike Kauffmann, Astrid Scholz & Dana K. Bezerra. Have a read: https://lnkd.in/ewWpuVPH

📢 Free Talking about Housing webinar on 23rd July on how to talk about private renting. The way we frame our communications matters if we want to see change happen. 👥 When we talk about improving housing in the UK, people often focus on the desire to own a home. Renting is seen as a temporary step along the way. As a result, improving renting is not always seen and understood as a vital part of what needs to happen to ensure everyone has a decent, affordable place to call home. Join JRF in partnership with FrameWorks UK and Nationwide Foundation, for a webinar packed with practical insights and tips to help you: - Show the importance of improving private renting, and establish this as a part of redesigning our housing system - Hone your explanation skills, to build understanding about policies that would improve renting - Use storytelling to build connection and add scale and context Are you: - a campaigner on housing, poverty and homelessness issues - a policy adviser and policymaker - a housing professional - an academic - a health and wellbeing professional - a local authority staff - a communicator in the housing sector 🌐 Then this webinar is for you! Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3VMdVM6

🗳 Between them Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have visited over 80 constituencies this election campaign. In these seats alone over half a million children are living in poverty. Yet with less than a week to go we still haven't heard how our political leaders will tackle hardship. Find out more about the scale of the challenge from our Analysis Manager Joseph E. 🔽

🚨 Over 200 organisations One message to the future Prime Minister: 𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩. Today, I’m incredibly proud to work with so many organisations that have added their name to the Guarantee our Essentials open letter. Featured in the Times, and online in places we’re hoping Rishi and Keir will catch a glimpse of it with a week to go until the election. 💚 Thank you to all the amazing organisations that have included their signature, including food banks, economic support groups, advice forums, health and wellbeing, housing, homelessness and community services, third sector, disability and women's orgs, carers, and environmental groups. It’s honestly a joy to work with so many of you on this campaign. Together, we can hold the next government to account and push for real change to ensure no one is going without the essentials. We can absolutely say we did all we could to keep hardship front and centre right into the final week. Read the full letter here: https://lnkd.in/gWZBYmvu #Guarantee #OurEssentials If you or your organisation want to get involved in the campaign, email me at [email protected]

🗳 With one week until the General Election, over 200 organisations have come together to ask Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to put hardship at the top of their to-do list. 7 million low income households were going without essentials like food and adequate clothing. 1.2 million low-income households were in arrears with four or more bills. As families fall behind on bills and can’t afford the essentials, many turn to credit just to get by. 3.8 million households currently hold a loan taken out to pay for food, housing or essential bills. In the past year, food banks in The Trussell Trust network distributed a record 3.1 million emergency food parcels. Almost 4 million people experienced destitution in 2022 – more than double the 2017 figure, including: - 1 million children - 2.4 million people with a disability or limiting health condition In the sixth richest country in the world, this is shameful. With the election just a week away, over 200 organisations are asking the same question of all political leaders. 📢 What urgent action will you take to tackle hardship? Read the full letter here: https://lnkd.in/eDyZjK9A #OurEssentials

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning Professor Jane Green explains findings of new research with Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) which explores feelings of economic insecurity & its significance going into the #GeneralElection on the 4thJuly: https://lnkd.in/ex8eGfGC (from 49:52)

🗣 You cannot understand this election without understanding economic insecurity. It has emerged as a key dividing line between voters. Latest research from Nuffield College Politics Research Centre for JRF shows voters' worries about economic insecurity are set to play a pivotal role in how they vote. 39% of voters - 18.5 million people - feel economically insecure with concerns over outgoings for housing, childcare and debt. Research suggests this is behind Conservatives’ loss of support and Labour’s gains. Of the 18.5 million, 34% intend to vote Labour and 10% Conservative The Conservatives are losing economically insecure voters to both the left and right. Compared to 2019, 13% of economically insecure Conservative voters now intend to vote Labour and 26% intend to vote Reform UK. Researchers also suggest that economic insecurity is pushing more people to Labour. Since 2019, 42% of all voters that Labour has gained are economically insecure. There is a political risk of failing to address the concerns of 18.5 million people. With millions of people feeling economically insecure, how they choose to vote will have a significant impact on the result. 🔎 Link to the report by Professor Jane Green, Professor Geoff Evans, Dr Zack Grant, and Gaetano Inglese in the comments 🔽

We are calling on all political parties to acknowledge that #WeAreTheEconomy! ⚖️ Essentials are the building blocks to a happy, healthy life - quality housing, healthcare, education and enough money to buy essential items like food. Invest in essential services, invest in us.

Our latest report asked primary school and primary and community healthcare staff about the impact of hardship in their workplace and how they respond to the needs of those struggling to afford the essentials.    We asked primary school staff how this impact affected their work:    - More than half said hardship meant there was a greater requirement for resources like staff time   - One third said their school has reduced school trips to fund or provide support towards hardship   - One third said their school provided a food bank.    Among primary and community healthcare staff:   - Almost half said hardship led to an increased demand for services   - 2 in 5 said there was a greater requirement for resources like staff time  - 49% said that they were providing a food bank as part of their service        🗣️ This General Election, political leaders still need to tell us what urgent action they will take to tackle hardship at source.    Without this, they can’t fix the public services we all rely on.