PRAN NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1: JULY 2023
Summer Edition
Rethinking Poverty, Insecurity and the Cost of Living Crisis in the North West and Beyond Conference: A Day to Remember.
Dear Pran Members
Thank you to everyone who attended the conference and contributed to such informative, insightful and vital conversations! The conference was attended by representatives of 87 regional and national institutions and organisations.
It was truly exceptional and uplifting to know that so many people are seeking to gain a better understanding of the cost of living crisis to tackle it in the most effective way. The crisis is only an acute symptom of poverty and inequality – the issues that this country has been battling for a while. It is a disaster by design, the inevitable consequence of years of austerity, underfunding of vital social services, and a failure to address growing poverty and inequality. Nevertheless, the experience of the crisis is devastating, and life-altering and will have a long-lasting impact on many.
Yet it is a moment where more people than ever understand and empathise with the experience of poverty and deprivation, thus presenting a unique opportunity to mobilise and drive real change in tackling the issues of poverty and inequality. It is our chance to change and reshape the stigmatising popular narrative about poverty and deprivation.
Together, we are louder, stronger, more effective, and therefore, more likely to achieve our ultimate goal of providing people with a better quality of life! With solidarity, Natalija and Vicki.
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
We learned so much during the conference. Here are a few highlights from a couple of our brilliant keynote speakers.
In her talk, Professor Kate Pickett, OBE (Professor of Epidemiology at the University of York), revealed that the groups who were vulnerable to the wider health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 are also vulnerable to the cost of living crisis:
Those who experience poverty and unemployment
Those with protected characteristics
Those with health issues and disabilities
As well as lone-parent families, the digitally excluded, and those at risk of domestic violence or abuse.
Claire Donovan, the Head of Policy, Research and Campaigns at End Furniture Poverty revealed the shocking extent of furniture poverty in the UK:
6 million people in the UK are living in furniture poverty – 9% of the UK population
25% of all Black and Black British people are living in furniture poverty
26% of social housing tenants are living in furniture poverty
Over 1 million adults are living in ‘deep furniture poverty’, missing three or more items
Around 18,000 children in the Liverpool City region do not have their own bed to sleep in.
Furniture poverty impacts the physical and mental health and social well-being of individuals:
7 in 10 have problems sleeping
7 in 10 with a long-term illness or disability said FP made the condition worse
9 in 10 felt stressed or anxious
8 in 10 felt more depressed.
Market Place
We had 15 incredible organisations featured in our marketplace - thank you for the time and effort featured organisations put into making this happen. You can access a selection of pictures from the marketplace here: https://rb.gy/pseop
Visual Minutes
Here are the visual minutes from the conference. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to record the information and key messages from the event in such a creative and impactful way!
Image 1: Keywords
INTERACTIONS & INTERSECTIONS - The cost of living in context / We've had a DECADE of the DESTRUCTION of the public sector / NATIONAL DISPARITY / FINANCIAL CRASH / PANDEMIC / War in Russia / AUSTERITY / CHILD POVERTY /VULNERABILITY / EDUCATION / I worry about DEBT all the time / I feel guilty when my mum doesn't eat! / The effect on Health issues will be felt for years to come / LOSS OF TALENT & VITALITY / We need to FIGHT for a HUGE POLITICAL SHIFT from a focus on FINANCIAL to WELLBEING measurements / It's getting harder to shield my children from reality / Remember that these graphs REAL PEOPLE. / STOP thinking about FIXING PEOPLE & start thinking about FIXING POLICIES / RETHINKING FOOD INSECURITY & FOOD ACCESS. / LOCAL GOVERNMENT PANDEMIC RESPONSES / REDUCE ISOLATION / Local is BEST / Co-operative membership model / Ethical Capital / CO-OPERATIVE Membership model / NON JUDGEMENTAL SPACES / POOLING RESOURCES / 24 hour vaccination / INNOVATIVE RESPONSE / Deepening Relationships / Diet Quality / Poverty / DISTRESS / POVERTY / DEBT ADVICE / Because I'm taking free food I want to give something back. We’re not all bums! / ETHICAL CAPITAL/ PROVIDING EMERGENCY & LONG TERM SOLUTIONS / Sense of COMMUNITY / ADDITIONAL SERVICES / FOOD PANTRIES / DIGNITY / 1 in 7 people are using food banks & it's getting worse / Food can be a stepping stone to long term support / LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE MODELS / INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE & HOPEFUL / Distress plays a critical role in food choices & OBESITY / CO-DESIGN / MUTUAL AID / Language around poverty MATTERS / LIVING INCOME / STRATEGIC GRASSROOTS CHANGE / END THE TWO CHILD BENEFIT CAP / Triple disadvantage: POVERTY DISABILITY FEMALE / UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS / FOOD BANKS ARE NOT THE SOLUTION / YOU ARE GROWNUPS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! / Keep the cultural edge ACTIVISM / EDUCATION = EMPOWERMENT / FIXING THE CAUSE NOT JUST THE PROBLEMS
