Fairer Future

03/05/2026

A group of senior health executives from Hywel Dda Health Board and Swansea Bay Health Board had a go at the budgeting exercise from our Making Sense of Poverty training workshop (link in comments). They discovered that a single parent with two teens on free school meals doesn't have enough money to meet the basics. Reach out if you'd like some training from the maker of

The basic rate of Universal Credit is JUST £98 a week. That's not enough to cover the costs of food, bills, transport and the essentials we all need.

This lack of support means that millions of people across the UK are skipping meals. And it's one of the main reasons why people turn to food banks.

That's why we're calling for an independent process to advise the UK Government on the minimum level for Universal Credit.

This would be grounded in evidence and advice from experts, including people who know what it's like to live on a low income.

You can stand with us to help call for change 👉 https://bit.ly/4czbN2v

15/04/2026

Possibly the most exciting video yet from Gary's Economics. Simple call to action: Make sure your friends, family and community know the reason they're struggling is ECONOMIC INEQUALITY. No disagreements here.

An election in Manchester, England, six weeks ago shows us what might be about to happen across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.UK register to vote ...

23/02/2026

Bridget Phillipson is on the radio today saying that the disadvantage gap is still wide and,"success should come to those who work hard, not just those with rich parents". If Labour is serious about this, then they need to embark on a concerted effort at addressing financial inequality. Tons of research by Kate Pickett, Danny Dorling, Richard Wilkinson and others shows that growing up in more unequal societies harms the way we think, feel and behave, resulting in repeating patterns of who enjoys "success" and who doesn't.

02/02/2026

Last week, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation launched its latest big report on poverty in the UK at a webinar which was engaging, insightful, depressing and uplifting all at the same time. The headline, which is not at all surprising to anyone aware of the drivers of poverty in the UK, is that it's getting worse. If you aren't clear why, please follow Gary's Economics and watch his films on YouTube, where there is a handy Playlist of a 3-part "course" in the UK's wealth inequality.

12/11/2025

Enjoying the speakers and conversations at today's event

10/11/2025

The Wellbeing Economy Cymru Festival of Ideas will be brilliant! Last year was inspiring, uplifting and positive; we're so chuffed to be on the programme this year!

We are talking to people about the economy, while walking across South Wales towards the Wellbeing Economy Festival of Ideas. If you can make it for part of the walk, or a post-walk catch up, we'd love to hear your perspectives....

Day 3 – 9th November- Remo’s, Aberavon Seafront, Port Talbot, SA12 6QW

Day 4- 10th November- Collaboration Station, Swansea SA1 3LG

Day 5 – 11th November- Swansea Community Farm, SA5 4BA

Day 6 – 12th November, Wellbeing Economy Cymru Festival of Ideas, Swansea Arena

https://wellbeingeconomy.cymru/walk

01/11/2025

This newsletter has some great content, we're very proud to have contributed to it! Great to see clear calls for the Two Child Limit to be scrapped. Please skim the article by Mary Sherwood about the importance of understanding this policy, and not talking about the "two child benefit cap", which causes confusion. 👍

The Autumn 2025 issue of Children in Wales magazine is here. Read it now: https://issuu.com/childreninwales/docs/ciw_magazine_autumn_2025_english?fr=xKAE9_zMzMw

This edition explores one of the most urgent challenges facing Wales today: child poverty. As the latest research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows, children growing up in poverty remain at a serious disadvantage, with Year 6 pupils in low-income families over two years behind their peers in literacy and numeracy.

At Children in Wales, we see how these statistics reflect the lived experiences of children and families across the country. Through our annual Child & Family Poverty Surveys, delivered with the End Child Poverty Network Cymru, we continue to capture the voices behind the data.

Inside this issue:
• Policy Director Sean O’Neill reports from Westminster on the re-formed All Party Parliamentary Group
• Barnardo’s Cymru calls for long-term solutions
• Insights from Credu, Welsh Refugee Council and Family Pathway
• Community-led responses from Play Wales, Buttle UK and the Welsh Local Government Association

A huge thank you to our members for their contributions and ongoing dedication. If you are not yet a member but would like to share your work or ideas in future issues, we would love to hear from you.

08/09/2025

Managing Menopause on a Tight Budget? - Join one of these FREE, supportive sessions offering clear, practical information during
Find out more and book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-menopause-on-a-tight-budget-tickets-1630953358399
Fairer Future

03/09/2025

We need to STOP talking about the Two Child Benefit Cap. Read Mary's article on LinkedIn explaining why.

The Benefit Cap was introduced in 2013 to assuage grumbles that some people who did not work in paid employment might end up with a higher level of income from welfare benefits than other people who did work in paid employment. Leaving aside the technicalities of the benefits system, which are immen

06/07/2025

⚖️"Making Sense of Poverty" ... it's a challenge, and we usually take half a day to get through it! Poverty feels like a complex topic, but our facts, exercises and discussions really help to simplify things. Mary is offering a short workshop at Buddhafield festival later this month, highlighting some aspects of our unequal economy, and what we as activists can do about it. 💪 *For more info about this, or our full training workshop, get in touch.*