Key statistics
29%
of respondents to our Life in the UK 2024 survey couldn’t afford an unexpected £850 payment.
12 million
people in the UK are forecast to live in absolute poverty in 2024/25. (Resolution Foundation)
14%
of people can’t afford to keep their home warm. (Life in the UK 2024)
Project summary
Lasting social change only happens when people who have experience of the issue participate in generating the change.
Since April 2023, Carnegie UK has been working in solidarity with members of the Poverty Truth Community across the UK. The purpose of this programme of work is to learn more about the reality and consequences of inequality in the UK and to create a shared vision of what a society that puts collective wellbeing at the heart of decision-making could and should look like.
Built on the premise that ‘nothing about us, without us, is for us’ the Poverty Truth Network brings people with experience of living in poverty together with leaders and decision-makers. The aim of this partnership is simple: to see what change can happen when we spend time listening to each other, building empathy, sharing wisdom, and forming trusting relationships to make a more informed case for change.
In 2024, our conversations focussed on democracy, and we came together to create a Poverty Truth manifesto, imagine a Poverty Truth parliament and write our own maiden speech.
Partners
Want to find out more?
Our key contact for this programme is:
Sarah Davidson is chief executive at Carnegie UK. From 1995 to 2019 Sarah was a civil servant working for the UK and Scottish Governments in policy and operational roles. Her last post in government was director general for organisational development and operations.
Sarah is an honorary professor at the Glasgow University Centre for Public Policy; chairs the charity WEvolution which supports women in Scotland facing economic and social stress; and is a director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Help us make the case for wellbeing policy
Keep in touch with Carnegie UK’s research and activities. Learn more about ways to get involved with our work.
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