If you're interested in #participatoryresearch, #poverty, or #welfarereform — we hope this piece offers something useful to reflect on and build from. 🧩

It's available open access:
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...

with @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social @katiepybus.bsky.social

Getting the child poverty strategy we need: A co-produced agenda for change | IPPR Any credible child poverty strategy must act directly to put more money into parents’ pockets. This starts with the removal of the two-child limit and bene

🤝| NEW REPORT: The government has an opportunity to turn the tide on child poverty. Our joint roadmap with @changingrealities.bsky.social‬ & @cpaguk.bsky.social‬ sets out what a serious strategy must include. Shaped by lived experience, grounded in policy evidence.
www.ippr.org/articles/get... (1/3)

Looking after children is important and vital work; and it’s imperative that parents and carers have access to high quality and affordable childcare, both in order to support their children’s development and also to support them in their other forms of work: be it education, training, caring, or participation in the formal labour market. Recent years have seen a growing focus on the importance of improving the UK’s childcare offer, and we have seen a range of policy changes to try and improve what is provided and on what basis. This briefing sets out the experiences of parents and carers on a low income, and makes clear the distance that still needs to be travelled if we are to move to a situation in which all parents can access affordable and decent childcare provision. We share evidence of parents’ experiences and challenges around finding childcare that fits with working hours; systemic issues with affordability; and the pressing need to improve support for childcare through Universal Credit. There is also a need to improve childcare for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and to rethink how childcare support is made available during school holidays.

🔥📖 out today, shares firsthand accounts of how the childcare system is failing parents on a low-income and sets out co-produced recommendations for how it could be improved 🔥📖

changingrealities.org/writings/it-...

[Please read & share this short 🧵]

@policypress.bsky.social

Benefit cuts risk harming mental health - Transforming Society Katie Pybus, author of 'Fairer Welfare Systems for Better Mental Health', shows how planned cuts to disability benefits risk worsening mental health and poverty, highlighting the need for a more compa...

"Rather than seeing social security as a burden, we should see it as an investment that underpins good mental health, both now and into the future." My article for Transforming Society on disability benefit cuts: www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/04/15/b...

Please help spread the word – especially if you know parents/carers who might be interested.
Every story shared helps build a fuller picture.

If you'd like flyers get in touch safety-nets-project@york.ac.uk

#SocialSecurity #UKBenefits #ParentVoices #SafetyNets

Safety nets — Social security for families in a devolved UK This project will explore the extent of the devolution of social security within the UK and the realities, risks, and opportunities this poses for families with dependent children.

Safety Nets are looking for parents and carers of under-18s to share their experiences of how social security differs across the 4 nations of the UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇬🇧. To find out more information or register your interest, please click this link: safetynets.study/take-part

Changes to the disability benefits system need to prioritise evidence over short term cost savings Cutting benefits doesn’t necessarily reduce costs or move people closer to the labour market, writes Katie Pybus The debate over rising numbers of people claiming disability benefits in the United K...

My new article for @bmj.com about how recently announced changes to health and disability benefits risk causing further harms to mental health: www.bmj.com/content/389/...

'The Labour party say that they will protect the most vulnerable but they are planning to slash benefits and make claiming benefits like PIP much harder.' - Lisa from Changing Realities responds to the green paper: changingrealities.org/blog/it-s-a-...

A must read piece from Brian @changingrealities.bsky.social in today’s Guardian on these ill conceived cuts to support for those who need it most www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I’m a single mother with MS on benefits – Labour’s welfare cuts will ruin us The process of applying for financial help is already humiliating and distressing enough, writes Gabriel Kennedy. Families like mine – I have two autistic children – need support and compassion, not m...

Worth signing up to @the-independent.com to read Gabriel's piece on the cuts: ' I already put every penny I have into the children and their needs and I can’t tighten my belt any further... I would urge the government to think again.'

www.independent.co.uk/voices/singl...

“I had hoped that the Labour party would act in a more ‘human-centred’ and compassionate way, that they would understand the plight of vulnerable people…” - read Arjan’s reaction to proposed cuts: 👇

Thank you @driancummins.bsky.social!

Fairer Welfare Systems for Better Mental Health Fairer Welfare Systems for Better Mental Health - A New State of Mind; Focusing on three key areas: prevention, support and investment, this book argues that tackling poverty and financial insecurity ...

Available in hardback and ebook at:

policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/fairer-welfa...

I'm pleased to say that my new book 'Fairer welfare systems for better mental health' has now been published by @policypress.bsky.social! It argues that well-designed social security systems could play a central role in improving population mental health and sets out ideas for change.

Thank you @profkepickett.bsky.social!!