Voted for Sadiq Khan. At the food bank, have seen so many times the vital difference free school meals make to children in poverty. The thought of these going is worrying.

This is such an awful decision. It needs to be reviewed ASAP as Dr Rosena Allin-Khan outlines

On reflection I don’t think the Conservatives should return Hester’s money.
Instead they should have to print on every leaflet and show at the beginning of every political broadcast.

‘ Brought to you courtesy of the man who wants black women MP’s shot’

Distributing unconditional cash payments is “the most effective, most efficient way” of dealing with poverty…Absolutely Rory Stewart In the UK and overseas IFAN Greater Manchester Poverty Action The Trussell Trust LoriHughes #CashFirst foodaidnetwork.org.uk/infographics

As Sabine Goodwin from IFAN rightly points out here, the 6 month household support fund extension is just a drop in the ocean.
bigissue.com/opinion/househ…

“Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.”
— Margaret Atwood

Happy #IWD , everyone.

Our latest figures show just how perilous the situation is for people facing hardship as well as overstretched food banks. A six-month extension of the #HouseholdSupportFund is too little, too late and falls far short of what is needed➡️ bit.ly/3wP1KFi #SaveCrisisSupport

Our The Trussell Trust verdict on the Chancellor's #Budget2024
The Good: welcome action to extend Household Support Fund & reduce burden of debt deductions from Universal Credit.
The Bad: short-term sticking plasters, no long-term solutions... 1/3

My The Guardian story: Millions of people – including one in five families with children – have gone hungry or skipped meals in recent weeks because they could not regularly afford to buy groceries, finds The Food Foundation food insecurity tracker theguardian.com/society/2024/f…

Important piece by Sabine Goodwin. The Household Support Fund provides a tiny, yet vital, safety line for dark days when there's no food or heating. When this goes the consequences will be stark.

NEW: Not only are Universal Credit claimants twice as likely to be sanctioned as before the pandemic...

...but now it turns the length of those sanctions has risen too

My report for the Big Issue on the figures showing how sanctions are getting harsher 👇bigissue.com/news/social-ju…

More than 8 out of 10 of the councils that responded to a Local Government Association (LGA) survey say that financial hardship has increased in their areas just as vital local funding used to support vulnerable households is due to end. #SaveCrisisSupport
local.gov.uk/about/news/pre…

So sad to read the news about Derek Draper. I was lucky to be coached by him in a previous job.

He was so kind, insightful, and funny. What a loss. Thoughts with his family #ripderek

For some, the Christmas period can be a challenging and anxious time.

If you are worried about your mental health, then please reach out:

Samaritans: 116 123
Calm: 0800 58 58 58
Young Minds: Text YM to 85258

Please share and support others this Christmas.

Much needed royal support but it’s vital that Christmastime awareness raising is twinned with calls for systemic change. Help now is essential, but acts of kindness on their own aren’t going to stop people needing baby banks, food banks or warm banks #CashFirst IFAN

Wrote this piece for the Big Issue about the pressure on food bank volunteers. At the recent IFAN conference, this topic came up again and again.
bigissue.com/opinion/food-b…

Devastating UNICEF league table on changes in child poverty over 7+ years up to 2021: UK in the bottom spot

Report: unicef.org/globalinsight/…

“How much time, effort and fuel could be saved if people had enough money to go to a shop and buy food for themselves? How much stress, shame and poor health could be prevented?” ⁦ #CashFirst ⁦IFAN⁩ ⁦Maria Marshall⁩ theguardian.com/society/2023/n…