Thanks to Joseph Rowntree Foundation I got the chance to write on
3 of my favourite topics
#EverydayCitizenship People Focused Group + #neighbourhoods
In essence I argue we need to wake up and act like citizens
+ we know some of what helps
Jon Alexander Glyn Butcher Cormac Russell
linkedin.com/posts/simonjoh…

I remember when the sure starts I worked out of started to close. We knew at the time it was going to be devastating for young people’s outcomes.

It actually hurts to see this analysis.

🗣️ It’s time to rewrite the social contract on the assumption that everyone, particularly people who are so often excluded, can improve things by getting involved.

Simon J Duffy of Citizen Network calls us to embrace ‘active citizenship’ in this blog: jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoods….

Today, Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published the 1st of a 3 part blog series on tackling hardship in neighbourhoods.

Katie Schmuecker and I reflect on the central themes of the first four blogs which explore our understanding of hardship beyond material deprivation and social connection👇

Lack of money is the core of poverty & money is central to solutions

But community & connection are crucial too for building psychological & material resilience

I saw out my Joseph Rowntree Foundation fellowship editing this series with Katie Schmuecker & Rachel Casey

Have a look

🗣️ 'Public services must shift from firefighting to prevention'

🔁 Demos CEO Polly Curtis calls for a culture change, advocating for a state that invests in social infrastructure and community networks to prevent problems before they arise. Read more: jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoods….

🎯Target support at ‘doubly-disadvantaged' neighbourhoods with high deprivation and low social infrastructure to empower resident-led initiatives for change.

Read more from  Margaret Bolton and Millie Dessent of Local Trust 🔽 jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoods….

🔑 Racialised communities hold vital insights into tackling hardship and have real, visceral knowledge of the issues that affect them.

📖 Read Lela Kogbara, Co-Director of Place Matters' blog on the power of community-led solutions and data democracy here: jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoods….

💭 Simon J Duffy of Citizen Network calls us to embrace ‘active citizenship’, where everyone has a contribution to make. He points to People Focused Group peer-support as an example.

Read the full blog here: jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoods….

Today, Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published the 1st of a 3 part blog series on tackling hardship in neighbourhoods.

Katie Schmuecker and I reflect on the central themes of the first four blogs which explore our understanding of hardship beyond material deprivation and social connection👇

A reminder that despite it being good news that inflation has come down a lot today, benefit increases still lag behind overall, food and energy inflation, with the gap opening up over the last three years. Overall inflation up 20%, food up 30%, energy up 75%, benefits up 13.5%.

Why have British sea-fronts gone from Tourism hotspots to Housing Benefit hotspots?

Take Blackpool - along the seafront there are over 6 private rented HB claims for every 10 households (of all tenures), with over £1 in every £3 in rent paid through housing benefit.
🧵⬇️

Two new Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports: on housing and childcare. The common thread? Systems that too often serve wealthy owners chasing rents and profits rather than people's ordinary hopes - for a decent affordable home or decent affordable childcare. 1/4

Household support fund being extended for just 6 months continues the trend to date - money in dribs and drabs with changing rules and no certainty. It means local authorities and their partners can't strategically address hardship in their area...

Some advice to the chancellor on things he should and shouldn’t do in the Budget this week, including from me ⬇️

theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/m…

🗣️'Removing the Household Support Fund will push more people into poverty'

📢 We need a social security system that supports all of us which is why we are calling on the government to extend the Household Support Fund on Wednesday.🏠

bit.ly/3UZZxkx.

As part of the AI for public good project at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 4 brilliant writers explore the power of AI narratives - how they relate to digital inclusion, AI literacy, data narratives, and public engagement.

Link to all essays, plus my own reflections below!💡
jrf.org.uk/ai-for-public-…

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation Joseph Rowntree Foundation poverty report out today makes grim reading, millions'd need to DOUBLE incomes to escape poverty & over 14m in the UK fit its poverty defintion:- jrf.org.uk/uk-poverty-202…

It asked me in advance for a comment in its press release, I added

'I…

A story of moral and fiscal irresponsibility.