Changing Realities

Changing Realities

@changingrealities.bsky.social

Participatory project involving parents and carers living on a low income across the UK, Working with researchers, artists and Child Poverty Action Group to improve lives. Thanks to Impact on Urban Health & Robertson Trust. linktr.ee/changingrealities

543 followers144 following177 posts

View full thread
View full thread
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

We have also held in-person launches in Brixton, Bradford & Glasgow, where we have spoken with neighbours, communities, grassroots organisations, councillors, charities & funders about the intersections between financial insecurity and familial mental health struggle. You can see pics in the thread.

Changing Realities reposted

UofG School of Social & Political Sciences
@uofgsps.bsky.social

Ahead of tomorrow's budget @changingrealities.bsky.social are calling for Andy Burnham to deliver on his pledge for a 'cost of living' government - and get families living in poverty the urgent help they so desperately need. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.comUK shop price inflation ‘highest since 2024’ as retailers struggle to limit price risesBritish Retail Consortium says ‘dam is starting to break on the huge wave of costs’ being kept from consumers
View full thread
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Ella shares her thoughts about past and potentially future work with the UK Government to improve support for families on low incomes using public participation methods: www.changingrealities.org/blog/in-the-...

changingrealities.orgchangingrealities.orgLast week, myself and some other participants from Changing Realities previously involved in writing the Foreword of the Child Poverty Strategy were invited into 10 Downing Street for a Workshop on Public Participation. The session, led by Tessy Ojo and Helen Warren, centred on breakout discussions with small groups of lived experience participants from different sectors including teachers, community activists, youth group leaders and others.
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Can you help us start the next stage of our journey, always trying to do all we can to make sure that the expertise that comes with lived experiences is included across policy, research and campaigning? [please share: we need help to get where we want to be] goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP...

goodmoves.orgCommercial Champion (Consultancy) with University of Glasgow – GoodmovesThis is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled and experienced social entrepreneur to support the establishment of a new charitable organisation, Changing Realities. What started life as ...
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Timely piece from @uiscejordan.bsky.social in @theconversation.com - those in Liverpool for @labouruk.bsky.social conference should listen directly to those at the sharpest edge of the ongoing cost of living crisis {watch this space for more on this, thanks to @nuffieldfoundation.org funding}

Dr Uisce Jordan@uiscejordan.bsky.social

Andy Burnham wants to run a ‘cost of living government’ – here’s what he can learn from families living through the crisis. Drawing on @changingrealities.bsky.social, I explore what rising costs look like in everyday life – and what policymakers can learn. theconversation.com/andy-burnham... 1/2

theconversation.comAndy Burnham wants to run a ‘cost of living government’ – here’s what he can learn from families living through the crisisResearch gives us an insight into what families have experienced through years of rising costs.

Changing Realities reposted

Dr Uisce Jordan
@uiscejordan.bsky.social

New publication out! 🎉 ‘Devolution in practice: how social policy shapes the everyday realities of low-income families in Scotland' - findings from @changingrealities.bsky.social Do reach out if you'd like a copy :) bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...

bristoluniversitypressdigital.comDevolution in practice: how social policy shapes the everyday realities of low-income families in ScotlandDevolution has offered Scotland the chance to reshape social security around the voices of those who use it. Drawing on findings from Changing Realities, this article examines how these devolved polic...

Changing Realities reposted

Dr Uisce Jordan
@uiscejordan.bsky.social

📣 Next week we’re starting a new 6-month project at @uofgussp.bsky.social We’ll be working with families across the UK to understand, in real time, how the US-Iran conflict and rising food, fuel and energy costs are affecting everyday life @changingrealities.bsky.social 1/2

Nuffield Foundation@nuffieldfoundation.org

'Budgeting for the basics: household impacts & policy interventions' led by Uisce Jordan (@glasgow.ac.uk)

Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

As food, fuel and energy costs continue to rise, this work is needed more than ever. Thanks to @nuffieldfoundation.org this rapid review will bring families’ real-time experiences directly to policymakers - helping to show what support is working, who is being missed, and what needs to change.

Nuffield Foundation@nuffieldfoundation.org

'Budgeting for the basics: household impacts & policy interventions' led by Uisce Jordan (@glasgow.ac.uk)

Changing Realities reposted

Prof Ruth Patrick
@ruthpatrick0.bsky.social

Late to share (cos life) We need to talk more about fact UK still has a Benefit Cap, & one that causes real, lasting harm, while ascribing the thousands of families affected with a power they do not have. 📖 New article on @nuffieldfoundation.org funded research www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

cambridge.orgAn impossible move? Households’ experiences of trying to escape the UK’s benefit cap | Journal of Social Policy | Cambridge CoreAn impossible move? Households’ experiences of trying to escape the UK’s benefit cap
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Dog Days! New participant blog about the political and climatic heatwave(s) in the UK. Read 'Dog Days - Changing Political Weather' by Nik below: www.changingrealities.org/blog/dog-day...

changingrealities.orgchangingrealities.orgThe air is stifling, hot, with high humidity. It’s actually a bit hard to breathe. Working in school today, staff were wondering why the floors were wet. At first they thought something was spilt and not cleaned up. The heat and unbearable moisture in the air condensates on the flooring, adding another risk to having too many children and adults in spaces never designed for these high temperatures. No one knows what the rules are. Guidance from the DfE is light on decision making but there is a definite lean towards: don’t close schools as schools are the best place for children to learn.

Changing Realities reposted

Dr Millie Light
@milliemaglet.bsky.social

@changingrealities.bsky.social at a select committee in Westminster this morning:

Changing Realities@changingrealities.bsky.social

Tune in now for our take over of the @houseofcommons.parliament.uk Work & Pensions & Education Select Committee. Seven parents sharing experiences & expertise about what needs to change if we are to make a real dent in child poverty [ w/ @cpaguk.bsky.social ] www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

parliamentlive.tvParliamentlive.tvWork and Pensions Committee and Education Committee
View full thread
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

We have written previously about how to fix some of the shortcomings with our social security system, on how we should listen & learn on Universal Credit with @resolutionfoundation.org www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

resolutionfoundation.orgListen and learn • Resolution FoundationApril 2026 will mark a true milestone for the UK benefits system: the end of the thirteen-year rollout of Universal Credit (UC) that has brought together all means-tested working-age benefits. From th...
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Great to hear one of our participants, Sarah, being quoted in Ruth Lister's speech on how the proposed Home Office reforms will impact refugee children living in poverty.

Ilona Pinter@ilonapin.bsky.social

Great to hear Baroness Lister quote Sarah's words in her speech on the child poverty strategy during the Lords debate this afternoon (at 14:25) tinyurl.com/2rydys7s - from our blog post 'What do Home Office reforms mean for refugee children growing up in poverty?' ▶️ blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

parliamentlive.tvParliamentlive.tvHouse of Lords

Changing Realities reposted

Jean McEwan
@jeanmmcewanartist.bsky.social

Pieces of Hope Held Tightly in Tired Hands: Please join us for the online launch on Thursday of the new @changingrealities.bsky.social zine The zine explores intersections of poverty and mental health through powerful artwork, poetry & audio. #zines www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pieces-of-...

eventbrite.co.ukPieces of Hope Held Tightly in Tired Hands: Changing Realities Zine LaunchChanging Realities will be hosting a public-facing roundtable session from our mental health campaign

Changing Realities reposted

Ilona Pinter
@ilonapin.bsky.social

📣NEW BLOG: What do Home Office asylum & refugee reforms mean for children growing up in poverty? Sarah, a parent from our Family Finances study, shares how these reforms are already having an impact on her family @uofgussp.bsky.social @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

blogs.lse.ac.ukWhat do Home Office reforms mean for refugee children growing up in poverty? | LSE British PoliticsThe reforms to asylum and refugee policy anounced by the Home Office are already having a negative impact on assylum seekrs and their children.
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Join us next Thursday for our Zine Launch where we'll hear from participants & artists. If you're interested in exploring the deep intersections between poverty and mental health please come along. Thanks to @impurbanhealth.bsky.social for supporting this event. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pieces-of-...

eventbrite.co.ukPieces of Hope Held Tightly in Tired Hands: Changing Realities Zine LaunchChanging Realities will be hosting a public-facing roundtable session from our mental health campaign

Changing Realities reposted

Urban Studies & Social Policy
@uofgussp.bsky.social

One of our projects, @changingrealities.bsky.social is hosting an online event on Thurs 4 June to celebrate the launch of their Zine, highlighting the importance of creative methods in amplifying the lived experience of participants. Book your place 👉 tinyurl.com/379573fa

tinyurl.comPieces of Hope Held Tightly in Tired Hands: Changing Realities Zine LaunchChanging Realities will be hosting a public-facing roundtable session from our mental health campaign
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Changing Realities participants have been using their lived expertise to engage with the Schools White Paper and SEND reform. Nik writes about her experiences of parenting a SEND child while living in poverty, and a roundtable with Sec. of State 4 Education: www.changingrealities.org/blog/jugglin...

changingrealities.orgchangingrealities.orgI have just returned home to Cornwall from London. Not on a trip to see the Queen as the rhyme goes but to see the Secretary of State. I was part of a crew of people who presented their lived experience of juggling poverty and being a parent of a child or children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) in response to the recent White Paper on SEND reforms.
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

A couple of great participant blogs from the past week. ✍️ Beauty M writes about the lifting of the two-child limit, the impact this will have for families and how this needs to be the start of more reform to the benefits system. Read here: changingrealities.org/blog/breakin...

changingrealities.orgchangingrealities.orgAfter years of dedicated advocacy, thorough research, and the unwavering voices of families affected by the two-child benefit cap, we’re finally seeing a significant and hopeful shift in the social policy landscape of the United Kingdom. This moment didn’t just happen by chance. It’s the result of relentless work by groups like Changing Realities, whose dedication to amplifying the voices of families affected by the cap has been vital. Changing Realities, along with various charities, campaigners, and individuals who have lived through these challenges, have been crucial in highlighting the real human impact of this policy. Their efforts, which have been rooted in shared personal stories and campaigning for lived experience to be regarded as ‘evidence’, have transformed the national dialogue and sparked momentum for change. As we stand on the brink of this long-awaited reform, there’s a palpable sense of relief, renewal, and cautious optimism in the air.
Changing Realities
@changingrealities.bsky.social

Sahar writes about her experience at the election hustings hosted by @povertyalliance.org a couple of weeks ago. It discusses some of the candidate responses and calls for more policy interventions to support struggling families across Scotland. Read here: changingrealities.org/blog/the-202...

changingrealities.orgchangingrealities.orgIn general, I have some very big feelings about the coming election. I feel very uncertain about what is going to happen next in Scotland and who will come into power, which is also causing feelings of confusion and worry for me and others around me.