Poverty

September 2009 Poverty, inequality and human rights - Do human rights make a difference?

Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published in September 2009 looks at how other countries have used human rights to tackle poverty and how this could be applied in the UK.  It was written by Alice Donald and Elizabeth Mottershaw, associates of Global Partners and Associates (GPA),

The report covers:

  • how human rights have been used to understand poverty;
  • how communities experiencing poverty use human rights to act against injustice, build alliances between disparate groups, and articulate their conditions and claims;
  • the tools that communities and their allies use to hold the state accountable for its human rights obligations;
  • how human rights have been implemented in practice in anti-poverty work by governments and other organisations; and
  • lessons for integrating human rights and anti-poverty work in the UK.

    • Copy of the Report: JRF Poverty Inequality an Human Rights.pdf

    JRF Publications


    July 2009 Understanding the Risks of Social Exclusion Across the Life Course

    The Understanding the Risks of Social Exclusion Across the Life Course research project comprises four studies that map the risk of social exclusion among people and families at key life stages.  This research from the Universities of Bristol and York and from the National Centre for Social Research explores the risks of social exclusion among people and families across four key life stages:

  • Children and families
  • Youth and young adulthood
  • Working age without dependent children<.li>
  • Older people

    • The research uses an innovative approach to gain insights into the different triggers and risks that can lead to social exclusion. Understanding who experiences these risks and how they can impact on the lives of individuals and families is vitally important for improving public services.  Findings from the research will be used to help policy makers and service providers to better identify those most in need of help.  These studies provide further evidence supporting the Government’s drive to deliver more personalised and responsive public services. 

    The reports were commissioned by the Social Exclusion Task Force in the Cabinet Office and examined risk markers of social exclusion using a new analytical framework – the Bristol Social Exclusion Matrix – developed by researchers at the University of Bristol. 

    SEU Risks Families and Children.pdf
    SEU Risks Young People.pdf
    SEU Risks Working age without dependent children.pdf
    SEU Risks Older People.pdf

    Summary: Risks of Social Exclusion Summary.doc

    Link:Social Exclusion Unit at the Cabinet Office


    June 2009 JRF Poverty Reports

    In June 2009, the Jospeh Rowntree Foundation published ‘Understanding attitudes to tackling economic inequality’ by Louise Bamfield and Tim Horton. This is an important exploration of the underlying ‘drivers’ of public attitudes towards economic inequality and welfare policy.

    The Research: Understanding_Economic_Inequality_JRF_06.09_.pdf

    The Foundation has published several related studies:

    ‘What are the implications of attitudes to economic inequality?’ by Brendan Barber, Eileen Devaney and Philippa Stroud. This is a collection of viewpoints responding to work by the Fabian Society and Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) that looks at attitudes towards economic inequality and how to tackle it.
    Viewpoints.pdf

    ‘Political debate about economic inequality: An information resource’ by Ruth Sheldon with Reg Platt and Naomi Jones. This is a study that aims to increase understanding of how politicians think and talk about economic inequality, both in private and in public.
    Political_Debate.pdf

    ‘Building public support for eradicating poverty in the UK’ by Joke Delvaux and Sini Rinne. This looks at different ways of building public support for tackling UK poverty.
    Building_Public_Support_.pdf


    March 2009 The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better

    Based on 30 years of research, ‘The Spirit Level’ examines why large inequalities in income are regarded as socially divisive and corrosive, and why it is that in rich societies, the poor always suffer more than in moderately well-off societies.

    Articles about the findings:

    The Theory of Everything: The_Spirit_Level_Guardian_12.03_.09_.doc
    The way we live now: The_Spirit_Level_Guardian_14.30_.09_.doc

    ‘The Spirit Level : Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better’ by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett 331pp, Allen Lane, £20.
    The book can be ordered from The Guardian Bookshop


    January 2009 New Opportunities White Paper - Fair Chances for the Future

    On the 13th January 2009, the Cabinet Office announced the publication of the New Opportunities White Paper which detailed plans covering a range of government departments and ‘offering focused support for people at key stages of their lives to make the most of their potential’.

    Cabinet Office Press Release: Cabinet_Office_Press_Release.doc

    Copy of the White Paper: New_Opportunities_White_Paper_Jan_09.pdf

    Link to Government New Opportunities website.


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