- Influence policy and practice
- Support communities to challenge poverty
- Build the anti poverty movement
- Change attitudes
- Provide evidence through research
The change we want to see
Adequate
incomes
Poverty restricts people’s choices and their ability to take part in society. Every worker should be paid the Real Living Wage and benefits must cover people’s needs.
Access to high-quality public services
People living on low incomes are more likely to rely on public services. These services have a huge role in reducing the cost of living.
Opportunities to participate
People with lived experience of poverty must have their voices heard in policy-making processes. It’s the right thing to do and will create better solutions to poverty.
Public
support
To end poverty we need public support for redesigning our economy. And in the short-term we need to end the discrimination that people on low incomes face.
What we believe
Our work is driven by our values:
Human Rights
We believe that the existence of poverty represents a breach of fundamental human rights. We place our concerns within the wider framework of human rights, equality of opportunity and of social, economic and environmental justice.
Income adequacy
Central to our rights based understanding of poverty, is the recognition that every person has the right to an adequate income. This right must be at the heart of long term strategies to address poverty, whether these incomes are delivered through the labour market, the state or a combination.
Dignity and Respect
Central to everything that we do is the principle that all people must be treated with dignity and respect. We put this principle into practice in our own work as well as encouraging others to build this into their work and lives.
Equality
We recognise that some groups, for example disabled people, women, people from black and ethnic minority communities, are more at risk of poverty. We will ensure that the work we do reflects the differing experiences that people have of poverty.
Empowerment
We are committed to the empowerment of people living in poverty and seek to promote this in our own practice as well as encouraging others to build this into their work. Empowerment is a process whereby people can gain more control and influence over the decisions that affect their lives.
Participation
We believe that people who experience poverty should be able to contribute to finding the solutions to the problems that affect their lives. We aim to put this principle of participation into practice in our own work by ensuring that time and resources are available to allow meaningful engagement in our activities.
Partnership
We are committed to the principle that poverty is not simply a problem for those who experience it but is the responsibility of our whole society. We work with a broad range of organisations including community and voluntary organisations, trade unions, faith-based organisations, political parties, public sector bodies, as well as the private sector.
Organisational independence
Regardless of funding, we retain our right to act as an independent organisation. We are non-party political, and will work with all organisations that support our aims and our values.
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