When Depression Meets Poverty: The Silent Collapse No One Sees
What depression really feels like when money runs out: the hidden impact of sanctions, unemployment, and trauma, plus practical steps to help people slowly rebuild hope.
Rising Tide of Disability Among Children
A recent study by the Resolution Foundation has revealed a concerning trend in England and Wales: 1.2 million children are now living with a disability, with the most significant increase observed among teenagers. This statistic is a sobering reminder of the growing challenges facing today’s youth, particularly regarding mental health issues, which have seen a sharp rise in recent years.
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Universal Credit Reforms
Labour is facing the prospect of another mass rebellion from its own MPs as concerns mount over proposed reforms to the universal credit system. The focus of unease is on changes to the assessment process for disability benefits, particularly the health element of universal credit (UC).
From Adversity to Advocacy: Charities Volant Trust & Lumos.org
How one woman’s journey through grief and hardship led to the creation of two powerful charities – and why her story continues to inspire global change. When we think of JK Rowling, most picture the global Harry Potter phenomenon. But behind the fame is a woman who once lived on state benefits, writing in cafes while caring for a young child as a single mother battling grief after losing her mother to Multiple Sclerosis.
Britain’s Hidden Hunger: The Crisis of Child Poverty in the UK
The prevalence of child poverty is not an accident; it is a consequence of policies, priorities, and political inertia. When the government subsidises steak dinners in Westminster while a child in the UK skips meals, something is deeply broken. If deprivation becomes acceptable, we risk losing the very soul of our society. It’s time for bold, compassionate leadership that puts children first, not after debates, not after budgets, but now.
UN Raises Alarm Over Labour’s Disability Benefit Cuts: “A Continuation of Tory Austerity”
An urgent letter from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to the UK government has sparked outrage and concern within the disability community. The correspondence, sent Monday evening (07/07/25), follows a coordinated campaign by disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) who presented damning evidence of how the proposed cuts to out-of-work disability benefits could worsen the lives of thousands of disabled people.
A Nation on Edge: What You Need to Know About Labour’s Benefits Reform and the PIP Shake-Up
“Vouchers Are Not A Lifeline, They Are A Limitation. This move is discriminatory, removes choice, and reinforces stigma”.
Furthermore, vouchers could severely isolate individuals with non-visible or fluctuating disabilities who may already struggle to go outside, use public transport, or interact with others due to pain, fatigue, or anxiety. For example, someone with severe OCD, PTSD, or Crohn’s disease may rely on online retailers or niche services for survival, many of which may not accept government-issued vouchers.
Welfare Vote Sparks Outrage Amid Criticism of ‘Two-Tier’ PIP Plans
While reforming PIP to make it more compassionate and efficient is a valid goal, the current welfare vote signals a dangerous turn toward conditionality and restriction. The proposed “two-tier” approach risks further marginalising vulnerable people and failing to address the diverse spectrum of disability and illness in the UK. Without meaningful consultation, real investment, and a focus on dignity and independence, the government may not be reforming welfare, but dismantling it.
⚖️ Concessions in the Welfare Reform Bill & What It Means
In a significant pivot, the UK government has introduced major concessions to its welfare reform bill, aiming to balance fiscal caution with social justice. The move follows mounting pressure from disability rights advocates, backbench MPs, and public concern about the sweeping changes initially proposed.
Understanding Disability Fluctuations
No two disabled people are the same, and no two days are alike—yet current disability assessments fail to recognise this vital reality. Understanding Disability Fluctuations and the Need for Reform in PIP Assessments