Welfare
Welfare reforms have driven up demand for many small and local charities. We’re pushing for changes to improve our welfare system
Welfare reforms have driven up demand for many small and local charities. We’re pushing for changes to improve our welfare system
Each month, charities tell us how demand for their services is rising in both numbers and complexity. They also tell us this is often a consequence of welfare reforms.
While we’re helping charities to respond to these demands through our core funding and development support, we need to influence the system if we’re going to stem demand. To do that we are looking at how we can influence improvements in the welfare system.
Universal Credit has presented a number of challenges to charities we fund and their clients. From difficulties with the digital process to the five-week wait for first payments, charities are providing more and more support as people struggle to access the benefits they need.
To look at this in more depth, we co-funded Bright Blue’s Helping Hand report focused on improving Universal Credit. Charities we fund fed evidence into this report, with a focus group also providing further context and challenge. We and Bright Blue have shared this with the government and are pushing for more changes to address the challenges in the system.
We’re also investing in a new project looking at how to improve crisis support in local areas. The withdrawal of the Social Fund and reduction in the availability of local welfare assistance schemes means it’s much harder for people to access support when they face financial crisis. We’re helping The Children’s Society to work with local charities and local authorities to pilot a more coordinated response.
We also draw on the insight we’ve gained from working with charities on welfare issues to respond to consultations on issues such as the five-week-wait for the first payment of Universal Credit:
A list of the charities awarded this funding can be found here.
We’ve been hearing for a long time from charities about challenges with the welfare system, but during the coronavirus pandemic, these issues have intensified. Many people have experienced a drop in their income in recent months and have needed to access welfare support. Record numbers of people are claiming Universal Credit and food banks have seen a rise in the number of people needing emergency support.
While the Government introduced temporary measures to ease the impact of some of these challenges, the consequences of the pandemic are going to be with us for much longer. As we recover from the initial impact of the pandemic, there may also be opportunities to influence change for the better, as we look at how we can rebuild from the crisis and what can be learned.
Rather than delivering services, we aim to allow charities a chance to think differently and focus on influencing change in the welfare system, through policy, research and campaigning.
We wanted this funding programme to benefit working-age adults who face the greatest challenges, such as those who are affected by the complex social issues that the Foundation focuses on – for example, people who are affected by domestic abuse, have experienced homelessness, are dealing with mental ill-health or are moving on from time in prison. More generally, it may mean people who are unable to access online support or processes, who are disproportionately affected by structural inequalities, those with no recourse to public funds or those who need support from others to navigate the benefits system and advocate for what they are entitled to.
This funding was targeted at work seeking to influence:
Applications for this fund closed on 30 September 2020 and we are no longer accepting proposals. You can read more about the fund, who is eligible in the guidance.