Poverty is a temporary experience for some and a long-term situation for others. It can be hidden or very visible.  It can be worsened by international, national, or even personal changes and can feel very much out of your control, leaving a long-lasting impact on those it touches. 

Being in poverty means different things to different people; and that’s one of the main reasons why there are so many ways of measuring or defining it. Definitions can rely on information about people’s incomes, or housing costs, and some talk about material essentials or experiences people need for a decent standard of living. Which is why our research will be so important in giving those experiencing poverty a voice. 

Experts are however in agreement, that poverty exists when people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs across the following areas and these are the areas we work across in partnership with our largest donor, Aster Group: 

• Employment/ work  

• Money/ financial  

• Mental wellness or social connections  

• A home. 

With strong links between social housing and poverty with *46% of social renters living in relative poverty in 2019/20, compared to 11% of those who have a mortgage, or even 33% who were private renters (Poverty in the UK: statistics - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk) partnering with Aster Group is a natural fit to ensure our services reach those most in need. 

We are really proud to say that we spend 78 pence in every pound on direct charitable activity. The other 22 pence enable us to keep our charity running safely with talented people who are paid fairly for the work they do.