Dr Millie Light

Parents and carers of @changingrealities.bsky.social are doing essential work to bring child poverty issues to the public eye as the govt prepare to publish their Child Poverty Strategy. Powerful words from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on scrapping the two child limit in this popular substack.

Today, we attended a roundtable at the HoL hosted by Baroness Ruth Lister on the subject of the Child Poverty Strategy. CR participants, inc. Jo & Brian, delivered powerful testimonies, using the space to push for an ambitious Strategy that genuinely confronts the root causes of child poverty. ✊

Our participant James has written an excellent piece for @scotsman.com. ✏️

"The fight for true social justice is long and arduous. But for that hour or so, in that grand room, we were not just the ‘marginalised’ or ‘the beneficiaries’, we were the experts."

Read: www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

Energy bills rise while Westminster talks immigration Why have our politicians forgotten about the cost-of-living crisis?

A couple of weeks ago, CR participant Brian spoke to @newstatesman1913.bsky.social about the continuation of the cost-of-living crisis, which he feels politicians have "completely pushed to one side." Read more: www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...

@uofglasgow.bsky.social
@uofgussp.bsky.social

Looking forward to discussing the vital need for improved support for children and young people with send with @theifs.bsky.social @helenmiller.bsky.social & colleagues, drawing on our own recent @changingrealities.bsky.social briefing changingrealities.org/writings/wha...

Fantastic to see the @changingrealities.bsky.social work led by our own @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social cited in this piece 💪

Urggghhh

“Peter Mandelson lost his job for being friends with a paedophile. Donald Trump, who was friends with the same paedophile, was given a state banquet hosted by a King whose brother lost his job because he was friends with the same paedophile.“

I'm a single dad asking Keir Starmer to do more to tackle child poverty Jonny Roberts is a single parent with two children. He is speaking at a Child Poverty Action Group event at the Labour Party Conference.

Jonny from CR spoke on a CPAG panel at the Labour Conference today. As published in @bigissue.com, Jonny says "The most depressing truth about child poverty isn’t how many children are in it, it’s how easy it is for the government to lift so many out."
www.bigissue.com/opinion/sing...

'Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty.': one conference attendee's experience - LabourList Jonny Roberts has come to conference to share his experience of being a single dad - and call for Labour to take bold action on child poverty.

A father from CR attended the Labour Conference this week. He reports of "a sense of duty to speak to my own personal experiences in order to bring some emotion – but also some everyday reality – to the urgent challenge of driving record rates of child poverty down".
labourlist.org/2025/09/chil...

'Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty.': one conference attendee's experience - LabourList Jonny Roberts has come to conference to share his experience of being a single dad - and call for Labour to take bold action on child poverty.

Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty: Jonny from Changing Realities at the Labour Party Conference: labourlist.org/2025/09/chil...

'Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty.': one conference attendee's experience - LabourList Jonny Roberts has come to conference to share his experience of being a single dad - and call for Labour to take bold action on child poverty.

Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty: Jonny from Changing Realities at the Labour Party Conference: labourlist.org/2025/09/chil...

I'm a single dad asking Keir Starmer to do more to tackle child poverty

Jonny Roberts is a single parent with two children. He is speaking at a Child Poverty Action Group event at the Labour Party Conference.

On Thursday 18th September, parents and carers from Changing Realities met with the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Philipson to discuss the forthcoming Schools White Paper. There was a focus on planned reforms to SEND,and parents and carers shared their hopes and fears for the White Paper. Parents also shared reflections on their recent experiences of SEND systems, and the ramifications of these everyday experiences for planned reforms. In this short policy note, we summarise reflections and priorities for change in this arena, including points raised by those at the meeting and by others who were unable to attend.

Following the meeting, @changingrealities.bsky.social has published a policy note that highlights key principles that it believes the White Paper should include 👇

www.changingrealities.org/writings/wha...

With credit to @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social @milliemaglet.bsky.social & Maddy Power 💪

Save NHS dentistry now! I just signed the 38 Degrees petition calling on the Government to properly fund NHS dentistry. Millions of us are still struggling to access affordable dental care, so now the Government needs to stu...

Millions of us are still struggling to access affordable NHS dental care. I’ve signed 38 Degrees’ petition demanding Keir Starmer properly funds NHS dentistry now, will you join me? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fu...

I couldn't afford to fix my broken bed. People in poverty like me need help with the essentials

Gloria Odhi, a participant of Changing Realities, shared her story with the Scottish first minister with the hope of inspiring change.

Parents from the Changing Realities meeting with First Minister John Swinney and MSP Shirley Anne Somerville.

“I feel confident and hopeful.”

Parents from @changingrealities.bsky.social - led by @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social - met with @johnswinney.bsky.social and @sa4dunfermline.bsky.social for discussions about the Scottish Government's Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.

More: gla.ac/3VGnVH0

People from Changing Realities standing on steps of Bute House, Edinburgh

Yesterday, Changing Realities parents sat around the table with the First Minister, John Swinney, and Cabinet Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, for vital discussions about the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.

It’s important for regular people, like me, to get their voices heard. Speaking out to encourage others to share their experiences. Together, we can push those with power to make changes to the system.

“You might not expect it from looking at me, but I’ve had the worst 10 years of my life”. Jimbo, a Changing Realities parent living in Scotland has written about Universal Credit reform in a blog called: ‘On speaking out for change’. Read here ⬇️ 📝

changingrealities.org/blog/on-spea...

"A vintage green typewriter with a blank yellow sheet of paper inserted, set against a solid red background."

CONTRIBUTE: The Sociological Review’s #openaccess digital magazine is inviting early career scholars to submit pitches for our #ResearchInsights series.

Editors Iris Pissaride & @juliettephd.bsky.social are seeking proposals for our December issue. Pitch deadline is 5 September.

🔎 buff.ly/Q5KZlcJ

Love writing with Tracey Jensen, one of my academic heroines, although a shame that this piece on the need to FINALLY end the two-child limit even needs to be written @csp-journal.bsky.social

Tony Livesey - 06/08/2025 - BBC Sounds Tony Livesey with late night conversation and in-depth interviews.

Economists are speculating about the likelihood of the Government raising taxes in the Autumn. 📻5 Live interviewed CR participant, Aurora, who says that things are ‘tough, and have been for a while’. Feature begins at 39 mins and you can 👂listen to Aurora from 44:44. 🎧🎤
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

World at One - Trouble for the UK Economy - BBC Sounds A report says Rachel Reeves must raise taxes to cover £41bn gap.

📻 Changing Realities participant, Aurora, was interviewed by World at One (R4) today to talk about worsening living standards in the UK. She discusses rising costs as a ‘hand to mouth situation’ that doesn’t look to be improving.👂 Listen to Aurora: 10.50 to 14mins. 🎧🎤
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Thank you, yes the intersection of these things is important to take note of I think. 🙏

Thank you Ellie, you have a powerful story there 🧡

Aww that’s so kind and supportive, thank you 🙏

The normalisation of privatisation in education, health & other social domains … it should not be ‘normal’ to pursue profit at the expense of a decent, functioning society that cares for children and each other 😱 ⬇️

Thanks so much for reading and for your words. Wishing you all the best!

Thank you! And thanks so much for sharing! Best wishes to you!

I'm a cancer survivor and I'm terrified of cuts to universal credit

Millie Light writes of the deep sorrow she feels for anyone who becomes sick or disabled with cancer after the universal credit cuts.