Lucy Bannister

Required watching for anyone commenting on the Budget. Was very disappointed by the @newsagents.bsky.social's narrative in their podcast yesterday.

Also - journalists - please use our 'Talking About Social Security' guide. Don't fuel harmful myths and stigma. www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/new...

Joined friends in the sector at @turn2us.org.uk parliamentary reception. Powerful speeches @lucybannister.bsky.social, @thomasjlawson.bsky.social, @andrewwesternmp.bsky.social @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social, @terryjermymp.bsky.social. Clear tackling stigma in the social security system is essential

Our new report - From stigma to support - sets out three critical changes to ensure the government's reforms actually improve the system:
1. Transform PIP - from interrogations to support
2. Invest in training & capacity of frontline DWP staff
3. End sanctions to nurture confidence and ambition

How trust could transform Britain's broken benefits system Lucy Bannister from Turn2us explains why trust, confidence and respect will be critical for the DWP’s goals in reforming benefits.

In the @bigissue.com I argue that a social security system designed around suspicion of claimants is ineffective & inefficient.

"By centring its reforms around building trust and treating people with dignity and respect, the government has an opportunity to build a system we can all be proud of."

Great to see you there Iain!

Great to be at powerful @turn2us.org.uk report launch in Parliament today, alongside @jrf-uk.bsky.social colleagues! Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need support, and treat people with compassion, dignity and respect #StopTheStigma

MP Terry Jermy holds a campaign board which states "Stop the stigma. Fix the system." Turn2us

We’re excited to keep working with our supporters, alongside MPs and the government to create a social security system we can all be proud of. Together we can #StoptheStigma and #FixtheSystem

@terryjermymp.bsky.social

Photo of crowd gathered to hear MP Steve Darling speak.

We’re so grateful to everyone who came to our campaign launch this morning. It was encouraging to see so many showing support for a social security system that treats everyone with dignity and respect.

Find the report on our website: www.turn2us.org.uk/stop-the-sti...

@stevedarlingmp.bsky.social

Great to represent @ifanuk.bsky.social in Parliament this morning at the launch of @turn2us.org.uk new campaign.
A brilliant event for a campaign that is desperately needed.
Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need it.
#stopthestigma #fixthesystem

An orange background with the Turn2us logo. Text reads: Stop the stigma. Fix the system. Join our campaign for change.

By ensuring its reforms build trust and restore dignity & respect, the government has an opportunity to deliver a social security system we can all be proud of.

Read our full recommendations 🤓 www.turn2us.org.uk/stop-stigma
And support our campaign 📣 www.turn2us.org.uk/stop-the-sti...

(END)

3. DWP need to stop the surveillance:
Sanctions and prescriptive conditionality are infantilising, erode trust and don't help people into work. We are backing @neweconomics.bsky.social's proposal for a 3-month period of voluntary engagement to instead nurture confidence, ambition and hope. (5/6)

2. DWP must restore trust as a foundation for effective
engagement:
Work coaches & assessors can either help overcome shame, build confidence and enable people to succeed – or further reinforce stigma. DWP staff need the time, capacity and training to build trust and provide tailored support. (4/6)

1. DWP need to transform access to PIP, from interrogation to support:
The Timms Review should consider learnings from Scotland’s embedding of dignity & respect, simplifying application forms, reducing unnecessary assessments, and assessors that understand the reality of life with a disability (3/6)

Our insights show that ambitions to support more people into new and better work are doomed to fail - unless the government addresses the reputation, culture and distrust of PIP assessments and Jobcentres.

We're calling for 3 changes for a more effective, efficient and compassionate system👇 (2/6)

A photo of a man in a wheelchair speaking to a woman. Text reads: Most of us will need the benefits system at some point. So it should treat us with dignity and respect. Stop the stigma. Fix the system. Turn2us logo.

🚨 Today we at @turn2us.org.uk are in parliament to launch our new report and campaign to #StopTheStigma and fix the system.

Almost all of us will need our social security system at some point in our lives, but our society's distrust of claimants has been baked into its policies and practice...(1/6)

I'm getting really really fed up at constant reassertion that welfare spending is "out of control" when it is the same as the average for the past few decades.

One reason disability benefit costs have risen is because core support has fallen.

Packed event at Labour Party Conference, where we put our findings on the impact of stigma to the Minister for Social Security & Disability.

Dehumanising processes are creating a culture of fear. If the government wants more effective employment support, they need to first rebuild trust in DWP.

Four panelists seated on a stage with microphones, participating in a live discussion during our event, with audience members visible.

Last night along with @thefabians.bsky.social we hosted our panel event on stigma.

It was great to hear the Minister, and so many of the audience questions emphasise that humanising the system is critical to any reform. Too often people are met with suspicion and control instead of support. #Lab25

A photo of the departures board at Euston Station showing we are going to Liverpool Lime Street.

I’m Sam the Policy & PA officer at Turn2us and I’ll be doing a takeover of our BlueSky account for #Lab25

We’re excited to be heading to Liverpool. Join us later today for our panel event with @thefabians.bsky.social

7PM at The Bluecoat: fabians.org.uk/social-insec...

This Sunday at the Labour Party Conference, we will put our latest research findings and recommendations to Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability.

Join us for a discussion with our panelists Professor Sara Davies, Katherine Sangster and @thomasjlawson.bsky.social

Demoralising, frustrating processes are harming individuals - half of claimants said the process worsened their mental health - and eroding trust in DWP.

To successfully improve employment support and the PIP assessment, government reforms must prioritise treating people with dignity and respect.

‘The benefits system is set up to make you fail – it’s devastating’ More than half of all benefit claimants (51 per cent) say that claiming has damaged their mental health, research from welfare charity Turn2Us reveals

This week @turn2us.org.uk released new research with Uni of Bristol, demonstrating how stigma towards claimants has broken our social security system.

Alex's story brings to life how damaging and nonsensical it is to treat people with such suspicion and contempt. This isn't working.

Social Insecurity | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Turn2us will be at the Labour Party Conference with the @thefabians.bsky.social, where we will put these findings to the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms.
 
Join us on the day at Bluecoats at 7pm, Sunday 28th Sept: fabians.org.uk/social-insec...

An image with the Turn2us logo and tagline "Tackling financial insecurity together." The main text states: "Our report highlights how institutional stigma within the benefits system fuels demoralising and infantilising processes, reducing confidence and worsening health. This not only damages claimants' self-worth but also undermines trust in the DWP and Jobcentres." Below the text is a photo of Lucy Bannister with the caption "Lucy Bannister, Head of Policy & Influencing, Turn2us."

We have today published new research with the @bristoluni.bsky.social which demonstrates the extent to which stigma has been embedded into the design of our social security system: bit.ly/47XWX5e

Social Insecurity: How to Restore Trust in the System

Sunday 28 | 19.00 | Bluecoat | @turn2us.org.uk

I was on £100k. Now I’m on my first trip to the job centre at 48 Three months ago Frank Gibson was a high earner in the tech industry. Now he’s lost his job and his savings have run out. Can a twentysomething with long pink nails and fake lashes help him find work?

Gross snobbery, but what shines through is a system broken by a focus on control rather than support.

When we're going through the demoralising search for a new job, the last thing we need is our time wasted or to be treated like a criminal.

Look out for new @turn2us.org.uk research next week...

A few days left to apply for our new Social Change Manager role at @turn2us.org.uk - driving forward our systemic change ambition to reduce the stigma associated with needing financial support.

If you're an inspiring, action-focused changemaker - please apply!
www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/job...

✊ Change happens when we stand together to demand it. Join our free Get Organised meetings for #ScotlandDemandsBetter!
www.povertyalliance.org/events-page/

White and orange copy on a black background: In a country as wealthy as ours, sickness should never mean hunger or eviction. Last week the government accepted the need for further review and consultation before making severe cuts to PIP. The same care must be taken with Universal Credit. Write to your MP Stop the cuts to Universal Credit

Tomorrow MPs will vote again on plans to cut over £200 a month from people too ill to work.

Like our NHS, our social security system should be there for all of us when we need it.

Now is your last chance to ask your MP to stop the cuts: act.turn2us.org.uk/page/173933/...

Section 2 of the Bill still halves the LCWRA (‘health’) element of universal credit