Z2K (Zacchaeus 2000 Trust)

DWP job coaches could be coming to a GP surgery near you The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced plans for job coaches to be placed in GP surgeries.

We spoke to @bigissue.com about plans to embed job advisers in GP surgeries and mental health services.

Investing in employment support is positive, but we also need a positive vision for disability benefits reform - not more ill-considered cuts.

www.bigissue.com/news/employm...

Three quotations from participants in Z2K's temporary accommodation project: "It's a project for hope to really keep pushing for the society we want to live in." "It's helped in taking away the stigma for me." "It was a privilege to be part of every step."

Temporary accommodation residents have been sharing their experiences of working on our participatory research and action project.

If you can afford to do so, donate to support our work: z2k.org/donate-z2k/

Improving access to mental health support is vital.

But returning to the same old failed approach of limiting eligibility for benefits is not the solution to economic inactivity.

We need reform - not more cuts.

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November’s budget Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year

Half measures won't do the trick.

Partly mitigating the effects of this policy could still leave hundreds of thousands of children trapped in poverty.

The whole two-child limit must go.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

More and more MPs are calling for the two-child limit to be scrapped.

It will only pull more and more children into poverty unless the government acts.

Time to bin this cruel policy. 🗑️

Our expert advice & representation service helps people like Sarita (name changed) to achieve financial security.

If you can afford to do so, donate to support our work today: z2k.org/donate-z2k/

Ramped up job support for people on sickness benefits Specialist Jobcentre staff redeployed to give skills and employment support to tens of thousands of people with no requirement to look for work.

It’s good to see the government improving employment support for ill and disabled people.

This support should remain voluntary. Exposing seriously ill and disabled people to the threat of punitive sanctions would risk deepening distrust and discouraging engagement.

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Last chance to apply for three vacancies closing this week:

- Operations Lead
- Communications & Campaigns Lead
- Major Donor & Corporate Lead

Do you want to join the fight to end poverty for the 1 in 5 people in the UK who experience it? Apply today.

z2k.org/vacancies/

Universal credit sanctions 'undermine' Jobcentre work support A new report by the Work and Pensions Committee is calling on the government to go further with its plans to reform Jobcentres

Disabled people need security and support, not more cuts and sanctions.

Our Director of Policy & Campaigns spoke to @bigissue.com about the new DWP 'super ministry' and a new report from MPs on benefit sanctions.

www.bigissue.com/news/employm...

Welcome to the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden.

We look forward to working with you on reforming our broken disability benefits system in co-production with disabled people.

With the Universal Credit Act becoming law this week, we reflect on the campaign against planned cuts in a new blog.

Getting planned PIP cuts dropped was a huge win - but other concerning cuts remain.

z2k.org/z2k-takes-ac...

Joint briefing: Ensuring the Child Poverty Strategy delivers for all children | Gingerbread

Together with Gingerbread and others, we’ve launched a NEW briefing calling on the government to place social security reform at the heart of its #ChildPovertyStrategy and to take further action to ensure the strategy delivers for ALL children.

Read it here: www.gingerbread.org.uk/our-work/pol...

In the Commons this afternoon, Liz Kendall reiterated the government's commitment to tackling child poverty.

Half measures won’t be enough to help struggling families put food on the table.

Scrap the cruel two-child limit – no ifs, no buts.

Diane (not her real name) had to give up her job as a teacher when she became seriously ill.

The DWP told her she was fit for work. But Z2K helped her to access the support she needed.

If you can afford to do so, please give today to support our work: z2k.org/donate-z2k/

We're hiring a Major Donor and Corporate Lead.

Are you an experienced fundraiser with a strategic approach and a track record of securing income from major donors and corporates?

Apply today: z2k.org/job/17731-2/

600,000 disabled people at risk of Labour's next round of benefit cuts Campaigners have warned that nearly 600,000 disabled people could be at risk from the next round of the government’s benefit cuts.

Upcoming changes to disability benefits could put over 600,000 disabled people at risk of losing vital support.

The government must ensure it protects the incomes of disabled people who face barriers to work.

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

We're Hiring! Communications & Campaigns Lead, Salary: £46,350, Deadline: 14 September 2025

We're Hiring! Operations Lead, Salary: £46,350, Deadline: 14 September 2025

Are you an experienced communications professional, or operational leader?

We're looking for a Communications & Campaigns Lead and an Operations Lead.

Apply today: z2k.org/vacancies/

Read the letter 👇

www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/new...

The Timms Review could be an opportunity for the government to rebuild trust with disabled people.

Working with @turn2us.org.uk and 16 other leading charities, we are today launching an open letter calling for the government to ensure the Review is meaningfully co-produced.

DWP penalises universal credit claimant despite getting new job The DWP say sanctions incentivise people into work. Experts say they do the opposite – pushing vulnerable people deeper into crisis.

One in two disabled people receiving universal credit say they’ve been given unreasonable work search requirements by the jobcentre.

We spoke to The Big Issue about benefit sanctions and inappropriate conditionality.

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

After the government dropped planned cuts to PIP last month, what’s next for disability benefits reform?

In a new blog, our Senior Policy Advisor looks at two key issues that the Timms Review will need to confront.

z2k.org/capability-f...

Nearly half of all universal credit claimants face average deductions of £67/month, new DWP stats show.

Deductions plunge people even deeper into poverty. People who can’t afford the essentials need urgent support.

The two-child limit will only pull more and more children into poverty unless the government takes action.

Struggling families need support. This failed policy must be scrapped.

Improving temporary accommodation? Start with fixing the five basics The homelessness emergency needs systemic solutions, but local action can improve conditions for people right now, says Albinia Stanley of the Better TA Alliance

Families are living in temporary accommodation without access to essentials like a kitchen or Wi-Fi.

As part of the Better TA Alliance, we are calling on local authorities to #FixTheFiveBasics.

www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/impr...

How patients could suffer after Labour's universal credit cuts Millie Light writes of the deep sorrow she feels for anyone who becomes sick or disabled with cancer after the universal credit cuts.

Seriously ill and disabled people with conditions like cancer face losing out on over £200/month under the UC Bill.

We're calling on the government to clarify planned protections for people with the most severe conditions.

www.bigissue.com/opinion/canc...

Access All: Disability News and Mental Health - Extra episode: Interview with the disability minister - BBC Sounds On Access To Work, collaborating with disability groups, and more

It was good to hear Stephen Timms say that the DWP will be ‘taking a lead’ from disabled people on the Timms Review.

But it’s vital that the government gets this right. We need clear safeguards to rebuild trust and ensure meaningful co-production.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The nine health conditions most at risk of being hit by Universal Credit cuts SOME disabled Universal Credit claimants face cuts to their payments when new Government rules come in, campaigners have warned. Labour is planning to bring in major reforms to the benefits system …

We're worried that upcoming UC cuts will affect many disabled people who will never be able to work because of their conditions.

The government must clarify how it will ensure that disabled people with severe conditions will be protected.

Read our full quote 👇

www.thesun.co.uk/money/360843...

Benefits claimants with MS and Parkinson's face universal credit cut Keir Starmer can still ‘avoid a crisis’ by rethinking a key benefit reform, say rebel Labour MPs

ICYMI: Our Senior Policy Advisor warned in @theipaper.com that people with serious, lifelong conditions may not be protected from cuts to the health element of Universal Credit.

inews.co.uk/news/benefit...

Benefits claimants with MS and Parkinson's face universal credit cut Keir Starmer can still ‘avoid a crisis’ by rethinking a key benefit reform, say rebel Labour MPs

We told @theipaper.com our concerns about cuts to the health element of UC for seriously ill or disabled people.

People with serious, lifelong conditions like Parkinson’s and MS may not be protected from the cut.

Read more👇

inews.co.uk/news/benefit...

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads "At Z2K, we help people navigate the housing system and secure a safe, suitable roof over their head. Find out how we helped Sandy"

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads " Sandy has lived in Westminster for over ten years and relies on community mental health support to manage her serious mental health issues day-to-day. When she was evicted from her privately rented home, Westminster City Council accepted their duty to provide housing for her as a vulnerable adult."

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads "But they then tried to end this duty when Sandy declined an offer of accommodation that was over 125 miles away from her support network. Being moved so far away would have made Sandy's severe mental health issues even worse - when Sandy turned to us, she felt she had no options left."

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads "We helped to challenge the council's decision to stop providing Sandy with housing support. Thanks to our support, Sandy is now living in Temporary Accommodation close to her support network, and is on the waitlist for a permanent home in the area. *identifying details have been changed"

Everyone should have a decent, affordable home that meets their needs. At Z2K, we help make this a reality for people like Sandy.

If you can afford to do so, please give today and support our vital advice and representation service👇

z2k.org/donate-z2k/