Dr Uisce Jordan

Please note the cut off for submitting articles for consideration at the January editorial collective meeting is this Friday 5th December.

It is really remarkable that this was just 12 months ago today. And that we woke up this morning to a country which will finally get rid of the two-child limit. The parents and carers we work with have been instrumental along with others especially @cpaguk.bsky.social in making this change happen.

Brilliant that the poverty-producing 2 child limit is going. So glad of the difference this will make to families across the UK, including the parents who took part in the Benefit Changes and Larger Families project & generously shared their experiences with us. The benefit cap needs to go next.

The two-child limit is abolished at last. Watch out for the narrative that will follow | Frances Ryan The right is already in a frenzy about the migrant groups it thinks will benefit – and the budget contained other trade-offs, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan

Great @francesryan.bsky.social piece today. Especially this, given many of today’s headlines:

“Expect much more of this worker v shirker propaganda in the coming days, despite the fact nearly three in five families affected by the cap were already in work”

A year ago today I joined some of the incredible @changingrealities.bsky.social parents at Downing Street who shared what changes are needed to end child poverty - incl why the two-child limit must be scrapped. It’s brilliant to see yesterday’s announcement after so much hard work from so many.

My quick-fire take for @prospectmagazine.co.uk on why we should celebrate the scrapping of the two-child limit

Draws on research for @nuffieldfoundation.org & ongoing work with the amazing @changingrealities.bsky.social

"The removal of the two-child limit brings my family a deep sense of relief. Without the cap hanging over me, I finally feel less weighed down by constant financial worry and more able to make choices that genuinely reflect what each of my boys’ need." (Kim, CR parent) #2CL #Budget 🧵1/3

All-island Social Security Network Webinar Join us for a virtual webinar where we will discuss the recent welfare reform proposals in the UK and RoI.

📣 Sure to have engaging discussions - lunchtime webinar exploring recent welfare reform proposals in the UK & RoI

Sign up here ⬇️

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1714123783...

Parents from @changingrealities.bsky.social - led by our very own @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social - met with @johnswinney.bsky.social & @sa4dunfermline.bsky.social to discuss the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 👏

Their voices are key to ending child poverty in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

More www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...

Using my first Bluesky post to share that Marsha Wood & I have a new article out! 🎉

We take a gendered street-level look at how Universal Credit policies shape parents’ everyday realities of navigating work, care & welfare.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

The Government’s immigration policies are increasing child poverty - British Politics and Policy at LSE The government has committed to tackling poverty among all children, including those subject to the UK’s asylum and immigration system. But recent reforms and proposals to immigration policy mean that...

New blog from @ilonapin.bsky.social shares how government proposals and reforms to immigration policy mean we’re likely to see a growth, in poverty for children in immigrant families

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

The whole article is worth reading!

Help please: we're trying to recruit some more parent research participants in Scotland for our #FamilyFinances project. Specifically: parents who are receiving #UniversalCredit and #ScottishChildPayment and who have at least one baby (0-12months) in the household. Can you help spread the word?

Looking forward to reading this!

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/...

Illuminating & important blog from the amazing @milliemaglet.bsky.social on welfare cuts

“The idea that after April 2026, you somehow become of less value to ‘society’ than you are today, less ‘deserving’ of support to get you through the dark days fills me with repulsion and rage.”

Check it out 👇

Sending solidarity to all the disabled people who have been challenging these cruel cuts & hoping that a large number of MPs will vote against what remain ill-conceived and indefensible cuts to vital support for disabled people. What a way to mark 12 months of Labour government

@singleparentrights.bsky.social wants to hear about your experiences

📋 They are running a survey to better understand how single parents are treated in the private rental sector. All data will be anonymised and used to lobby policy makers for change:

Fab to get copy of @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social 37

Chapter 2 “lost hope, lost trust” features @changingrealities.bsky.social diaries in lead up to 2024 election showing the fragility of trust & people living on edge.

Tomorrows welfare bill isnt reform - it’s cruel, Labour must not look away

‘Worse than anything under the Tories’: changes to welfare bill anger disability campaigners Government concessions fail to appease disabled people’s groups, concerned that disabled people in the future will be condemned to poverty

Disabled people’s orgs have told the Guardian that plans to exempt only existing claimants from the cuts will create a “two-tier” benefit system that “condemns” future disabled people to poverty. As one said, “Is it even legal?”

My story on the fallout: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Consider it done! 🤩

If you're interested in #participatoryresearch, #poverty, or #welfarereform — we hope this piece offers something useful to reflect on and build from. 🧩

It's available open access:
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...

with @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social @katiepybus.bsky.social

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... it explores what meaningful participation looks like & draws on co-produced recommendations for change from @changingrealities.bsky.social parents 🧠👥

It highlights the resistance, creativity, and persistence of participants who continue to fight for more equitable systems

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This paper explores sheds light on the broader ramifications of the #costoflivingcrisis on family life, prompting an exploration of its enduring nature and temporal support - but crucially...

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Our latest @changingrealities.bsky.social paper in the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice📄:

Exploring the lived realities of poverty during the UK ‘cost-of-living crisis’ through participatory research

Read it here 👉 bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...

So sad I missed this! X

Job opportunities on both the amazing @changingrealities.bsky.social and @safety-nets.bsky.social projects!

Today, well supposed to be tomorrow, the payment for the month will go into my bank account. It’s universal credit. And I feel awful that I get it. But if I’ve been really careful the month before, there will be more there!

New blog post 🎢 by Changing Realities participant, Jo: "Just for a moment: a temporary sense of security in an uncertain world" #universalcredit #work #precarity #livedexperience Read here ⬇️
changingrealities.org/blog/just-fo...

Looking after children is important and vital work; and it’s imperative that parents and carers have access to high quality and affordable childcare, both in order to support their children’s development and also to support them in their other forms of work: be it education, training, caring, or participation in the formal labour market. Recent years have seen a growing focus on the importance of improving the UK’s childcare offer, and we have seen a range of policy changes to try and improve what is provided and on what basis. This briefing sets out the experiences of parents and carers on a low income, and makes clear the distance that still needs to be travelled if we are to move to a situation in which all parents can access affordable and decent childcare provision. We share evidence of parents’ experiences and challenges around finding childcare that fits with working hours; systemic issues with affordability; and the pressing need to improve support for childcare through Universal Credit. There is also a need to improve childcare for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and to rethink how childcare support is made available during school holidays.

"It feels like the system is stacked against us" – 🚸 Childcare briefing launched today by the Changing Realities research team and participants. 🪅 Please read and share the experiences of childcare on a low income and Recommendations for Change: ⬇️

Safety nets — Social security for families in a devolved UK This project will explore the extent of the devolution of social security within the UK and the realities, risks, and opportunities this poses for families with dependent children.

Yesterday we held our first Devolved Conversation workshop - bringing together parents and carers from across the UK to share experiences of Free School Meals and discuss what policy changes could improve things. 🗣️

This was the first of 14 workshops covering 8 key topics
safetynets.study/take-part