Guarantee Our Essentials: The Campaign in Cambridgeshire
Around 5 in 6 low-income households on Universal Credit are struggling to afford essentials like food and utilities, highlighting the pressing need for the Essentials Guarantee campaign. With significant public support, this campaign proposes embedding a minimum level of support into Universal Credit to ensure individuals and families do not go without basic necessities. The proposed policy would benefit millions of low-income families and address systemic issues contributing to poverty and food insecurity, while advocating for a multi-dimensional approach to end poverty and increase access to essential resources.
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Guarantee Our Essentials The Campaign in Cambridgeshire
The need Around 5 in 6 low-income households on Universal Credit are currently going without essentials 55% of people on Universal Credit ran out of food in the last month and couldn t afford more. 22% of people on Universal Credit were unable to cook hot food because they couldn t afford utilities Universal Credit is now at around its lowest ever level as a proportion of average earnings Almost half of households see their payments reduced by deductions and caps. For example, a household can lose 25% of their standard allowance to repay debts to DWP. 2.4 million people on Universal Credit have fallen into debt due to insufficient support
The support 78% of people agree foodbanks should not exist in a modern society 83% agree its wrong for people to without the essentials 84% agree that ensuring that everyone has enough money for their basic needs should be a high priority for government 67% of the UK public support an essentials guarantee
The support? Although lacking substantive commitment, the Labourmanifesto included: An ambition to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels, which is a moral scar on our society (pleased to see this strong language used) A commitment to review Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty A commitment to develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty A cross-government strategy to end homelessness (whilst related to destitution/deep poverty, not in the social security space).
The policy proposal The Essentials Guarantee would embed in our social security system the widely supported principle that, at a minimum, Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials. A legal minimum (the Essentials Guarantee ) in Universal Credit - the standard allowance would need to at least meet this amount, and deductions would not be allowed to reduce support below that level An independent process to regularly recommend the Essentials Guarantee level, based on the cost of essentials including food, utilities, and vital household items (excluding rent and council tax) It would need to be at least 120 a week for a single adult and 200 for a couple. 8.8 million low-income families would benefit, including 3.9 million families with children.
Multi-dimensional approach An essentials guarantee is only one aspect of the wider campaign to end poverty and foodbank use, which will also lobby for: Readily available mental health and trauma informed support Decent, secure, and rewarding work Easy access to advice and support on money matters Safe, secure, and affordable housing Dignified, accessible support for disabled people and people with health conditions Detailed policy briefs for each proposal on our website.
First steps in Cambridgshire Developing the demonstrable appetite for change through mobilizing a coalition of local organisations, community leaders, and people with lived experiences. Including but not limited to starting a petition, hosting a roundtable, etc. Meeting with local MPs to encourage them to take action Action can include submitting questions in parliament, lobbying ministers, joining our APPG Passing a motion in the City Council in support of an essentials guarantee In line with their Anti-Poverty Strategy Connecting people with lived experience to their politicians Campaign must be led by local people and local organisations
How can you help? Giving thoughts and feedback about how the campaign should manifest and progress Extending your network so we can collaborate with a wider group of people and organisations Be on hand to offer your expertise and awareness of specific local matters Attending our campaign launch in September (date to be confirmed) Becoming a formal member of the Cambridgshire campaign
Thank you and more information: Trussell s long term plan to end the need for foodbanks, including detailed policy briefs: https://www.trusselltrust.org/what-we-do/research- advocacy/how-to-end-the-need-for-food-banks/ Policy outline by JRF: https://www.jrf.org.uk/social-security/guarantee-our- essentials-reforming-universal-credit-to-ensure-we-can-all-afford-the Overview of the campaign: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get- involved/campaigns/guarantee-our-essentials/
