Sustainable Development Goals Series Action on Poverty in the UK

This book tackles poverty and policy issues in the UK by discussing successful projects and practices, across lots of short chapters. The first section provides a brief history overview of poverty in the UK over the past two hundred years and discusses the question of why the UK, as a wealthy western nation, still has a poverty issue. “The book will appeal to academics across the social sciences, as well as policymakers and practitioners grappling notions and experiences of poverty and hardship. I applaud the editors in bringing together such a rich mix of contributing authors with different backgrounds and life-trajectories, which has resulted in a brilliant toolbox-offering of lived experiences from some places, with lessons for other places.” -Professor Martin Jones, VC of Staffordshire University, UK Action on Poverty in the UK is an original and significant statement on the lived experiences of contemporary capitalism. Edited by academics at Staffordshire University with a shared and important project of co-production and participatory practice, this book is the start of the action on poverty conversation—a conversation that covers novel conceptual, methodological, political and policy strands. It is grounded in the real-world struggles and strategies of social and economic development. This book speaks to academics and professionals working on the anti-poverty agenda and to students in Sociology, Criminology, Law, Politics, Social Welfare Law, Social Work, Community Development, Community Nursing and Public Health. ​Sarah Page is Senior Lecturer in Criminology and teaches on the MA Leadership in Action on Poverty, at Staffordshire University, UK. Martin Coates is Lecturer on the MA Leadership in Action on Poverty, and Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice degree at Staffordshire University, UK. Martin has over 20 years of experience of working social welfare field of law, policy and advice. Julie Tipping is Senior Lecturer and the Course Leader for the MA Leadership in Action on Poverty at Staffordshire University, UK; she also teaches on the Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice degree. Juliette Frangos isSenior Lecturer at Staffordshire University, UK, and Course Leader for the Certificate of Credit in Money Advice Practice; she also teaches on the MA Leadership in Action on Poverty and the Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice degree. Katy Goldstraw is Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at Staffordshire University, UK. This book tackles poverty and policy issues in the UK by discussing successful projects and practices, across lots of short chapters. The first section provides a brief history overview of poverty in the UK over the past two hundred years and discusses the question of why the UK, as a wealthy western nation, still has a poverty issue. It discusses various vulnerable groups and contextual factors which lead to these inequalities. The second section articulates what anti-poverty work is and shares project examples from across the country where anti-poverty workers are supporting people to survive and then to thrive. Lived experiences voices are articulated to present examples of poverty being experienced. This book draws on academic and practitioner work and aims to equip the activist and inform the student, academic and policy maker.