Meeting with Sir Stephen Timms and the Resolution Foundation

New beginnings ...

I was recently invited by Changing Realities to attend a roundtable event hosted by The Resolution Foundation and attended by Sir Stephen Timms – Minister for Social Security and Disability. The event was in London at The Resolution Foundation’s headquarters. The roundtable event was a result of a collaborative research report between Changing Realities and The Resolution Foundation. The aim of the research report was to make recommendations and suggest policy changes to Universal Credit (UC), based on participants’ lived experiences of UC. The research report identified several themes and recommendations that could positively affect UC for claimants. These themes are listed below:

1. Improving income stability
2. Smoothing interactions with work
3. Centralising trust and dignity

I had to prepare a speech on smoothing interactions with work, to present, and then answer any questions from the Minister and other attendees at the roundtable event. This is the second event like this that I have done, as per usual I was super nervous. Unlike at the first event, I had my 11-year-old son with me. Due to childcare issues, I would not have been able to attend if I could not have brought him with me. I had asked the Changing Realities team and they facilitated my son attending, for which I am very grateful. So maybe I was a little more nervous than usual, because I had the most important person in my life by my side! The Changing Realities team were very supportive, and we had lots of help with our speeches and travel arrangements. I have said this before – if you are unsure whether to do an event, I would say ‘do it’, as the Changing Realities team are so kind and supportive.

The roundtable event was powerful and strong, participants spoke movingly about their experiences around these themes and UC. Stephen Timms asked many questions and really seemed open and interested in what we had to say. Two CR (Changing Realities) participants who spoke about ‘centralising trust and dignity’ almost moved me to tears. Their experiences, which were very harrowing, really brought home how UC is so inflexible and how the arbitrary UC rules can adversely affect UC claimants. Which is why I believe lived experience research is so important, as policy flaws are not easily identifiable until you find yourself up against them. We then had a general discussion around other issues with UC, and accompanying policy recommendations. I felt we all had meaningful contributions and again I felt Stephen Timms was really engaged in the discussion.

On reflection, I think these events are important, as we all have different life experiences and this can shape change for the better. Something I feel quite strongly about is how UC can create a poverty trap for claimants, as there are so many exclusions and tapers that can reduce or stop benefit entitlement, which were not present under the old legacy system. This means as a UC claimant, you are disadvantaged if you try to improve your financial circumstances. I was able to articulate this at the meeting, and I felt really heard.

As always it was lovely to see the Changing Realities team and other participants in person. After being involved with the project for almost a year, and after doing a couple of in-person events, this event felt like meeting old friends and making new friends. I hope this is the start of something and that we can contribute further to the review of UC. I also hope this is the start of a meaningful dialogue with the government around UC, and after attending the roundtable event with Stephen Timms I feel hopeful that it will be.