Approaches to Addressing Poverty

The nature of poverty in the UK is complex; its extent far-reaching and growing.  Alongside severe cuts and changes to the welfare system and cost of living increases, over recent years there has also been a significant increase in ‘in-work’ poverty.  Holding down one job or more, no longer insulates individuals and families from the rising cost of food, fuel and other household necessities.

This situation is exacerbated by the fact that the nature of policy surrounding the issue has also changed.  Austerity and cuts in public services have also been twinned with the withdrawal of area based initiatives and associated investment in deprived communities.

Stakeholders across the public, commercial and social sectors are increasingly seeking new and alternative ways to address poverty. For CLES, poverty can no longer be addressed through special initiatives. Instead, places need to use their existing powers and relationships to collaborate and address the issue in a coordinated manner.

In this CLES 10, we introduce ten ways in which places are addressing poverty through a place and relationship based approach.