In the news in August

The Bevan Foundation’s work has been discussed in the media throughout August

Our work on fuel poverty, the stigma of poverty, benefits and housing has received extensive media coverage this month.

Fuel poverty

The launch of the Foundation’s latest report, Help with energy bills: experiences in Wales showed that energy suppliers’ support schemes aren’t reaching all who need them. Alongside Ofgem’s announcement of a new price cap, our findings that people will face tough choices this winter were reported ITV Wales and Cambrian News.

Stigma of poverty

August also saw the release of the Wales Centre for Public Policy’s report, Lifting the lid on poverty stigma in Wales, which drew on findings from the Bevan Foundation’s latest Snapshot of poverty survey. The report was covered by a range of news outlets including Nation.Cymru, South Wales Argus, Cardiff University, Phys.org, myScience, International Public Policy Observer and The MJ.

Benefits

This month, The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) urged the First Minister to influence the end of the two-child benefit cap. In a letter drawing on data from the Bevan Foundation and the Child Poverty Action Group, BASW highlighted that 93 per cent of families affected by the two-child cap policy struggle to afford food, while 82 per cent have difficulties covering gas and electricity costs. The news was reported on by BASW themselves, as well as the South Wales Argus.

Our calls to raise the Christmas Bonus were covered by The Sun and the Birmingham Mail.

Housing

Early in the month, our Director, Victoria Winckler, looked at the Welsh Government’s commitment to building 20,000 homes for social rent by 2026 in Business News Wales. Three years into the five-year plan, progress is falling short due to lack of affordable and developable land, the slowness of the planning system, and issues with supply chains and recruitment.

The Bevan Foundation’s work on the housing crisis, particularly our report on Local Housing Allowance and the private rental market in Wales, Winter 2023, was also referenced in an article from the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.

Other

Head of Policy (Poverty, Steffan Evans) appeared on Pawb a’i Farn, broadcast from the Eisteddfod, to discuss poverty in Wales.

In their August highlight, Cordis Bright made mention of our recent Briefing on Free School Meals and No Recourse to Public Funds.

Our Director, Victoria Winckler, penned a second article for Business News Wales this month, this time looking at the growing numbers of children in Wales who are missing school.