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Europe Matters Conference
Cardiff
17 March 2016
MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN? THE ROLE OF ANTI-
POVERTY NETWORKS
The Poverty Alliance: origins, structure, what we do
Making change: impact and lessons learned
Why Europe matters to us: networking in the UK &
Europe
POVERTY ALLIANCE: ORIGINS
WHO WE ARE
• A network of more than 200
organisations & individuals
• A staff team of 14
• Board of 12 (inc. Oxfam, CPAG,
STUC)
• Community Activist Advisory Group
• Core funding from Scottish
Government
WHAT WE DO
We have five objectives for the next five years:
Influencing policy: we support the development of policies which promote social justice and combat poverty
Supporting Communities: we work with people and communities experiencing poverty to help them to address poverty
Networking: We support a strong anti-poverty network in Scotland
Awareness: We raise awareness and encourage debate about poverty
Evidence: We provide high quality research and knowledge about poverty in Scotland
OUR POLICY FOCUS
We focus on four key areas:
Incomes
Services
Participation
Attitudes and beliefs
INCOMES
ATTITUDES
Living Wage: more than 7,000 workers received a pay
rise
Procurement legislation includes Living Wage
Scottish Welfare Fund was a comprehensive
replacement for Social Fund
Principles for future social security broadly accepted by
government
10 public sector organisations signed up to address
negative attitudes to people living in poverty
IMPACT
To influence policy it is necessary to be both ‘in and
against the state
Consistent core funding is critical to building and
maintaining dialogue
Involvement of major organisations is critical for
credibility, authority, resources
Grassroots involvement equally important –
opportunities to be engaged is rare (for some)
Need to involve a diverse range of people with direct
experience of poverty
LESSONS
European Anti-Poverty Network
established in 1990. Now made up of
31 national networks and 18 European
organisations
We seek to influence the development
of EU social policy and processes
An essential recognition that the
causes and consequences of poverty
do not respect national boundaries
NETWORKING IN EUROPE
Some progress made during the Lisbon
process – greater coordination of
approaches to tackling poverty
Significant progress in raising the
profile of participation of people in
poverty
Recent success in campaign to secure
20% of ESF funding for poverty
reduction
SUCCESSES IN EUROPE
Based on four ‘national’ networks until
recently
Brought together a wide range of
organisations to engage with DWP on
European Social Inclusion process
Economic crisis and political change
had a significant impact on activity and
ability to influence
Emphasis now must be on analysis,
mutual exchange and solidarity
UK NETWORKING
National (UK) networks need the
engagement of larger organisations to
be sustainable
There are significant benefits to
European networking for policy
exchange & learning
Funding opportunities can be facilitated
through better networking
The political context in the UK & EU
levels is not favourable…
LESSONS & NEXT STEPS
Networking at national, UK & EU is useful & important: To say and do things collectively that cannot be done alone
For policy influence and change
For learning & exchange
For solidarity and cohesion
EAPN UK is changing to be a single network – initially
will be focused on exchange
Aim to organise a number of events in April & May
Regardless of the outcome in June, there will still be a
need for European wide coordination of anti-poverty
action
CONCLUSIONS & NEXT STEPS
Contact: Peter Kelly
Director
www.povertyalliance.org
