In-work poverty

Poverty as measured by material deprivation through lack of economic resources remains absolutely central to understanding the causation of most aspects of social exclusion and a range of social outcomes, concludes the 2nd of the two-volume PSE-UK study.

The government wants to redefine poverty to be a measure of workless homes and educational attainment. But most children in poverty live in households where at least one adults works. Gill Main questions how this proposal helps tackle child poverty.

The Hard Times reports provide evidence gathered by communities themselves on the impact of austerity and cuts on families and young people across Northern Ireland. Watch the accompanying films on home repossession, struggles with debt and youth hopes and dreams on the community webpages.

Spiralling living costs and stagnating wages are creating a 'double squeeze' on the lowest-paid groups in society, according to the interim report of a Commission that is examining the changing nature of low pay and poverty in the UK. It warns that the economic recovery could fail one in five people in paid employment.

The Living Wage Commission is an independent inquiry, bringing together leading figures from business, trade unions and civil society organisations, and chaired by the Archbishop of York.