As the new Government becomes established, there is further clarity that the scale of the challenge ahead is undeniable. While headlines focus on inflation and energy bills, an even more concerning issue lurks beneath the surface: the silent struggles of the 'hidden poor.' These are the working families, unpaid carers, and frontline workers—nurses, teaching assistants, and social care staff—who are doing everything society asks of them, yet still find themselves teetering on the financial brink.
Take dentistry, for example. For many on modest incomes, access to an NHS dentist has become an unattainable luxury. A staggering 27% of our member-based food redistribution charity The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) resort to DIY dentistry because NHS treatment is out of reach—even while employed. The Low Income Scheme (LIS), intended as a safety net, is mired in complexity with a 20-page application process, rendering it inaccessible to many. Surveys reveal that more than half of TBBT members have less than £50 left monthly for essentials like food, yet only a quarter know where to seek support. Moreover, 61% admit that convoluted application processes discourage them from applying.
Councils are often the first point of contact for individuals in crisis, whether through housing services, social care, or local welfare schemes. They possess an intimate understanding of their communities and the unique challenges they face, making them uniquely suited to deliver tailored solutions. However, years of funding cuts have left local authorities overstretched and under-resourced.
These barriers go beyond administrative hurdles; they represent systemic failures that exacerbate poverty and undermine trust. People aren't seeking handouts—they want fairness and functional systems that remove barriers, not create them.
For many, escaping poverty feels like winning a cruel lottery, where a chance inheritance or an unlikely windfall is the only way out. As one nurse bluntly stated, ‘Most people think I can afford things because I'm a nurse, but that's far from true. With living costs so high, I rely on credit cards just to get by.'
Amid this challenging reality, local government stands out as a pivotal force in rebuilding trust and addressing hidden poverty. Councils are often the first point of contact for individuals in crisis, whether through housing services, social care, or local welfare schemes. They possess an intimate understanding of their communities and the unique challenges they face, making them uniquely suited to deliver tailored solutions. However, years of funding cuts have left local authorities overstretched and under-resourced.
Consider food insecurity as an example. Charities like TBBT play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable communities, yet their success hinges on partnerships with councils to accurately identify needs and allocate resources. For these collaborations to thrive, councils require adequate investment to establish resilient support networks that provide meaningful, sustainable assistance to those in need.
Local government also plays a crucial role in rebuilding public trust and addressing systemic poverty. The recently published English Devolution White Paper outlines a vision for enhanced devolution, promising to empower local authorities with greater decision-making capabilities. However, achieving this vision requires significant structural reform of local government geography. While the Government's aim to create ‘simpler structures that make sense for their local areas' reflects a pragmatic approach, defining the boundaries for future devolution agreements risks becoming a distraction from addressing the immediate needs of communities.
What sets local government apart is its unparalleled ability to listen and respond to local voices. Consultations held outside London, for example, ensure that localised solutions reflect the diverse realities of communities across the UK rather than imposing one-size-fits-all policies crafted in Westminster.
Real political will is needed to empower local authorities to do this essential work. This means reversing austerity-era funding cuts, ensuring councils have the resources they need to meet rising demand, and fostering stronger partnerships with charities and community groups. It also means trusting local government to take the lead in tackling systemic poverty rather than relegating them to an afterthought in national policy discussions.
The new Government faces a tough road ahead, but the prize is worth it: a society where people who work hard, care for others, and contribute to their communities are not left feeling like financial stability is an impossible dream. Local government and Charities must be at the heart of this effort, supported by bold action, real accountability, and policies that meet people where they are—not where spreadsheets say they should be.
Vic Harper is CEO of The Bread and Butter Thing
