BPS joins calls for political leaders to bring an end poverty and hardship in the UK

The BPS has joined forces with over 200 other organisations, calling on the next government to bring an end to poverty and hardship across the UK. 

The Guarantee our Essentials campaign, led by The Trussell Trust and The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, calls on the next government to urgently set out a plan to provide help and relief to those most in need. 

Chartered member of the British Psychological Society Julia Faulconbridge said: 

"The negative psychological impact on those that live in poverty should not be underestimated. We know that children growing up in poverty are four to five times more likely to develop mental health problems. While disadvantaged children are estimated to be over four months behind their more advantaged peers when starting school at age five. 

"We need politicians to take a long-term view and invest in our children and young people through concerted policies to reduce the incidence of poverty. This will inevitably take time. We must provide services for families struggling with poverty, through support for parents, and facilitate community and school provision for children and young people to combat poverty's worst effects. 

"That's why we need to see Early Support Hubs rolled-out nationally with long-term and sustainable funding attached. This will go a long way to increasing the supply of local preventative measures and early intervention support, with services designed to consider the psychological, emotional and wellbeing needs of children and young people. 

"If the next government fails to act quickly and tackle poverty's root causes, then health and social inequalities will only continue to widen."

You can read the open letter below, which has been published with a week to go before the general election.

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Dear Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer,

We are writing to you as a diverse network of organisations united by our shared desire to see an end to poverty and hardship in the UK.  

This general election is taking place against a backdrop of deep and growing hardship. In the six months to May, 7 million low-income households were forced to go without essentials like food, adequate clothing and basic toiletries, and over the past year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network distributed a record 3.1 million emergency food parcels. Most shockingly of all, almost 4 million people, including 1 million children, experienced destitution in 2022 – more than double the rate from five years previously.

Such levels of hardship are unacceptable in the UK and cannot be allowed to continue. The public are deeply concerned about the situation and believe it is the UK Government's responsibility to right this wrong. It is clear they want to see action and commitments to turn this situation around so that no one is forced to go without essentials or to need a food bank to survive.

Yet right now there is a stark lack of focus from either of you on how you intend to tackle these issues if elected as Prime Minister next month. Families facing such levels of hardship cannot wait for the promise of growth, nor should they have to – the UK is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and has the resources to act now. Failing to do so is a political choice.  

Together, we call on you to urgently set out a plan to help provide immediate relief to families struggling with hardship, as well as commit to developing a serious and ambitious strategy to build a future where everyone can afford the essentials, and no one needs a food bank to survive.   

Yours Sincerely,  

The Trussell Trust 

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The British Psychological Society

A full list of co-signatories can be found here.

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This general election, Psychology Matters. All political parties must ensure they take a psychological approach to policymaking which places people first. Read the BPS's manifesto for the 2024 General Election.