The newspapers are starting their reviews of the year already, and there is one thing they all agree on: 2011 was anything but quiet for news. The riots, the austerity measures and increasing unemployment figures certainly made sure of that.
Throughout the day, people across the country and here at JRF are raising money for the BBC's Children in Need appeal. But how much do people know about the number of children in need in the UK?
We have a few stats that might help to illustrate the scale of child poverty in the UK:
It's a problem that has concerned society for as long as there have been teenagers. Many of us spent time in our teens sneaking drinks from a bottle of cider in the park or sampling the contents of our parents’ drinks cabinet when they were out. But what influences teenagers to drink to excess? And what, if anything, can be done about it?
Would I be happier if I won the lottery? Of course, who wouldn't?! But seriously, is happiness proportional to household income? What about people in poverty? Are they more miserable than middle-earners? And do high-flyers skip to work in the morning?
This week, London's Evening Standard is running a series on poverty in the capital. A lot of online comments written in response to the series reveal that readers have little sympathy with people experiencing poverty.
Like all good press officers, I listen to the Today programme every morning. This morning I heard two things I had heard already. The first was an interview with the RSPB – how often are they on the Today programme? I'm sure it's at least once a week. Who knew there was so much to say about birds? They must have a fantastic press office.
At this time of year the newspapers are full of reviews of the last twelve months. Well, JRF is no different. We always say that we are "the place to go to get the facts". So I thought it would be fitting to list some interesting facts from 2009.
This is what we know now, that we didn’t know twelve months ago, thanks to JRF research:*
