Web sources of information
- The Poverty Site
The Poverty Site monitors what is happening to poverty and social exclusion in the UK and complements annual monitoring reports. All graphs and text are updated whenever new data becomes available.
- Households Below Average Income
The Department for Work and Pensions provides statistics on poverty. This is a direct link to its statistical series on Households Below Average Income and other relevant statistics.
- European Anti Poverty Network
The European Anti Poverty Network is a representative network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and groups involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the Member States of the European Union. It is supported by the European Commission.
Contacts
The organisations listed below are the most active in tackling poverty in the UK and can provide quotes, information and leads.
- Advice NI: works to develop an independent advice sector in Northern Ireland that provides the best possible advice to those who need it most. Tel - 028 9064 5919
- Age Concern: the UK's largest charity, working with and for older people. Tel - 0208 765 7200
- Anti Poverty Network Cymru: run by an executive committe of individuals and community organisations, all of whom have experience of poverty at grassroots level. Tel - 01685 383929 / 07789 885720
- Asylum Aid: provids advice and legal representation to asylum-seekers and refugees. Tel - 0207 354 9631
- ATD Fourth World: an anti-poverty organisation that seeks to eradicate extreme poverty. Tel - 0207 703 3231
- Barnardo's: works on projects for vulnerable children and young people. Tel - 0208 550 8822
- BBC Children in Need: gives grants to children's projects throughout the UK. Tel - 0208 576 7788
- The Big Issue Foundation: a registered charity partly funded by sales of The Big Issue magazine. Tel - 0207 526 3200
- Capability Scotland: Scotland's leading disability organisation. Tel - 0131 3135510
- Centrepoint: helps homeless and socially excluded young people. Tel - 0845 466 3400
- Child Poverty Action Group: campaigns for the abolition of child poverty in the UK. Tel - 0207 737 7979
- Church Action on Poverty: works with UK churches to prioritise the eradication of poverty. Tel - 0161 236 9321
- Citizens Advice Bureau: the Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from 3,300 locations. Tel - 0207 833 2181
- Citizens Advice Scotland: the advice service in Scotland. Tel - 0131 550 1000
- Credit Action: a national money education charity. Tel - 0207 380 3390
- Daycare Trust: national childcare charity. Tel - 0207 840 3350
- Disability Action: works to ensure that people in Northern Ireland with disabilities retain their full rights. Tel - 0289 029 7880
- Disability Alliance: has the aim of relieving the poverty and improving the living standards of disabled people, and the eventual aim of breaking the link between poverty and disability. Tel - 0207 247 8776
- Economic and Social Research Council: the UK's leading research funding and training agency addressing economic and social concerns. Tel - 01793 413 000
- End Child Poverty: an alliance of organisations working to eradicate child poverty in the United Kingdom. Tel - 0207 278 6541
- Energy Action Scotland: a national charity which aims to eliminate fuel poverty. Tel - 0141 226 3064
- Consumer Focus: Statutory organisation created by merging Energywatch, Postwatch and the National Consumer Council. It offers impartial advice and addresses consumer issues and complaints. Tel - 0207 799 7900
- European Anti-Poverty Network: a representative network of non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and groups involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the Member States of the European Union. It is supported by the European Commission. Tel - +322 226 5850
- 4Children: the national charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for all children. Tel - 0207 512 2112.
- Groundswell: a UK organisation that promotes self-help initiatives with people who are homeless, excluded or living in poverty. Tel - 0207 737 5500.
- Help the Aged: an international charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. Tel - 0207 278 1114
- Homeless Link: the national membership organisation for frontline homelessness agencies in England. Tel - 0207 960 3010
- Institute for Public Policy Research: think tank that "seeks to promote social justice, democratic participation, and economic and environmental sustainability in government policy". Tel - 0207 470 6100
- Migrants Resource Centre: works with migrants and refugees to effect social justice and change. Tel - 0207 834 2505
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations: gives a shared choice to voluntary organisations to help promote their development. Tel - 0207 713 6161
- Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network: established in 1991 to create a focus on poverty and social exclusion.Tel - 0289 024 4525
- One Parent Families / Gingerbread: an organisation for lone parent families. Tel - 0207 428 5400
- Oxfam: a worldwide development, relief and campaigning organisation. Tel - 01865 472498
- The Poverty Alliance: supports people in disadvantaged communities who are working for change. Tel - 0141 353 0440
- Save the Children: an independent charity helping children in need.Tel - 0207 012 6400
- Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations: the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in Scotland. Tel - 0131 556 3882
- Shelter: the housing and homelessness charity. Tel - 0207 505 2162
- UK Coalition Against Poverty: a charity that works with and on behalf of anti-poverty groups across the UK. Tel - 0151 709 3008
Please note that Age Concern and Help the Aged will be rebranded as a single charity in 2010.
Reporting standards and codes of conduct
The Press Complaints Commission's code of practice is the most significant code for journalists. It does not specifically refer to poverty but its first condition on accuracy is clearly relevant:
"1. Accuracy
i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures."
and
"iii) The Press, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact."
Similarly the National Union of Journalists' Code of Conduct requires members to:
"…ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair…" and "… differentiates between fact and opinion…"
Below are details of the organizations which have a direct interest in standards of reporting and broadcasting.
BBC: its Editorial Guidelines are a source of advice to broadcasters on dealing with sensitive issues.
Chartered Institute of Journalists: campaigns for press freedom and acts as a trade union for its members in journalism and public relations.
Media Trust: harnesses the skills, resources and creativity of the media industry to help voluntary organisations and charities make a difference to people's lives.
Mediawise: a charity concerned with ethical journalism. Provides advice and its own guidelines.
National Union of Journalists: encourages its members to work according to its code of conduct.
Office for Communications (Ofcom): regulates all broadcasting in the UK. Broadcasters are required by law to follow its code.
Society of Editors: campaigns for media freedom, self-regulation, the public's right to know and the maintenance of standards in journalism.
