Responses and solutions to poverty

The Beveridge Report (1942) identified five giants: Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, Idleness. This led to the development of the NHS, social security, and education reforms.
- Reduced absolute poverty but relative poverty remains
New Labour – Blair/Brown: focused on welfare-to-work, introduced National Minimum Wage, Tax Credits, and Sure Start.
- Improved child poverty rates but reliant on economic growth
Coalition/Conservative: introduced Universal Credit, benefit cap, sanctions, and austerity cuts.
- Reduced spending but deepened hardship for vulnerable groups
Voluntary and informal welfare: the Trussell Trust (NGO) distributed almost 3 million emergency food parcels in 2022–2023.
- Addresses urgent need but highlights failings of state welfare
Charities: (e.g. Shelter, Barnardo’s) provide housing, child welfare support.
- Cannot replace structural policy changes; reactive, not proactive
Informal care: family and community provide childcare and financial aid.
- Unevenly available and reinforces gender inequalities in unpaid labour.

Sign up to unlock the rest of this topic — plus every other topic, video, flashcard set and eBook guide in your SnapRevise+ subscription.

Cancel anytime — instant access the moment you sign up.