Today is the day! We kicked off our Women and the Cost-of-Living Across the 4 Nations Conference today, with a great line-up of speakers.
In the first session, Researching the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on women in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland the UK, we heard from Steffan Evans from the Bevan Foundation with stark data of how households in Wales have cut back on essentials significantly since the start of the Cost Of Living Crisis.
In research from Laura Robertson at Poverty Alliance, women in Scotland have been disproportionately impacted by the Cost Of Living Crisis and felt that the £600 payment wasn't enough to deal with rising energy costs.
Siobhán Harding from Women's Support Network notes that women in Northern Ireland were struggling to pay for essentials & avoid debt months before the impact of the COLC was fully felt - this is due to years of austerity. The Cost Of Living Crisis will only add to the pre-existing debt and mental health crises.
Great point from Dr Sara Reis from the Womens Budget Group that the Cost Of Living Crisis is also a crisis of incomes - regular pay has decreased in real terms since October 2021. It could not be clearer how gendered this crisis is.
Onto our next session, Campaigning and communicating for impact.
Nicola Pound from the The Trades Union Congress outlines the Protect the Right to Strike campaign, and what you can do to support the campaign and all workers taking industrial action.
It's hard to see how the proposed tax reforms from Paul Hedben at Tax Justice UK wouldn't be popular - 74% of people want to see wealth taxed more.
Maddy Moore from The Joseph Rowntree Foundation emphasises why their upcoming campaign to tackle the inadequacy of the social security system is essential.
For the final session of the day, we'll hear about 'Responding to the crisis - experiences and lessons we can learn'.
Minister for Finance and Local Government Rebecca Evans emphasises the need for targeted mitigations paired with new interventions, such as gender budgeting - something the Minister and her office are pursuing.
Positive highlight from Natalie Don - Scotland uprated social security benefits so that they are in line with inflation. One step in dealing with the 'crisis of incomes'.
"There is an urgent and immediate need for radical change" Energising words from Claire Bailey, who drives home the point that we need to address the root causes of inequality - we know the problems and the gendered impacts, now is the time for action.
A good point from Baroness Ruth Lister - the Cost Of Living Crisis has increased public awareness of deep poverty, but we need to build on this awareness and turn it into effective policies that make a difference, such as the £20 uplift to Universal Credit.
And just like that - we're done! Thanks to all of the speakers, chairs, attendees & fellow-organisers for a brilliant afternoon. It's clear that urgent action is needed across the 4 nations to tackle this crisis. For Northern Ireland, the first step is restoring the Executive.