Scot Hunter

Map of doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England (economically deprived with weaker social infrastructure of community groups, spaces and activities). Red dots mark neighbourhoods in the most deprived 10% that have not received phase 1 or 2 Pride in Place funding. They are disproportionately in the north of England.

Pride in Place’s commitment to community-led investment in neighbourhood is so needed.

But new JRF analysis maps the areas overlooked for funding in England: disproportionately in the north and some ranked as facing among the greatest challenges. They should be priority for expanding the programme.

Why social infrastructure matters for economic security Economic security isn’t just about money, local connections and community support matter too. Pride in Place is a key intervention, but new analysis identifies two key challenges.

Greater economic security for families is a key aim of the Government, and my new @jrf-uk.bsky.social paper sets out the role of social infrastructure - community spaces, active community groups and everyday connections - in helping deliver this goal.

www.jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoo...

Govt’s Pride in Place targets areas with economic deprivation and weaker social infrastructure. Yet, our analysis reveals 2 challenges.

We find 430 doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England (home to approx 3.5 million people) are unfunded, incl many ranked as facing the greatest challenges 1/3

Note: Avoidable mortality is defined as deaths that are either preventable or treatable for those aged under 75 years.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Socioeconomic inequalities in avoidable mortality in England and Wales, 2024.

Avoidable mortality 2024 A Flourish data visualization by Joseph

It’s not right that where someone lives should determine how long or how well they live.

Interactive version: public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...

In England, avoidable mortality rates are almost four times higher for men and more than three times higher for women in the most deprived areas.

In Wales, rates are more than three times higher for men and nearly four times higher for women.

Today’s statistics offer yet another stark reminder of the link between poverty and both the quality and length of people’s lives.

Men and women living in the most deprived areas of England and Wales are far more likely to die from causes that are preventable or treatable than those in the least deprived communities.

Note: Avoidable mortality is defined as deaths that are either preventable or treatable for those aged under 75 years.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Socioeconomic inequalities in avoidable mortality in England and Wales, 2024.

Avoidable mortality 2024 A Flourish data visualization by Joseph

It’s not right that where someone lives should determine how long or how well they live.

Interactive version: public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...

Today’s statistics offer yet another stark reminder of the link between poverty and both the quality and length of people’s lives.

A new way to explore UK Poverty data ⬇️

Poverty is deepening. Developing solutions to tackle this problem starts with clear, accessible evidence.

To make our data more accessible we’ve published all charts, maps and tables from our UK Poverty 2026 in a new, interactive dashboard.

⛓️ ‘Where jobs went, so did the things that held communities together'

Poverty affects the whole of the UK, but it’s not distributed evenly.

Our analyst @scothunter.bsky.social sets out where poverty is most acute, and the action needed for all communities to thrive, no matter where they are.

Poverty is deepening.

🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.

People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.

This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.

The persistence of relative deprivation shows that something needs to give. Where you are born or live should never determine your chances in life.

Weak labour markets and low employment rates are likely contributing to poverty in these areas. While some areas may have lower housing costs, other local factors (such as access to services, rural vs. urban settings, housing quality, and local economic conditions) can intensify these challenges.

Monmouthshire was the only local authority to have none if it’s areas in the most deprived decile; Powys and Ceredigion each had one.

This amounts to approx. 13400 Blaenau Gwent residents and approx. 28700 Newport residents living in the most deprived local areas where work is insecure and pay does not go far enough, where economic and educational opportunities are limited, and where people are more likely to live in poor health.

Blaenau Gwent continues to have the highest rates of deprivation, with 9 of its 46 areas (20%) falling into the most deprived decile, followed by Newport, where 18 of 100 local areas (18%) fall into the same category.

The new Welsh IMD shows persistent disadvantage across Wales. While there has been some minor adjustments to the methodology, the overall picture is similar to that of the 2019 release.

I bought my home for £4000 in 1970, I worry about the mansion tax

> Home purchased for £4k in 1970, now worth £4m
> That's £3.945m more than if it had just increased with inflation
> Her house has effectively gained £72k in value every year in today's prices
> Her house earned around double what the average UK earner did each year

Every child, no matter their background, deserves to have a good start in life. Ethnic minority children were disproportionately impacted by the two child limit which widens ethnic disparities in child poverty rates.

Scrapping this cruel policy to lift 450000 children out of poverty is a huge win!

Between 2011/12 and 2023/24, child poverty rose by 900,000 in total. This is entirely due to increases in poverty in families with three or more children, with a small fall in poverty for smaller families over the period.

A child poverty strategy with the 2-child limit in place would *not* be a credible child poverty strategy. *All* of the growth in child poverty since the 2011/12 low point is for children in scope of this policy.

Image showing front cover of Government's statement on asylum and returns policy (titled 'Restoring Order and Control').

No one in the UK should experience destitution - wherever they were born – and destitution should never be an acceptable outcome of policy. But some policies announced in the Home Secretary’s asylum statement risk increasing destitution. 🧵1/7 www.gov.uk/government/p...

🚨New deprivation data reveals continual deep regional divides across many areas in England.

High levels of deprivation are concentrated in many ex-industrial northern and midlands towns and coastal areas, where manufacturing and tourism industries have been lost.

What is life really like in one of England's most deprived towns? Hastings in East Sussex is one of the most deprived local authorities in England, data shows.

Spoke to the BBC about the drivers of deprivation and the impact on families. There's a clear link between living in hardship & feeling socially/politically disconnected.

To make meaningful progress, communities must be involved in decisions affecting their lives.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Figure 1: Private rents have been consistently above 30% in England, below 30% in Northern Ireland, and usually below 30% in Wales

ONS have published new private rented affordability analysis for 2024.

Ratios of rents to incomes dipped in 2022/23 as incomes climbed faster than rents.

Rents have been catching up so affordability has worsened again and seems likely it will continue to worsen through 2025...

👉OUT NOW!👈

"A Handbook of Integration with Refugees: Global Learnings from Scotland"

Edited with @alisonphipps.bsky.social and @esaldegheri.bsky.social

The book is FREE to download from www.multilingual-matters.com

This isn’t about individual choices, it’s about the environments people live in, the opportunities they have, and the support systems around them.

source: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

This isn't just a statistic, it's people's family members dying before they should, and all the pain that comes with that. It's also a reflection of deep-seated structural issues.