GMPA actively promotes our own activities and supports national anti-poverty campaigns through the media. This page details some of GMPA’s recent media appearances. You can also find our latest press statements on this page.

To contact us about our media work, please get in touch by email.

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Press releases

Extension of Household Support Fund is welcomed – but government must commit to permanent funding for local welfare assistance, Greater Manchester Poverty Action warns

6 March 2024

After months of uncertainty for local authorities across the country, the Chancellor has today announced that the Household Support Fund (HSF) will be extended ‘at current levels’ for a further six months.

Thousands of children in poverty in every North West area can’t get free school meals – calls to overhaul eligibility rules

7 February 2024

Every North West local authority has at least 1,500 school-age children in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals because the qualifying criteria is so restrictive, new analysis by Child Poverty Action Group and Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows.

It’s not too late to save the Household Support Fund, says Greater Manchester Poverty Action

31 January 2024

In light of Sir Stephen Timms MP’s Westminster Hall debate this afternoon, Greater Manchester Poverty Action backs calls to continue the fund and protect thousands of vulnerable residents.

New data reveals North West as hotspot for children hit by two-child limit on benefits

4 December 2023

Sir Stephen Timms held a Westminster Hall debate on the Household Support Fund, which is currently set to end in March 2024, this afternoon. The fund has provided £842m to local authorities in the year 2023/24 and is used to support low-income residents with the cost of living. Greater Manchester Poverty Action backs calls to continue the fund and protect thousands of vulnerable residents.

Chancellor’s Autumn Statement does not safeguard those experiencing poverty against the prevailing cost-of-living crisis, says Greater Manchester Poverty Action

22 November 2023

The Autumn Statement, delivered against a backdrop of hardship and rising destitution levels in the UK, proved a missed an opportunity to provide extra support for those who need it most, according to Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA).

Children in the North West missing out on £12 million a month through Universal Credit deductions

15 November 2023

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit low-income families the hardest, figures released by Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) have found there are now over 320,000 children across the North West in households receiving less Universal Credit than their entitlement because of debt deductions.

New real Living Wage rates for 2023-24 are welcomed by Greater Manchester Poverty Action

24 October 2023

Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) has welcomed the Living Wage Foundation’s announcement that the real UK Living Wage will rise to £12 per hour for 2023/24.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation report ‘Destitution in the UK 2023’ – Greater Manchester Poverty Action response

24 October 2023

Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) has responded to a new report published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Starmer has an opportunity to set a course that ends poverty in the UK, says Greater Manchester Poverty Action

10 October 2023

Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) has responded to today’s Labour Leader’s speech to the Labour conference with a call for Keir Starmer to be bolder on eradicating poverty in the UK.

Kellogg’s and GMPA urge nationwide rollout of Money Matters to help combat child poverty

29 September 2023

A pioneering debt and benefits advice service in schools has seen hard-up families boost their income by up to £24,000 in a year.

Sticking plaster ‘food banks’ and ‘red tape’ leave many Brits facing financial hardship, new data reveals

17 July 2023

A new study has revealed ‘government red tape’ and ‘food bank diverts’ have left Brits facing financial hardship for nearly a decade – today experts call for a simplified money referral process to ensure Brits to get the ‘cash first’ support they need.

Regional campaigners call for end to ‘two-child limit’ affecting almost 90,000 Greater Manchester kids

11 July 2023

The End Child Poverty Coalition has produced figures on the number of children who are impacted by the two-child limit to benefit payments in Greater Manchester, ahead of a debate in parliament on the issue.

New figures show more than a third of children in North West living in poverty

5 June 2023

Today the End Child Poverty Coalition launches its annual child poverty statistics for the UK, revealing child poverty levels at a local authority and Westminster constituency level.

Budget reinforces the need to get serious about ending poverty and boosting living standards, says Greater Manchester Poverty Action

15 March 2023

Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) urges the government to set out a plan for tackling poverty after the Spring budget leaves households short of the support needed to meet everyday living costs.

One in seven low income parents surveyed say their children now worry about the family’s finances daily

14 October 2022

Eye-opening new research of parents living on low incomes reveals that more than one in seven (15 per cent) say their children are worried about their family’s financial situation daily as the cost-of-living crisis escalates.

Coverage

BBC Lancashire, 7 February 2024: Free school meals rules mean 100,000 kids go hungry in north west England

Lancashire Post, 7 February 2024: 20,000 Lancashire children in poverty are missing out on free school meals

Manchester Evening News, 7 February 2024: Kids in Greater Manchester are living in poverty… but they can’t even get free school meals

The i Paper, 28 January 2024: Councils warn of end to free school meals during holidays due to funding cut

Big Issue, 22 December 2023: End to household support fund will mean ‘more people will go cold, hungry and lose their homes’

Tameside Correspondent, 5 December 2023: Tameside children being hit by two-child limit on benefits

Salford Now, 5 December 2023: Salford children in top 3 worst affected by two-child benefit limit

Hits Radio, 5 December 2023: CEO Graham Whitham speaks to Hits Radio about the impact of the two-child limit

Planet Radio, 16 November 2023: 320,000 children across North West impacted by Universal Credit deductions

News4Trafford, 15 November 2023: Children in Manchester missing out on £5m a month through Universal Credit deductions

Rochdale Online, 15 November 2023: Rochdale has one of the highest destitution rates in England, new figures show

Various radio stations, 29 September 2023: CEO Graham Whitham talks about our Money Matters programme on BBC Radio Manchester, Global Radio and LBC News.

The Independent, 29 September 2023: Low income families could boost their income by up to £24,000 a year with new scheme

The Mirror, 29 September 2023: Family of six boosts income by extra £24,000 – thanks to unclaimed benefits

Daily Star, 29 September 2023: As much as £19 billion worth of benefits go unclaimed each year across the UK, study finds

Express, 29 September 2023: New benefits advice trial service in schools helps families claim thousands in benefits

The Sun, 29 September 2023: Hard-up families could boost their income by up to £24,000 a year with new scheme

About Manchester, 11 July 2023: Campaigners call for end to ‘two child limit’ affecting almost 90,000 Greater Manchester children

Manchester Evening News, 11 June 2023: Life on the streets where parents have to go without to feed their kids

BBC Radio Lancashire, 5 June 2023: CEO Graham Whitham talks about the new child poverty figures for the North West

BBC Breakfast, 22 March 2023: CEO Graham Whitham comments on inflation and the rising cost of fuel and food

Hits Radio, 16 March 2023: CEO Graham Whitham comments on the budget

About Manchester, 15 March 2023: Budget reinforces the need to get serious about ending poverty and boosting living standards, says Greater Manchester Poverty Action

BBC Breakfast, 25 February 2023: CEO Graham Whitham talks about the cost-of-living crisis, including rising energy bills

Sky News, 9 December 2022: As people struggle without heating, CEO Graham Whitham talks about the gap between what families need but can’t afford

Sky News, 9 December 2022: As ‘warm banks’ open across the country, CEO Graham Whitham talks about the long-term effects on the children growing up in poverty

Hits Radio, 18 November 2022: CEO Graham Whitham speaks in response to the Government’s Autumn Statement

Hits Radio, 20 October 2022: Coverage of GMPA’s cost-of-living crisis conference

BBC Radio Manchester, October 2022: CEO Graham Whitham talks about GMPA’s Money Matters programme

Sky News, October 2022: CEO Graham Whitham talks about the cost-of-living crisis

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