Hi, Changing Realities.

Yeah, I'd like to talk about the creative aspect. It's been so important to me. It's been an opportunity in the workshops, and I've actually carried it on myself, to be able to just express what I'm feeling or not, feel anything, and just switch off a little bit for a while. And just think about myself and just kind of leave everything aside. It is little bit of the hot word, isn't it? Self-care. I think, as a single mom with two SEND children and health issues myself, that I'm low on the list below the cap.

So, yeah, it's really important. It has helped me have a little outlet, and it sometimes even helps me focus. If I'm not thinking of it, I actually come up with solutions to things, or think about things in a different way. As well for the Big Issue that was great, talking to me about it - that was a great thing. So, I just think it really does push you as to what is possible to be achieved. Bye.

I think creativity is a really interesting point. When you look at how much of the creative industries are now sadly dominated by people with a privately educated background and even more so with a wider middle-class background fair access to culture and art has never been more important, something too often missing from the debate on poverty.

Too often poverty is focused on - heating, eating, travel costs and a roof over the head - but we all know that it is more encompassing that in reality. It's still an impoverished life if its one that can't afford the occasional holiday or access to the arts or sports - especially for households with children.

So we live in a world where we - rightly - laud businesses for offering 'kids eat free' especially during school holidays but we accept that the travel industry charges exorbitant rates as soon as term time ends or that theme parks no longer have children's rates for anyone but the under 5s and cheap Saturday morning cinema clubs that used to be the norm have all but gone.

It's also the case that we have to find ways of expanding access to extra-curricular arts via funded school trips and expanding what qualifies as after-school childcare (a drama class or music lessons with a private tutor on a school site should count but often won't for bureaucratic reasons).

Every child born in UK has the right to access child benefits, which relieves some burdens from parents' shoulders. Besides that, all school-age children, regardless of their entitlement, should have access to free school meals. By this way, the government can tackle child poverty in a better way.

We need an opportunity to participate in the same groups and clubs as my children's classmates. I feel like my kids are slipping behind with basic skills like swimming, learning languages, and being able to attend sports camps.



Clubs are too expensive and half term has crunched us financially. If we stay home, my mental health worsens - so we always try to go out if we can, but everything costs money. Even a walk to the park and a coffee cost over £12 - the price of everything is so expensive. There are no funded places at camps this break and therefore I don't have the option to place them somewhere with free lunches and ease the burden. We used to have a free lunch scheme during the half term period but even that has stopped. To give opportunities to children means treating them all equally despite gaps in income.

Keir Starmer promised that we would save hundreds of pounds on our energy bills. Energy prices are set to rise yet again in April... Instead of giving finance support to same of the most vulnerable in our society, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has taken money away from 82% of pensioners living in poverty and is now planning to cut a further £3billion in support for disabled people! 😤

#LabourAusterity🇬🇧✂️🔥

#Inflation #Greedflation #Growth 🤔 #LabourCostOfLivingCrisis 📈💰😢

#EnoughIsEnough ⛔️

#EndAusterity ✅️

#SaveOurNHS 💙

#EndFuelPoverty ✅️

#EndChildPoverty ✅️

#RealLivingWage 😀 #RenationaliseWater ✅️

#RenationaliseEnergy ✅️

#TaxTheRich ✅️

#wealthtaxnow ⬅️

I would like see child benefits introduced for each child and for every family irrespectively of culture, beliefs or ethnicity. This opportunity will provide every child the access to basic nutritious food and to a decent life, where future generations will be able to prosper physically and mentally.

This week is half term for my oldest. Luckily my twins still see their childminder as their free hours are spreaded.



It is hard to keep them entertained at home and, to be honest, the cost of going anywhere makes it difficult to go out. There are some food places that offer £1 meals for kids which I find brilliant! But unfortunately, going swimming or even at play areas costs too much, and I’m still getting on top of money from Christmas.



It will be much better when the weather is better - we will be able to go parks. But, for this year, I’m trying to stay positive and do the best I can.

Good morning everyone. To me, it means that things are going a little bit better. Just hoping for the best. Thank you.

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is doing well today, and I hope to see all of you at the meeting today. Please keep warm

Poverty affects opportunities for my kids this means missing out on everyday fun, play and relaxed time with family because family outings are too expensive, and being excluded from social activities with friends because there isn’t money for a cinema ticket or birthday present. Missing educational school trips because we can not afford creating isolation and stigma. My children have to grow up fast missing out on childhood because they think of working and making life better for us.

The school holidays are upon us here in Scotland and it's been unusually cold with zero sun for 2 weeks now. My normally warm house has been very cold so can't wait to see my next electric bill. It's always more of a struggle trying to entertain kids when off school as day camps etc are very costly - so that's out of the question. We've been getting more creative and my son made his own board game which was fun. We managed to get cheap cinema tickets so that was a treat 👍

It means a lot to have a job. Then we will be free from financial problems. Helping single parents also can't wait.