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Action Trackers: The collapse of the safety net (2015)

Download Action Trackers: The collapse of the safety net (2015)

Action Trackers: The collapse of the safety net (2015) examines the impact of welfare reforms on people and communities in Yorkshire and Humber.

The research, carried out by Involve Yorkshire & Humber, shows that the region’s voluntary sector is seeing an unsustainable surge in demand for care, advice and support services since welfare reforms were introduced.

The report details the impact of seven different benefit changes on the Yorkshire voluntary sector and the people and communities it supports. 

Findings highlight that as voluntary and community organisations strive to support local people and communities in poverty and need, they increasingly suffer the impact of too many demands and too little resource. Almost half have had their funding reduced.

In particular, welfare changes are impacting negatively on the most vulnerable, especially people with disabilities, those suffering from mental health problems, young people and families. Sanctions, complicated IT processes and systems, and delays in benefits payments are all affecting vulnerable people badly. 

Some of the headline statistics include:

• 80% of 222 organisations surveyed have seen increased demand since April 2013
• While almost half (48%) have seen their funding reduced during the same period
• 95% of organisations reported negative impacts of welfare reforms
• Food bank use has gone up 360% in just one year 

Raw data for the non-confidential elements of the research is available on request.

About Action Trackers

The voluntary and community sector wanted to make sure that the inspiring actions they were taking to support people as reforms take effect were recorded and shared. Involve Yorkshire & Humber commissioned the Action Trackers research as our response to the sector's concerns.

Action Trackers collected both sides of these stories: both the impact and the positive action taken.

More information about the Action Trackers research here