Michelle Mitchell OBE

It was great to be asked to speak at the launch of Resolution Foundation's latest report on Universal Credit. The report, written by former Policy in Practice analyst Alex Clegg is available here: https://lnkd.in/ep8kBBNN A lot has changed within and around Universal Credit in the last decade, you can view the whole discussion with excellent contributions as ever from Kayley Hignell from Citizens Advice here: https://lnkd.in/eiRD_MBa Some key points from me reflecting on the report: There was a general consensus that, policy choices aside, Universal Credit is a better system than the legacy benefit system it replaced. We saw how it was able to respond in the pandemic, and in a straw poll with the audience people saw it as firstly simplifying a complex system, secondly as a successful digital rollout and thirdly as improving incentives to work. This will help an incoming government as Universal Credit allows more flexibility. Secondly, while the report focuses on 'working renters' as the winners and 'disabled people' as the losers from the move to Universal Credit, I argued that this isn't the best way to look at the system. The core distinction over the last decade has been policy choices under George Osborne that cut the basic levels of out of work support and Rishi Sunak that raised levels of in work support (primarily through a lower taper rate). It's easier to make the case for improving work incentives to the electorate, but inadequate levels of support as costs rise the core problem the social security system will need to grapple with. There was a really healthy discussion about the core problems: that the benefit system has always been a sponge for problems elsewhere, such as high and rising housing costs and greater levels of ill health and that on the huge rise in disability support claims with again consensus that the removal of support for people with limited capability for work was a really bad idea. To read more about Policy in Practice's work on this, Jack Rowlands latest paper talks about how a tougher conditionality regime risks moving people away from employment: https://lnkd.in/ew_rPEfA Finally, if you do watch the recording you get to hear me breathlessly explain the complexity of council tax support, changes in employment and support allowance, frustrations in 2010 and my best ever close to an event... 'and I forget my second recommendation' 😊

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These Mayoral elections have raised questions about mayoral cut through, turnout and the opportunity that affords itself with 11 out 12 metro mayors being Labour. Read Annabel Smith reflections in this insightful blog

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Looking forward to chairing this session for PLMR Genesis colleagues next week, with an expert panel discussing what may happen in the polls coming July 4th & what the East of England needs from a new administration. Sign-up details below if you want to listen in! #politics #policy #publicaffairs #eastofengland

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I want every candidate in every constituency asked key questions about poverty. So colleagues at Christians Against Poverty came together to help make that happen. capuk.org/ppcmap will show you the progress we are making together capuk.org/ppc is how you can get your question asked (we made that bit easy to and pre-wrote some questions with the help of some clients & former clients of ours - questions about poverty coming from people who *really* know what its like is surely more impactful, no?) Do please join in - not just in writing to your candidates, but also in sharing the opportunity with friends and family and neighbours and networks. We have an opportunity to make a real difference here, and get poverty put firmly on the political agenda. It hasn't been treated with the priority that it deserves, and is now a matter of public urgency. Together, we can do this. It's the only way it will happen.

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Cllr Bailes said the Ofsted report showed the Merchant Venturers have ‘failed to deliver a better future for young people in these areas’. “The recent Ofsted report on Merchant's Academy, a dismal reflection of 15 years of poor leadership by the Merchant Ventures, comes as no surprise,” she said. “A generation of pupils has been left behind, their potential stifled by a system that failed to provide them with the education they deserved. While apologies may be offered, they cannot erase the damage inflicted. “The high levels of exclusions, particularly permanent ones, are a mere band-aid, masking the school's failings. Excluded children often find themselves entangled in the criminal justice system, a cycle that exacerbates rather than solves the problem,” she added. “The arrival of E-ACT brings a glimmer of hope, a chance for a fresh start. The hope is that under their leadership, the school will see vast improvements in the quality of education and the safety of all pupils, parents, and staff. While 14 years of austerity have undoubtedly contributed to the poor outcomes of many pupils from marginalized communities like Hartcliffe and Withywood, the Merchant Ventures should have been the beacon of positive school reform that the academy system promised. “Instead, it has failed to deliver a better future for young people in these areas. Change won't happen overnight, but the new head teacher, Guy Swallow, has shown a willingness to listen to pupils and parents, relaxing the overly strict uniform policy and punitive punishment system. The implementation of rewards for good behavior has been well received, a much-needed shift in the school's culture. “With aspirations for the school running high, the return of A-Levels next year, as promised by Mr. Swallow, is a positive step towards a brighter future. This will allow pupils to achieve more than they currently can, giving them the tools they need to succeed in life,” she added. https://lnkd.in/e4wQWVQ6

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Out today - just ahead of the dissolution of the House of Commons - a blueprint for examining Government progress in a new Parliament from the Liaison Committee. • If the King’s Speech sets out a government’s programme of legislation and the annual Budget is about spending plans - why wouldn’t ministers tell us their ambitions for government? The report proposes an annual statement to Parliament setting out their ministerial priorities and the right for MPs to question them about it. • Fairness between generations demands action from government and Parliament. Long-term strategy needs to engage public imagination and consent, especially among younger generations. Why plan for long-term challenges like housing or social care without their input? • We need to do strategy better. Teach ministers, MPs, civil servants (not just the top people) how to scan for challenges; deliver and implement strategic planning. It’s essential.

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𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 - 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 Top line findings from The Foundation Practice Report as shared in today's Third  Sector article. 🔍 Sample of 100 Foundations 📊 More are reporting diversity (18 this year v 11 last year) but the findings show the stark reality of how much more has to be done. 👭🏻  Indigo Trust reported 100% non male paid staff (I like their page on EDI by the way) 👩🏽  Esmeé Fairburn Foundation still leads the way with diversity of race (non white) at 23% 🙎🏿 Friends Provident Foundation scores well on gender (non male) at 71% 👨🏽‍🦯 Only 4 Foundations reported more than 17% of staff as disabled, this is the % given in the UK census. 8 reported fewer than 17% .  We know that some don't disclose disability for fear of career limiting bias - that's for another post though... So the question is how do we speed up this process? Because we all know that 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. ❓ 𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆? 𝗕𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻, 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 ), 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 / 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. I am Indian, female, partially sighted with 16 years in the NFP sector.... how would you attract me? Lets use me as a case study 🧐 ...A few years back I was approached to work for a charity in the diversity space. At the last interview I asked the question ' what are your plans to get ANY non white trustees on board given your core purpose'  It didn't go down well at all, I saw the temperature in the room drop to freezing 🥶. They felt that question was not appropriate 😲. I thought it was THE most appropriate question to ask! Obviously, I didn't pursue that role, as they were not ready to reach that tipping point needed to be at the forefront of living and breathing their core purpose. Much to do, not just in Foundations but across the whole sector. Welcome your comments.

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As #publicservices face increasing complexity and resource scarcity, reform prescriptions emphasize #localism and relationships such that people and communities are centered in service design and delivery. #PublicAdministration is awash in concepts that acknowledge the influence of relationships on service effectiveness (e.g. #cocreation, #networkgovernance, #citizenparticipation) suggesting relationality is an 'implied characteristic' of the discipline. Still, its conceptual dimensions and effects remain blurry. The hope with this special issue is to move the conversation forward theoretically and empirically as well as advancing discussions about how, as academics and practitioners, we might practically develop the field. If this sounds like a conversation you'd like to be a part of, I hope you'll consider sending us your work! The call for papers can be found below! PMM: Public Money & Management UK Association for Public Administration (UKAPA) Government Outcomes Lab, University of Oxford Rob Wilson Hannah Hesselgreaves Britt Regal, PhD Sam van Elk Adina Iulia Dudau Dr Ian C Elliott Felix-Anselm van Lier

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Good luck to local authority colleagues in the run up to the #GeneralElection. A plea from the Adult Support Sector: please promote inclusive elections. #Disabled people have the same right to vote as people without a disability, and Government decisions affect them - the attack on PIP just one example, and of course funding! #MyVoteMyVoice campaign provides accessible information and resources for people with learning disabilities, #Autistic people and other support needs, including a very handy voting passport that can make the actual process easier for both polling station staff and the person with LD. My area of interest is LD, but obviously the same applies for other disabilities. https://lnkd.in/eVDFCtqV #AccessibleElections #Accessibility #Inclusion #InclusiveElections

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About to develop a heritage project? Considering working with a consultant to secure NLHF funding? The last blog in our #CraigmyleNLHFweek series shares a client perspective and is well worth a read.

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You need to do these five things, in this order, as soon as possible. 1 - follow this link and write to all the party leaders to demand they put poverty on the agenda this general election. https://lnkd.in/eWF4m3dx 2 - follow this link to register to vote - deadline is June 18th if you want to vote in the general election on 4th July - https://lnkd.in/erkDhcXj 3 - follow this link to get free photo voter ID if you don’t already have any - https://lnkd.in/eyNqfkw4 4 - follow this link to sort out a postal vote (especially if you’re in Scotland - July 4th general election will be during most factory fortnights) - https://lnkd.in/eZx8aX6m 5 - share this post with everyone you know and care about

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Some great practical advice here from Gill Pipkin about bid writing. Well worth a read!

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'The launch of the Centre for Young Lives #RaisingTheNation Play Commission' - Paul Lindley OBE ⤵️ We launch our Commission in the middle of an election campaign and with huge political decisions ahead, first for voters and then for a new Parliament. As those decisions are made, the future of our children must be at the centre of the debate. Politicians should ask how our children can thrive: how they can feel significant, be confident, have life affirming childhoods and become the people that they each have the potential to be. Because thriving childhoods reflect thriving societies, and as play is central to thriving childhoods, it should be central to political decision-making. The way children explore, experiment and build an understanding of the world really matters. That is why, we have created the Raising the Nation Play Commission: to stimulate a conversation, gather evidence, demand barriers to play are broken down and to offer a framework for government to create an environment, facilities, time and a culture for children to do their work – and play. We will deliver our findings, and a plan for the Government to consider, on 11 June 2025 – the second International Day of Play.  As we begin our journey, we invite your contributions, ideas, energy and support! #Play #FreePlay #PlaySufficiency #PhysicalActivity #PhysicalLiteracy #Recreation #ActiveTravel #PlayStreet #StreetPlay #HomeZones #Playces #Splace #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN #KnowBallGames #Parks #Playgrounds #UNCRC #Article31

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Today we launch the Campaign for Better Transport General Election manifesto – which calls on the next government to maintain, invest and progress public transport infrastructure and spending – for the planet, for the pound and for personal finances. We hope, in the next parliament, policymakers will put public, sustainable and active travel at the forefront of their plans – for the benefit of all.

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How the next government can deliver better outcomes for Britain - read on!

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I was asked to write for Metro.co.uk about The Labour Party’s campaign strategy and my thoughts on what they need to do to win. You can read my article here. https://lnkd.in/eeRwDgkK

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Keir Starmer's first full campaign speech today is fundamentally about respect. It's about how working people in Britain feel disrespected, looked down on, let down and ignored by those in power. And it's about what it would take for a government to show people some respect again. Crucially, that means respecting what *they* can do to help rebuild the country. "People now feel like more and more of the decisions that affect their community are taken by people who not only live miles away but have little empathy for their challenges." "[We have] a politics that is at best doing something to people, not with them. But at its worst... it's about something much, much darker even than that. It’s about respect, or to be more precise, the lack of it." "[This is] a moment where people no longer believe their values or interests carry the respect of those in power." "Britain must be a country that respects your contribution." This story of respect is exactly the right story for Starmer to take to the country. It ties together his own values and background into what it feels like to live in Britain right now. But it doesn't just chime with the moment. As we started to show at the UCL Policy Lab Britain Renewed conference two weeks ago, it also suggests what might drive a new government's agenda. An economic strategy that respects the contribution every part of the country can make (as called for by the likes of Resolution Foundation, Dani Rodrik and Karel Williams). Reform of public services so that frontline staff and service users themselves are shown greater respect for their ability to improve outcomes (as per Hilary Cottam, Demos, IPPR etc). And power held as locally as possible – respecting local people's knowledge of, and commitment to, their own places (see We're Right Here, Power to Change, Locality, The Young Foundation etc.) Have a read of the full text: https://lnkd.in/eBJJgBgG

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