PRAN NEWSLETTER ISSUE 21: November 2025
Dear PRAN MEMBERS
As we continue our journey of learning, connection, and collective action, we are excited to share updates, reflections, and opportunities from across the PRAN network. This edition opens with a thought-provoking new blog by Michael Brennan, highlighting the UK’s growing “cost of dying” crisis and advocating for stronger state support for those facing financial hardship at life’s end. You will also find information on upcoming PRAN events, including the 2026 Early Career Symposium and our monthly Early Career Forum, alongside wider sector events designed to inform, inspire, and strengthen our shared efforts for social justice.
Read our latest blog written by Michael Brennan, a leading researcher on the social aspects of death and dying. The piece highlights the UK’s growing “cost of dying” crisis, where many terminally ill people face severe financial strain alongside the emotional challenges of approaching the end of life. Loss of income, rising energy bills, treatment-related expenses, and limited access to benefits leave many dying in poverty. The author calls for stronger state support, including early access to the state pension, to ease this burden.
PRAN EVENTS
Save the date: Early Career Symposium
When: 6th of May, 2026
Where: Oxford
Join us on 6 May 2026 at the University of Oxford for the Early Career Symposium, Forging Connections: Early Career Voices on Poverty and Social Justice. This interdisciplinary, cross-sector event brings together early career researchers and practitioners to share innovative work on poverty and justice. Through keynotes, presentations, and workshops, we will explore challenges, wellbeing, and the importance of care while building supportive networks for those working toward social change.
Early Career Forum: Monthly Meeting
When: Every second Monday of the month, 12:30- 13:30 (GMT)
Where: Online
The Early Career Forum offers a relaxed, welcoming monthly online space for researchers, practitioners, civil society workers, and activists in poverty and social justice. Meeting every second Monday (12:30-13:30), it’s a participant-led session to connect with peers, share challenges and insights, exchange ideas and opportunities, and support one another through early career life. Bring a cuppa and join a supportive community shaping topics around collective needs. All early career colleagues are welcome. For more information, please click here.
OTHER EVENTS
What Works in Community-led Health and Wellbeing?
When: Dec 15 from 2pm to 3:30pm (GMT)
Where: Online
Learn from emerging insights from a major NIHR-funded, three-year research project exploring how community organisations create real impact on health and wellbeing – this is one of the most comprehensive studies ever to explore community-led health across multiple organisations, over time.
Community organisations are the heartbeat of local life – creating health, responding to needs, building connections and strengthening the social fabric that supports wellbeing. But how do we know what really works, and why?
Join The Health Creation Alliance and Professor Rachel Baker, Yunus Chair at Glasgow Caledonian University and Director of the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, when she will share emerging findings from an ambitious study that worked with community partners and people with lived experience to unpack the ´how` and ´why´ behind community-led health creation. Using both realist and economic evaluation, this project brings together evidence, stories, and practical lessons for the real world.
If you’re passionate about understanding and applying cutting-edge research on what makes community action effective - this is for you.
There is no cost to attend and you can book your place here.
Income Maximisation: Practical Guidance and Sources of Financial Support
When: Thursday 4th December, 11.00am-12.00pm (GMT)
Where: Online
This iMAPP workshop will provide practical guidance on the UK social security system and the financial support available for people who may be struggling financially. Drawing on both upcoming national policy insights and local case studies across the Liverpool City Region, this online workshop aims to deepen understandings of poverty and its drivers, as well as shedding light on practical tools to maximise household incomes. It will also facilitate a space for broader discussion amongst attendees and best practice sharing. Speakers and topics will include:
Maximising Household Incomes: National Policy and Practical Guidance
Dr Hannah Haycox, iMAPP co-ordinator, Resolve Poverty
Unlocking Billions: Angels Connect
Rich Jones, CEO, St Andrews Community Network
The workshop is free to attend and open to all, and may be of particular relevance to local government, public sector and VCFSE organisations that are interested in developing their knowledge of income maximisation support.
Please register for the event at the following link: Sign-up for the workshop – Income Maximisation: Practical Guidance and Sources of Financial Support – Microsoft Teams
This workshop has been facilitated by the Income Maximisation Anti-Poverty Partnership. Special thanks to the Steve Morgan Foundation for supporting this initiative.
The National Child Poverty Strategy: What It Means For Your Area
When: Wednesday 10th December,10.30am-12.00pm
Where: Online
Join Resolve Poverty at this informative event to understand what the new government Child Poverty Strategy means for the work of your area.
Suitable for people working in local and regional government, as well as public and voluntary sector partners, this event will break down exactly what impact the Strategy will have on your work.
We’ll look into what the priorities for local anti-poverty action should be and hear from a guest speaker about their approach to local anti-poverty activity in the context of national and regional progress.
Please register for the event at the following link: Select tickets – The National Child Poverty Strategy: What It Means For Your Area – Microsoft Teams
We hope you find the information below helpful, and we’re wishing you a great day! If you’d like to share news, stories, or be featured in our next newsletter, we’d love to hear from you. Just drop us a line at info@pran.org.uk
With Solidarity,
PRAN TEAM
