PRAN NEWSLETTER ISSUE 27: May 2026
Dear PRAN MEMBERS
Welcome to the latest PRAN newsletter. Inside, you'll find a reflection on the Forging Connections forum held in Oxford earlier this month, along with details of an upcoming public discussion on poverty and social justice at the SPA Annual Conference in Liverpool this July. We also share new research on food insecurity and a petition on water poverty worth lending your support to- we hope there is something of interest and use to you in this issue.
Events
Reflecting on the Forging Connections: An Early Career Forum on Poverty and Social Justice Event in Oxford
In early May we held Forging Connections: An Early Career Forum on Poverty and Social Justice - and it was a fantastic, thoughtful, and moving day.
We began with a brilliant keynote from Angela Carballal Barca, who invited us to take a few deep breaths together - a grounding start to a day full of reflection, discussion, presentations, and workshops. We heard excellent contributions from Srimoyee Biswas, Jonathon Prasad, Alicja Zon, Vanessa Boon, Carrie Ann Stevens, and Jago Westaway, exploring themes including colonialism, embodied poverty, welfare rights and immigration advocacy, socio-economic duty, heart-led practice, and organisational connections.
One of the most powerful moments of the day came as we went around the room introducing ourselves and sharing the work we are doing. It felt deeply emotional and energising to be surrounded by so many people committed to challenging injustice, supporting communities, and pushing for meaningful change. The openness, care, and solidarity in the room set the tone for the rest of the forum.
The afternoon created space for thoughtful discussion and reflection through workshops on lived experience, practitioner wellbeing, and building collaborations, led by Jason Grant-Rowles, Eleanor Pritchard, and Brian Treacy. By the end of the day, emails and numbers were being exchanged - a fitting reflection of what the event was truly about: building relationships, solidarity, and future collaborations.
Thank you to everyone who contributed so openly, thoughtfully, and generously. It was wonderful to share the space with you all. Thank you also to the Socio-Legal Studies Association and Liverpool Hope University for supporting the event.
Moving forward, we will be developing a series of blogs and podcasts inspired by the incredible work shared throughout the forum. We are excited to continue these conversations, spotlight emerging research and practice, and create new opportunities for connection and collaboration beyond the event itself.
Event Alert: Poverty & Social Justice: A Public Discussion
As part of the 2026 Social Policy Association (SPA) Annual Conference in Liverpool, we warmly invite you to a landmark public session on Poverty & Social Justice - the first ever SPA conference session to be opened to members of the public.
Set within this year’s conference theme, Hope in Dark Times: Resistance and Radical Change, the event will bring together scholars, practitioners, and activists to explore how hope, resistance, and radical transformation can help reimagine a more equitable future.
The discussion will feature talks and a panel discussion with Professor Ruth Patrick(University of Glasgow) and Changing Realities, Joanna Mack (The Open University), Dr Lee Gregory (University of Nottingham and ASAP UK), Sir Geoff Mulgan CBE (UCL), and Baroness Ruth Lister (Member of the House of Lords), chaired by Dr Natalija Atas (Liverpool Hope University, PRAN and SPA Poverty Policy Group).
Join us for an engaging and timely conversation on poverty, inequality, and pathways towards meaningful systemic change.
The event is free to attend; advance registration is required.
To register for the event click here: Poverty & Social Justice: A Public DiscussionTickets| Eventbrite
SPA Annual Conference 2026
Friday 3rd of July 2026 at 14:30
Research Collaboration Blog
Context
Food insecurity is rising across the UK, placing increasing pressure on individuals, families, and communities. National data shows that more than one in ten households struggle to afford or access sufficient food, with households with children disproportionately affected.
The Food Insecurity: Voices from the Foodbank project brings the experiences of food bank users to the forefront. Developed in collaboration with the Equitable Place-Based Health and Care theme (EPHC- ARC NWC), the research deepens our understanding of how food insecurity affects physical and mental health, and what might help reduce its negative impacts. The research had three aims: to explore how food bank users perceive food insecurity to affect their day-to-day lives and those of their families; to understand the impacts on health and wellbeing; and to identify what might mitigate those impacts.
Data was collected between January and March 2025 through interviews with food bank users across three food banks in the North West of England. A follow-up workshop then gave participants the opportunity to review and reflect on the emerging findings
To read more about this research, please read our latest blog.
Independent Age Petition
Sign this petition to call on the UK Government to create a national water social tariff
Independent Age are calling for a national social tariff for water bills, so that everyone gets consistent support with their bills wherever they live. This would put an end to the unfair postcode lottery and lift hundreds of thousands of households out of water poverty. Show you support by signing the petition here.
We hope this newsletter has given you something to think about, connect with, or act on. As always, we welcome your thoughts, contributions, and ideas- do get in touch if you would like to be more involved with PRAN's work.
In solidarity
PRAN Team
