PRAN NEWSLETTER ISSUE 29: July 2026
Dear PRAN MEMBERS
Welcome to the latest edition of the PRAN newsletter! As always, we're bringing you news, insights, and opportunities from across the poverty research and action community. This month, we spotlight the growing pressures facing older people, share fresh thinking on the politics of poverty, and highlight upcoming events you won't want to miss.
PRAN News
READ OUR LATEST BLOG: PENSIONER POVERTY: ON THE BRINK OF ANOTHER COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS
Our latest guest blog, written by Age UK, explores this in more detail - from the realities facing older people this winter to the support available now. Over a million UK pensioners are living in poverty, with many cutting back on heating, food, and social activities to make ends meet. As energy prices rise once again, Age UK warns that this winter could bring another cost-of-living crisis for older people. Urgent action is needed, including improved take-up of Pension Credit, wider energy support, and accessible local crisis help.
Read the full blog here.
‘My home being cold depresses me. It makes me feel ashamed. It makes me angry’.
This is what someone told Age UK in their research on the cost of living.
LISTEN TO OUR LATEST PODCAST: THE COST-OF-LIVING CHRONICLES
Welcome back to The Cost-of-Living Chronicles - now in its eleventh segment. The second session, The Politics of Poverty, examines policy, corporate influence, and governance. It features four fantastic talks from speakers across the country: Professor James Rees and Dr Joshua Blamire (University of Wolverhampton), Dr Kelly Kennedy (University of York), Dr Kirstie Hewlett (King's College London), and Professor Sarah Irwin (University of Leeds).
Click here to listen to the podcast.
OTHER NEWS
YOU'RE INVITED: A SPECIAL FILM SCREENING
The Man With The Plan is the latest film from writer and director Christine Edzard, starring Simon Callow as William Beveridge. The film follows a young person of today discovering Beveridge's visionary 1942 plan to abolish the "five giants" of Want, Disease, Squalor, Idleness and Ignorance. Through a series of fantastical encounters and contemporary voices, it explores the inequalities Beveridge sought to eradicate and concludes with a hopeful call for collective action.
The film also features appearances by academics, campaigners and activists including Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Kate Pickett, Danny Dorling, Rebecca O’Connell, Andrew Meyerson, Mark E. Thomas, Tansy Hoskins, Ian Hodson and representatives from organisations working in public health, housing, food justice, taxation ,environmental campaigning and social action.
For more information about the film and tour dates, please click here.
LATAN WELCOMES YOU TO ITS UPCOMING CONFERENCE
LATAN is delighted to invite members and colleagues to its upcoming conference, A Future Joined Up: The Next Chapter for Community Advice. The event will explore how access to quality free legal advice empowers communities, brings people together, and builds a shared sense of justice and inclusion at a time of division and inequity.
The conference takes place on Thursday 3rd September at the University of Liverpool's School of Law and Social Justice Building.
Tickets are on sale now - click here to secure yours today.
That's all for this edition! If you would like to share any information in our upcoming newsletter, or engage more fully in PRAN's work, please get in touch by emailing us at info@pran.org.uk
As is tradition, PRAN will be taking its August break - we'll be back in September with more news and updates. Until then, we wish you a restful summer.
In solidarity
PRAN Team
