“This was a new adventure for me…when I joined the group I was unsure of how I could contribute as my self-esteem was low. Being part of the group, sharing experiences was invaluable to me. I quickly realised that I had much to learn and much to give in return.”

THE PROJECT

This research project, funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation, focused on the Local Welfare Safety Net in York - a collection of locally designed schemes that support households facing financial hardship beyond the mainstream benefits system.

The project focused on learning from people who have experienced poverty and used the welfare system, using their lived insights to improve local support, tackle the underlying causes of financial hardship and reduce poverty through changes in policy and community-led solutions.

What makes this project different from traditional research models is that it was designed, facilitated and analysed by people who have direct experience of accessing the welfare system, making the findings more credible, representative and better reflect the real experiences of those most affected.

The Community Research Café

Workshops were held at St Deny’s Church Hall on Walmgate, a central community space in York with regular drop-in sessions. The informal setting helped people stay connected, support each other and share their personal experiences openly in a safe and respectful environment where everyone could contribute equally.

The Community Researchers

We brought together a group of Community Researchers - local people with lived experience of financial hardship - to give people a say in the issues that affect them. They took the lead in deciding what to explore and how, with support and training along the way. Together, we gathered insights based on real-life experiences.

Meet the Community Reporters

Introducing Astrid
Introducing Emma
Introducing Jamie
Introducing John
Introducing Kate
Introducing Kate
Introducing Lynne
Introducing Marian
Introducing Miles
Introducing Olivia
Introducing Rodger
Introducing Rob

“It’s desperation, that’s what it feels like being in poverty.

It’s a desperate place to be”.

The Partnership

The project was a collaborative effort involving seven partners: The University of York, City of York Council, Age UK York, Citizens Advice York, York Foodbank, Peasholme Charity and the Welfare Benefits Unit.

Special thanks to Healthwatch York for co-facilitating the workshops and thank you to the funders - The Lloyds Bank Foundation - for making this research possible.

.

WHY THIS RESEARCH MATTERS

This research is important because people who have used the benefits system want to see improvements that make it work better for everyone. It aims to improve how local support schemes are designed and run so they better reflect the challenges people face.

This includes Discretionary Support, such as the Household Support Fund and the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme, as well as Council Tax Policy, which covers Council Tax Support, Discretionary Council Tax Relief and how council tax is collected. The aim is to make these schemes more effective at preventing poverty and helping people avoid problems like council tax arrears, which can become a major debt in York especially when court and bailiff fees are added.

Research Methods and Approach

Spider Diagrams: Using spider diagrams, participants drew on their own experiences to explore Discretionary Support. They mapped out key problems and possible solutions, helping to show where the system can be difficult to navigate and how it could better meet people’s needs.

Mapping: We used mapping and roleplay to explore how people move through the welfare system. Participants used cardboard circles to show how important different services are and placed them on the floor to show how easy or difficult they are to access, grouping similar services together and identifying what was missing. Working through real-life situations, such as domestic abuse or eviction, helped show how services connect and where gaps exist. This led to a clearer picture of how support works in practice and helped inspire the Snakes and Ladders game to show how unpredictable the system can be.

Snakes and Ladders: We played a game that shows the ups and downs of the local welfare system. Snakes represent things that set people back, such as delays in benefits or unexpected crises, while ladders represent support like services, people, or processes that move things forward. The game helped highlight where the system creates barriers and where it helps people progress, showing where improvements are needed.

“The energy in the room showed how passionate people are about addressing problems that people are facing.”

Rose, Buds and Thorns: In small groups, we reviewed everything we had learned and sorted ideas into “roses” (what works well), “buds” (what could be improved), and “thorns” (problems and barriers). We discussed poverty, inequality, gaps in support and ideas for change, including specific feedback on Discretionary Support and Council Tax Policy. We then grouped related ideas into themes and checked findings across groups, which resulted in 15 shared themes.

Festival of Social Sciences Event: As part of the Festival of Social Science 2025 (Economic and Social Research Council), we ran a participatory event 'Breaking Down Barriers - Exploring access to local welfare support in York'. Participants took part in activities such as a cause-and-effect tree, Snakes and Ladders, a spider diagram on Discretionary Support, role-play scenarios and QR-code quotes. Attendees shared their experiences, ideas and feedback throughout.

Special thanks to York Medical Society for hosting such a great event in a fantastic, accessible city-centre venue.