Our vision
The Get Fair vision is to ensure that no one in the UK is marginalised or excluded from society due to poverty.
Our campaign calls for a decent, adequate income for all, homes and neighbourhoods that secure health and wellbeing, and good quality services as a right for all
A decent, adequate income for all
By this, we mean being able to afford a bus fare, or clothes to wear to a job interview. It means being able to afford fresh fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet. It means not having to go into debt to pay for basics.
What are we asking for in policy terms?
We want Government and other political parties to meet their existing commitments in relation to child poverty, and extending them to all groups across society.
How could this be achieved by the Government?
- By investing £4bn immediately in a package of measures to halve child poverty by 2010
- Improving take-up of existing benefits (this would take 500,000 pensioners out of poverty)
- Looking at levels of benefits for Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), asylum seekers
- Making sure people's income, for example the minimum wage, is rising in line with average earnings
- Ensuring people don't face a pound for pound withdrawal when they go back to work
Homes and neighbourhoods that secure health and wellbeing
By this, we mean being able to get a home when you need one, and that whatever home you live in, it is healthy - without damp and mould, not chronically overcrowded, adaptable if you are disabled, and with heating so you can stay warm.
Outside the front door of people's homes, neighbourhoods should be safe, and have the services they need - healthcare, shops and transport. At the moment, people living in the most deprived areas often can't get access to basic facilities and feel so unsafe they don't want to leave their homes.
What are we asking for in policy terms?
That at least a third of the 3 million homes built by 2020 to be for social rent. We want the Government's decent homes standard to apply to all homes, in particular the private rented sector. We'd also like to see the Government commit to narrow the gap in quality of life between the most and least deprived areas.
How could this be achieved by the Government?
- Investment must be made to ensure that a third of new homes are for social rent, and considering the adaptations required for homes of disabled people before new homes are built.
- By applying the Government's decent homes standard might mean offering people in private rented housing more advocacy support to force their landlords to carry out works. It could mean offering grants to private landlords on condition that they don't increase their rent.
- Providing an accessible repairs service to the most vulnerable older people who don't know where to go to get works done and extending the Warm Front scheme so that more vulnerable people get heating and insulation
- Narrowing the gap between the most and least deprived areas, more community wardens and policy could be provided to improve safety and security. More regeneration in deprived areas and better local democracy so people can take action to make their needs known.
Good quality services as a right for all
Whatever your income, background, creed, colour, physical or mental ability, or immigration status, you can get good basic services and that you are treated well when you are accessing them.
People shouldn't have to travel 50 miles to the nearest dentist or doctor, they shouldn't have to send their children to a school that is failing, and they shouldn't be left lacking advice on how to get back to work or how to claim benefits.
Poor services reinforce poverty. Those who are richer can afford to avoid poor services by paying for private care or schooling, or moving to a better area. This leads to inequality in health, education and other areas.
What are we asking for in terms of policy?
That essential services are available and accessible to all people living in the UK, with no ‘desert areas' or excluded groups.
All public services should aim to narrow gaps in outcomes between the richest and poorest.
How could this be achieved by the Government?
- By halting all policies designed to exclude people from access to services such as advice and advocacy, doctors and dentists, social care, financial services and education.
- Public services should aim to reach out to those in most need. And for consideration of the needs of disabled people if their needs are to be met when services are being developed.
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