Sheena McMullen
@sheenamcmullen.bsky.social
Senior Policy Advisor in NI for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
Many of us think that getting and keeping paid work protects us from poverty. But our report today challenges that view.
🔎 The reality for people in Northern Ireland is that too many are held back by low pay and significant barriers to work that keep them trapped in hardship.
🔎 The reality for people in Northern Ireland is that too many are held back by low pay and significant barriers to work that keep them trapped in hardship.
December 4, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Many of us think that getting and keeping paid work protects us from poverty. But our report today challenges that view.
🔎 The reality for people in Northern Ireland is that too many are held back by low pay and significant barriers to work that keep them trapped in hardship.
🔎 The reality for people in Northern Ireland is that too many are held back by low pay and significant barriers to work that keep them trapped in hardship.
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
Children are bearing the brunt of poverty in Northern Ireland.
Too many families face unthinkable choices between feeding their children or keeping their homes warm.
18 months out from the next Assembly election, our Poverty in NI report looks at the action that's needed 🔽
Too many families face unthinkable choices between feeding their children or keeping their homes warm.
18 months out from the next Assembly election, our Poverty in NI report looks at the action that's needed 🔽
December 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Children are bearing the brunt of poverty in Northern Ireland.
Too many families face unthinkable choices between feeding their children or keeping their homes warm.
18 months out from the next Assembly election, our Poverty in NI report looks at the action that's needed 🔽
Too many families face unthinkable choices between feeding their children or keeping their homes warm.
18 months out from the next Assembly election, our Poverty in NI report looks at the action that's needed 🔽
🏘️ Our Poverty in Northern Ireland report shows housing costs, once a relatively modest pressure compared with other parts of the UK, have become a central risk factor of poverty.
Despite ambitious targets, social housing completions have fallen far short of what’s needed.
Despite ambitious targets, social housing completions have fallen far short of what’s needed.
December 4, 2025 at 10:10 AM
🏘️ Our Poverty in Northern Ireland report shows housing costs, once a relatively modest pressure compared with other parts of the UK, have become a central risk factor of poverty.
Despite ambitious targets, social housing completions have fallen far short of what’s needed.
Despite ambitious targets, social housing completions have fallen far short of what’s needed.
Just a reminder you can still register to join our webinar tomorrow here taking a fresh look at the realities of poverty here & the challenge the NI Executive need to address- events.zoom.us/ev/AhMa6dD3t...
December 3, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Just a reminder you can still register to join our webinar tomorrow here taking a fresh look at the realities of poverty here & the challenge the NI Executive need to address- events.zoom.us/ev/AhMa6dD3t...
Welcome to join us this Thursday 4th December online or in person @NICVA for our launch of Poverty in NI 2025. You can register here or share with others who might be interested! - tiny.cc/k7uv001
Poverty in Northern Ireland Launch Webinar
tiny.cc
December 1, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Welcome to join us this Thursday 4th December online or in person @NICVA for our launch of Poverty in NI 2025. You can register here or share with others who might be interested! - tiny.cc/k7uv001
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
📣New @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis
Scrapping the 2 child limit alone has reversed the projected decline in living standards by *more than half* for the bottom third of households
1/2
Scrapping the 2 child limit alone has reversed the projected decline in living standards by *more than half* for the bottom third of households
1/2
🚨 New analysis alert!
Our latest modelling shows that living standards are still set to fall across this Parliament up to November 2029.
However, actions taken at the Budget have made this decline less pronounced *by more than half* for low-income households.
Our latest modelling shows that living standards are still set to fall across this Parliament up to November 2029.
However, actions taken at the Budget have made this decline less pronounced *by more than half* for low-income households.
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
📣New @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis
Scrapping the 2 child limit alone has reversed the projected decline in living standards by *more than half* for the bottom third of households
1/2
Scrapping the 2 child limit alone has reversed the projected decline in living standards by *more than half* for the bottom third of households
1/2
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
These are big changes from Govt to protect existing disabled claimants from cuts - Govt has been listening. But new claimants from April 2026 still face deep hardship from cuts, which should be opposed. Over 400,000 new PIP & 700,000 new UC-health claimants will be £'000s worse off in 2029 1/2
June 27, 2025 at 10:56 AM
These are big changes from Govt to protect existing disabled claimants from cuts - Govt has been listening. But new claimants from April 2026 still face deep hardship from cuts, which should be opposed. Over 400,000 new PIP & 700,000 new UC-health claimants will be £'000s worse off in 2029 1/2
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
The OBR has not yet been able to forecast any employment gain from the cuts/changes to incapacity & disability benefits
MPs are being asked to support around £6.5bn of cuts & increased conditionality for ill & disabled people without any clear assessment of what it will achieve
MPs are being asked to support around £6.5bn of cuts & increased conditionality for ill & disabled people without any clear assessment of what it will achieve
March 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The OBR has not yet been able to forecast any employment gain from the cuts/changes to incapacity & disability benefits
MPs are being asked to support around £6.5bn of cuts & increased conditionality for ill & disabled people without any clear assessment of what it will achieve
MPs are being asked to support around £6.5bn of cuts & increased conditionality for ill & disabled people without any clear assessment of what it will achieve
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
Confirmation of chunky cuts to SG and NI Executive budgets because of PIP cuts.
Big choices for those Ministers as to whether to copy the cruel choices of UKG.
Big choices for those Ministers as to whether to copy the cruel choices of UKG.
March 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Confirmation of chunky cuts to SG and NI Executive budgets because of PIP cuts.
Big choices for those Ministers as to whether to copy the cruel choices of UKG.
Big choices for those Ministers as to whether to copy the cruel choices of UKG.
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
The Chancellor said today that she would not do anything to put household finances in danger
Yet the government’s own assessment shows their cuts to health related benefits risk pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children 📢
Their assessment also found... 1/3
Yet the government’s own assessment shows their cuts to health related benefits risk pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children 📢
Their assessment also found... 1/3
March 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The Chancellor said today that she would not do anything to put household finances in danger
Yet the government’s own assessment shows their cuts to health related benefits risk pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children 📢
Their assessment also found... 1/3
Yet the government’s own assessment shows their cuts to health related benefits risk pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children 📢
Their assessment also found... 1/3
Approx 29,000 children experiencing poverty currently in NI are in households where either a parent or child have a disability, legitimately limiting work as a route out of poverty for their household. PIP = lifeline for many in times of high costs & limited support services
March 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Approx 29,000 children experiencing poverty currently in NI are in households where either a parent or child have a disability, legitimately limiting work as a route out of poverty for their household. PIP = lifeline for many in times of high costs & limited support services
‘I can’t sleep, I’m so scared’: disabled people face benefit cuts domino effect www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
‘I can’t sleep, I’m so scared’: disabled people face benefit cuts domino effect
Three people tell how knock-on impact of losing Pip on carer’s allowance and other benefits will affect their families
www.theguardian.com
March 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
‘I can’t sleep, I’m so scared’: disabled people face benefit cuts domino effect www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Data from PHA showed that those with a disability consistently disadvantaged across all measures, for e.g. being able to engage w/indicators associated w/5 steps to wellbeing & more likely to have experienced mental ill-health.❌cuts to #DisabilityBenefits
www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/mental-...
www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/mental-...
Mental health survey 2023-24 findings | HSC Public Health Agency
A large-scale representative sample of the Northern Ireland general population completed the 2024/25 Mental Health Survey, providing important insights into their attitudes and behaviours relating to ...
www.publichealth.hscni.net
March 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Data from PHA showed that those with a disability consistently disadvantaged across all measures, for e.g. being able to engage w/indicators associated w/5 steps to wellbeing & more likely to have experienced mental ill-health.❌cuts to #DisabilityBenefits
www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/mental-...
www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/mental-...
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
Our welfare system is morally indefensible - but not like Kier Starmer thinks
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Our welfare system is morally indefensible - but not like Keir Starmer thinks
The Prime Minister reportedly told his MPs yesterday that the UK welfare system is morally indefensible.
www.lbc.co.uk
March 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Our welfare system is morally indefensible - but not like Kier Starmer thinks
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
This morning's Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed an unexpected slight fall in CPI inflation to 2.5%.
This is welcome news for the government, but it also serves as a reminder of their recent commitment to raising real living standards for all. 🧵 (1/4)
This is welcome news for the government, but it also serves as a reminder of their recent commitment to raising real living standards for all. 🧵 (1/4)
January 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
This morning's Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed an unexpected slight fall in CPI inflation to 2.5%.
This is welcome news for the government, but it also serves as a reminder of their recent commitment to raising real living standards for all. 🧵 (1/4)
This is welcome news for the government, but it also serves as a reminder of their recent commitment to raising real living standards for all. 🧵 (1/4)
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
Struggling with the decision not to allow Bangor Academy to go through an integration process.
Integrated education here is conscious and intentional, in ethos, values and recruitment. When a school says ‘we wanna get better at this, would you help us’, I don’t think the right answer is no.
Integrated education here is conscious and intentional, in ethos, values and recruitment. When a school says ‘we wanna get better at this, would you help us’, I don’t think the right answer is no.
January 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Struggling with the decision not to allow Bangor Academy to go through an integration process.
Integrated education here is conscious and intentional, in ethos, values and recruitment. When a school says ‘we wanna get better at this, would you help us’, I don’t think the right answer is no.
Integrated education here is conscious and intentional, in ethos, values and recruitment. When a school says ‘we wanna get better at this, would you help us’, I don’t think the right answer is no.
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
📢 Our full statement on Meta’s decision to end support for US fact checkers on their fact checking programme is available here: factcheckni.org/articles/new...
January 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
📢 Our full statement on Meta’s decision to end support for US fact checkers on their fact checking programme is available here: factcheckni.org/articles/new...
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, discussed in Parliament today, contains welcome child protection and safeguarding measures. We'll keep working to strengthen the Bill even further. Read the Children's Charities Coalition's statement: tinyurl.com/ycwbzwdm
January 8, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, discussed in Parliament today, contains welcome child protection and safeguarding measures. We'll keep working to strengthen the Bill even further. Read the Children's Charities Coalition's statement: tinyurl.com/ycwbzwdm
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
The worry about Meta's announcement isn't even that they are going to do all the things they've said; it's that other platforms - YouTube? TikTok? - could be emboldened to follow suit.
The X weirdness happened in a Musk vacuum; with Zuckerberg now using similar language, the others may join.
The X weirdness happened in a Musk vacuum; with Zuckerberg now using similar language, the others may join.
January 8, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The worry about Meta's announcement isn't even that they are going to do all the things they've said; it's that other platforms - YouTube? TikTok? - could be emboldened to follow suit.
The X weirdness happened in a Musk vacuum; with Zuckerberg now using similar language, the others may join.
The X weirdness happened in a Musk vacuum; with Zuckerberg now using similar language, the others may join.
Reposted by Sheena McMullen
Just in from mammoth interview session to two bits of news. One that a DV perp got locked up because of something I did and that a vulnerable constituent had a a massive wrongful debt written off after our intervention. This is why I came to politics, this is why I'll just keep cracking on.
January 7, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Just in from mammoth interview session to two bits of news. One that a DV perp got locked up because of something I did and that a vulnerable constituent had a a massive wrongful debt written off after our intervention. This is why I came to politics, this is why I'll just keep cracking on.
Going to give this a go. Not a fan Elon.
January 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Going to give this a go. Not a fan Elon.