Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · 27d

Shocking report that over 14m people in this country are facing hunger because they can’t afford enough food. This is the UK. 2025. Shameful.

Trussell @trusselluk.bsky.social · 29d

🚨 BREAKING: Over 14 million people faced hunger in the UK last year.

That’s 2.5 million MORE people, compared to 3 years ago.

1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Aug 6

Powerful piece from Multibank President, Gordon Brown, on the urgent need to tackle child poverty. The Multibank network helps by providing families with things they need - but charity alone won’t solve this, we need to see serious systemic change.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

2

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jul 17

This.

Helen Barnard @helenbarnard.bsky.social · Jul 17

2 / 3 of all support provided by @TrussellUK food banks is for families with children. Those with 3 or more children are disproportionately facing hunger & hardship. That's why we've joined this call - the two child limit must go. @LabourList labourlist.org/2025/07/two-...

'A year on, children can't wait. Starmer must end the two-child cap now' - LabourList

Charity bosses call for Starmer to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

labourlist.org

1 1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jul 8

Just let this sink in: "the children who have got no food to eat, the children who can't wash their clothes so they are going to school dirty and if they're lucky the school are washing their clothes for them” The UK in 2025. Shocking and shameful

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Child poverty: Children living in 'Dickensian' conditions - commissioner

Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza says one told her

www.bbc.co.uk

2 1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jul 4

Good to be on BBC Breakfast this morning with the inspiring Jess talking about young people in care being moved during their exams

5

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jul 4

Looking forward to being on BBC Breakfast shortly.

Become @becomecharity.org.uk · Jul 4

📺We're on the sofa this morning!

Tune into BBC Breakfast at 8:15 to hear from Jess & Charlotte, two care-experienced young person we work with, & Katharine, our Chief Exec, about our latest report 'Moved During Exams'.

2

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jun 24

Agreed.

It also makes no sense - as PIP is to support with the extra costs of disability whether or not you’re working.

So cutting PIP might do the exact opposite of what it is supposedly intended to.

Sam Tims @sam-tims.bsky.social · Jun 24

Much of the Government's intention for cutting PIP and UC is to motivate people to find a job

But cutting social security can't 'incentivise' people into jobs that don't exist

New @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis shows there are simply too few jobs for the Government's argument to hold

A graph showing that local authorities with weaker local economies have more people on UC that are searching for work or unable to work due to a health condition for each vacancy in that area

2

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jun 24

New @becomecharity.org.uk research finds shockingly high numbers of children in care moved or having to leave care during GCSE and A-level years, sometimes right in the middle of their exams.

This should not be happening and needs to stop.

Become @becomecharity.org.uk · Jun 24

Our new research shows the shocking disruption children in care face during crucial exam years.

Every child needs stability when it matters most. Let's give all children a fair chance.

Read the report: https://org.pulse.ly/cghabuvvn5

Image with a dark blue background featuring the statistic "15,134 (1 in 3) children in care moved during their GCSE or A-Level years" in light blue text. The word "BECOME" appears at the bottom, accompanied by the slogan "In care. Leaving care. We care." Yellow wavy lines decorate the corners.

1

Reposted by Katharine Sacks-Jones

Become @becomecharity.org.uk · Jun 11

"The care system has been broken for too long - this funding will begin to fix it - but there's still much more to do to give all children the love, stability and support they need." - @katharinesj.bsky.social, Chief Exec

Our full statement #SpendingReview:

1 3

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jun 5

This is so unacceptable from a grown man who should know better than to talk this way about children

Become @becomecharity.org.uk · Jun 5

"Comments by a Reform councillor in Cambridgeshire that children in care are 'evil' are unacceptable. Children in care shouldn't have to hear this. It's discrimination and needs to be challenged." - @katharinesj.bsky.social, our Chief Exec.

2

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jun 5

It’s great to see more universities stepping up to support care-experienced young people

Become @becomecharity.org.uk · Jun 4

The Russell Group universities' plans of expanded support could be a game-changer for care-experienced young people.

Read the full story: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/universities-uk-russell-group-bridget-phillipson-government-change-b2763152.html

1 1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Jun 5

This is a really welcome step which will make a difference to thousands of children’s lives. But it’s only a first step if we’re serious about addressing child poverty. There’s much more to do to address the unacceptable numbers of children growing up in poverty in the UK

Bridget Phillipson MP @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social · Jun 4

🚨 NEW: Labour is lifting 100,000 children out of poverty by expanding access to free school meals.

Alongside free breakfast clubs, cheaper uniform costs and government-funded childcare, Labour is putting money in parents’ pockets and giving children the best start in life.

1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · May 23

This is so utterly depressing - “concerns at the top of government that the financial cost of key proposals outweighs the political benefit, even though tens of thousands more children will fall into poverty as a result”

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

www.theguardian.com

3

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · May 23

Really strong piece from Ashley John Baptiste - setting out the case for reform of the care system for children xhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/society/child-poverty/2025/05/britain-is-failing-children-in-care

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · May 13

Really proud to launch the new @becomecharity.org.uk strategy today alongside a new look and feel for the organisation. This represents our determination to have a bigger impact for care-experienced children and young people.

Become @becomecharity.org.uk · May 13

"[Young people] asked us to be louder, to stand stronger, to help build a sense of community for them. And to keep putting their voices at the heart of our work. So we are." -
@katharinesj.bsky.social, our CEO.

Find more on our new strategy and rebrand here: becomecharity.org.uk/katharine-in...

8

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · May 8

Seven million families going without essentials. And that’s even before further cuts to disability benefits

Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · May 8

Today’s @bankofengland.bsky.social rate cut will bring a semblance of relief to people facing high costs on their mortgage or household debt.

⚖️ But it’s vital we remember that after multiple years of high rates, the strain remains heavy on families and businesses, says @maudiejh.bsky.social 1/3

A quote card showing JRF economist Maudie Johnson-Hunter saying ""7 million low-income families are still going without the essentials. While a rate cut is a positive step in reducing costs faced by those at the sharp end of the ongoing cost of living crisis, it needs to be accompanied by wider, coordinated action on improving living standards by the government."

1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · May 8

Absolutely - disabled people are frightened. Very hard to justify these cuts.

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · May 8

EXC - 42 MPs have signed a letter to Keir Starmer saying the disability cuts are “impossible to support”

PM is facing biggest rebellion of the parliament over welfare vote

MPs call for pause and rethink until fuller impact assessments can be done in autumn and warn disabled people are frightened

1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · May 8

Important report showing what it costs for children to be able to engage in school. And of course that’s without other essentials like housing, food, transport. If we don’t address poverty we embed inter generational inequality cpag.org.uk/news/minimum...

1

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Apr 30

Children in youth offender institutes are being held in their cells for 20 hours a day with only 15 hours of education a week - this is just setting them up for a cycle of crime rather than rehabilitating them and giving them a chance to start again www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

Children held in YOIs spending 20 hours in cells, charity probe finds - CYP Now

Children in young offender institutions (YOI) in England are typically being kept in their cells for about 20 hours a day and receiving less than 15 hours of education per week, figures obtained by th...

www.cypnow.co.uk

2 2

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Apr 29

This is the kind of news story I am here for

2

Reposted by Katharine Sacks-Jones

Third Sector @thirdsector.co.uk · Apr 28

@katharinesj.bsky.social has been chief executive of @becomecharity.org.uk since 2019, but will soon take the top job at the @themultibank.bsky.social

www.thirdsector.co.uk/chief-execut...

Chief executive of Become to lead anti-poverty charity

Katharine Sacks-Jones will take up her new post in August

www.thirdsector.co.uk

1 2

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Apr 25

*Some personal news* - delighted to be joining @themultibank.bsky.social as CEO in Aug. Looking forward to making a difference to the lives of families in poverty. I’ll still be at @becomecharity.org.uk for few months. So proud of what we’ve achieved & to be leaving the charity in a strong place ❤️

2 9

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Apr 24

Good to talk at Fatima Whitbread ‘s summit at the Guildhall about the systemic issues facing care experienced children & young people. Uplifted by being in a room full of people committed to making a difference & most importantly hearing from young people themselves who were utterly inspiring.

3

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Apr 23

Brilliant as ever Tom

2

Katharine Sacks-Jones @katharinesj.bsky.social · Apr 23

Good to be at Fatima Whitbread’s summit at the Guildhall hearing from an impressive range of speakers about what needs to change in the care system.

1 1 9