Sarah Cook
@sarahcook75.bsky.social
CEO of Home-Start HOST and Greater Manchester VCSE Lead for Perinatal & Parent Infant Mental Health. Trustee of The Ripple Pond.
“I was making breakfast, I actually described the egg I was cooking telling my child it was a fried egg. I just assumed they would know it was fried but I realised they might not know. I haven't ever told them have I? We just assume they know these things but how would they if we don't tell them?”
April 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
“I was making breakfast, I actually described the egg I was cooking telling my child it was a fried egg. I just assumed they would know it was fried but I realised they might not know. I haven't ever told them have I? We just assume they know these things but how would they if we don't tell them?”
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Vital context for yesterday’s Spring Statement ⬇️
4.7 million disabled families already facing hunger, 1.6 million children.
The is the group the Chancellor chose to slash incomes by £6.4 billion.
This is the group bearing all the pain of national &international challenges.
4.7 million disabled families already facing hunger, 1.6 million children.
The is the group the Chancellor chose to slash incomes by £6.4 billion.
This is the group bearing all the pain of national &international challenges.
NEW: Today's DWP data on 23/24 is shocking:
❌Food insecurity up: 7.2m to 7.5m ppl
❌Food bank use up: 2.3m to 2.8m ppl
❌3m disabled ppl facing hunger, 1.2m at food banks
Is this really the time to cut disabled ppl's lifelines? We cannot push ppl deeper into hunger and hardship
❌Food insecurity up: 7.2m to 7.5m ppl
❌Food bank use up: 2.3m to 2.8m ppl
❌3m disabled ppl facing hunger, 1.2m at food banks
Is this really the time to cut disabled ppl's lifelines? We cannot push ppl deeper into hunger and hardship
🚨 NEWS: The government’s own survey shows 4.7m people in disabled households are facing hunger, including 1.6m children.
Yet just yesterday, the UK government chose to slash disability payments.
This is appalling.
Yet just yesterday, the UK government chose to slash disability payments.
This is appalling.
March 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Vital context for yesterday’s Spring Statement ⬇️
4.7 million disabled families already facing hunger, 1.6 million children.
The is the group the Chancellor chose to slash incomes by £6.4 billion.
This is the group bearing all the pain of national &international challenges.
4.7 million disabled families already facing hunger, 1.6 million children.
The is the group the Chancellor chose to slash incomes by £6.4 billion.
This is the group bearing all the pain of national &international challenges.
What a great event last night! We are so grateful to @danwuori.bsky.social for coming along to speak to Home-Starts from across Greater Manchester. His messages underline why our work is so important.
Wonderful event with @danwuori.bsky.social - the amazing journey a baby goes on as they encounter the world! And importantly the journey they take us on. Thanks for making this possible @sarahcook75.bsky.social you introduced many of us to Dan’s wonderful work. @rachelhover.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
What a great event last night! We are so grateful to @danwuori.bsky.social for coming along to speak to Home-Starts from across Greater Manchester. His messages underline why our work is so important.
Reposted by Sarah Cook
The Chancellor’s latest announcement on welfare cuts feels like a gut punch.
Cutting benefits without addressing the root causes behind the increase in claimants - poor mental health, poor work conditions, and poverty - is short-sighted and dangerous.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 1/7
Cutting benefits without addressing the root causes behind the increase in claimants - poor mental health, poor work conditions, and poverty - is short-sighted and dangerous.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 1/7
Chancellor set to cut welfare spending by billions
Cuts to areas including welfare will be put to the official forecaster ahead of the Spring Statement.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 7, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The Chancellor’s latest announcement on welfare cuts feels like a gut punch.
Cutting benefits without addressing the root causes behind the increase in claimants - poor mental health, poor work conditions, and poverty - is short-sighted and dangerous.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 1/7
Cutting benefits without addressing the root causes behind the increase in claimants - poor mental health, poor work conditions, and poverty - is short-sighted and dangerous.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 1/7
Reposted by Sarah Cook
You can be really self aware, well-supported, & believe in civility & relationships... and STILL say something in the heat of the moment, something reactive, & regrettable. It's just human.
'Good enough' feels a reliably helpful guide, & be willing to apologise, repair, & reflect, when you mess up.
'Good enough' feels a reliably helpful guide, & be willing to apologise, repair, & reflect, when you mess up.
February 23, 2025 at 9:32 PM
You can be really self aware, well-supported, & believe in civility & relationships... and STILL say something in the heat of the moment, something reactive, & regrettable. It's just human.
'Good enough' feels a reliably helpful guide, & be willing to apologise, repair, & reflect, when you mess up.
'Good enough' feels a reliably helpful guide, & be willing to apologise, repair, & reflect, when you mess up.
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Council Tax is enraging. Regressive, divorced from reality, driving the poorest into debt, hunger, hardship. Getting worse. But no political party yet had the courage to sort it. Ht @lalithatry.bsky.social @tom-clark.bsky.social @resfoundation.bsky.social www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/risi...
Rising Council Tax bills and the spectre of the poll tax • Resolution Foundation
Local government finances have long been desperately strained, caught between a sharp squeeze in grants from the centre over the austerity years, and rising obligations to social care and special educ...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
February 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Council Tax is enraging. Regressive, divorced from reality, driving the poorest into debt, hunger, hardship. Getting worse. But no political party yet had the courage to sort it. Ht @lalithatry.bsky.social @tom-clark.bsky.social @resfoundation.bsky.social www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/risi...
The NI increase will add over £80,000 to our salary bill in the next financial year. Most of our grants and contracts don’t get any uplift. Some have remained the same £ for over 10 years. The impact on our ability to employ staff is unavoidable.
Nearly nine in ten charitable organisations say they are concerned about affording the government’s increase to the rate of Employer National Insurance Contributions (ERNICs) from 6 April 2025. The results of our post budget survey are in👉 loom.ly/G1iUdj4
February 3, 2025 at 8:03 AM
The NI increase will add over £80,000 to our salary bill in the next financial year. Most of our grants and contracts don’t get any uplift. Some have remained the same £ for over 10 years. The impact on our ability to employ staff is unavoidable.
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Such important messages from Katharine that are shared by many across the Home-Start network. Great to see Oxford’s work being highlighted in this way.
January 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Such important messages from Katharine that are shared by many across the Home-Start network. Great to see Oxford’s work being highlighted in this way.
So glad #PotteryThrowdown is back on TV. What a first week - incredible talent on display. Loved the sheep salad set!
January 5, 2025 at 9:02 PM
So glad #PotteryThrowdown is back on TV. What a first week - incredible talent on display. Loved the sheep salad set!
Got caught up in this today. It really shouldn’t be so stressful and so expensive to get from London to the North West. It’s a shambles.
Chaos at Euston again and across the railways this weekend.
Sorting this mess out needs to be a top-level priority for the Government in 2025 - starting on day one in the New Year.
People are truly fed up with it and it is damaging the economy.
Sorting this mess out needs to be a top-level priority for the Government in 2025 - starting on day one in the New Year.
People are truly fed up with it and it is damaging the economy.
December 15, 2024 at 10:11 PM
Got caught up in this today. It really shouldn’t be so stressful and so expensive to get from London to the North West. It’s a shambles.
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Latest research from Oct finds around 7 million low-income households are still going without essentials. 📢
This number has barely moved for three years.
5.4 million low-income households said they were unable to afford enough food in the past 30 days.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
This number has barely moved for three years.
5.4 million low-income households said they were unable to afford enough food in the past 30 days.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
December 11, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Latest research from Oct finds around 7 million low-income households are still going without essentials. 📢
This number has barely moved for three years.
5.4 million low-income households said they were unable to afford enough food in the past 30 days.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
This number has barely moved for three years.
5.4 million low-income households said they were unable to afford enough food in the past 30 days.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
I also hope the role the VCSE plays is factored in, especially charities such as Home-Start. We can do so much more if given the chance.
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
School readiness is the fruit of good family and community support from conception. Including a strong focus on parental sensitivity and family relationships. I really hope a focus on school readiness is built on this broader understanding.
School readiness is the fruit of good family and community support from conception. Including a strong focus on parental sensitivity and family relationships. I really hope a focus on school readiness is built on this broader understanding.
Government needs Sure Start 2.0 to hit school-readiness goals
If Labour wants to hit its target of 75 per cent of 5-year-olds being school-ready, it will need to engage heavily in early years support - just as we had before, says Anne Longfield
www.tes.com
December 5, 2024 at 8:18 PM
I also hope the role the VCSE plays is factored in, especially charities such as Home-Start. We can do so much more if given the chance.
Reposted by Sarah Cook
🔺Investigation
We gained rare access to spend 3 days on the frontline with children’s social services.
We found a rise in referrals driven by poverty, the housing crisis, and staff pushed to burnout.
“A child's death is on every social worker's mind.” www.itv.com/news/2024-12...
We gained rare access to spend 3 days on the frontline with children’s social services.
We found a rise in referrals driven by poverty, the housing crisis, and staff pushed to burnout.
“A child's death is on every social worker's mind.” www.itv.com/news/2024-12...
www.itv.com
December 4, 2024 at 8:38 PM
🔺Investigation
We gained rare access to spend 3 days on the frontline with children’s social services.
We found a rise in referrals driven by poverty, the housing crisis, and staff pushed to burnout.
“A child's death is on every social worker's mind.” www.itv.com/news/2024-12...
We gained rare access to spend 3 days on the frontline with children’s social services.
We found a rise in referrals driven by poverty, the housing crisis, and staff pushed to burnout.
“A child's death is on every social worker's mind.” www.itv.com/news/2024-12...
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Really significant move in terms of both the direct impact on child poverty & increasing the pressure to scrap the policy nationally. Along with the child payment & the work on a minimum income guarantee, Scotland is playing a key role stretching the social security debate www.ft.com/content/2aa8...
Scottish government vows to scrap two-child benefit cap
Finance secretary says fiscal statement ‘delivers progress’ as SNP administration seeks to fend off Labour
www.ft.com
December 4, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Really significant move in terms of both the direct impact on child poverty & increasing the pressure to scrap the policy nationally. Along with the child payment & the work on a minimum income guarantee, Scotland is playing a key role stretching the social security debate www.ft.com/content/2aa8...
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Today's ONS stats illustrate the devastating impacts of poverty on life expectancy.
Most areas across Great Britain have experienced a fall in life expectancy. 📢
With some of the most deprived areas having the lowest expectancy. 1/3
Most areas across Great Britain have experienced a fall in life expectancy. 📢
With some of the most deprived areas having the lowest expectancy. 1/3
December 4, 2024 at 11:24 AM
Today's ONS stats illustrate the devastating impacts of poverty on life expectancy.
Most areas across Great Britain have experienced a fall in life expectancy. 📢
With some of the most deprived areas having the lowest expectancy. 1/3
Most areas across Great Britain have experienced a fall in life expectancy. 📢
With some of the most deprived areas having the lowest expectancy. 1/3
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Hardship is making school absence worse amid big increases in absence rates among children receiving free school meals - new @cfyounglives.bsky.social report warns.
Some children are missing school because their families can’t afford travel or the cost of correct school uniform. 🧵 1/3
Some children are missing school because their families can’t afford travel or the cost of correct school uniform. 🧵 1/3
December 3, 2024 at 3:33 PM
Hardship is making school absence worse amid big increases in absence rates among children receiving free school meals - new @cfyounglives.bsky.social report warns.
Some children are missing school because their families can’t afford travel or the cost of correct school uniform. 🧵 1/3
Some children are missing school because their families can’t afford travel or the cost of correct school uniform. 🧵 1/3
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Great to see @edupolicyinst.bsky.social new report on reducing 'food poverty' for under 5s. (How appalling is it that this is even a problem we need to talk about?!). Report is very clear this is an income problem & investing in social security is crucial to solving it. epi.org.uk/publications...
How can we reduce food poverty for under-fives? - Education Policy Institute
A new report by the Education Policy Institute, funded by the KPMG Foundation, investigates food poverty in the early years. The research interrogates the effectiveness of national policies already in...
epi.org.uk
November 28, 2024 at 10:51 AM
Great to see @edupolicyinst.bsky.social new report on reducing 'food poverty' for under 5s. (How appalling is it that this is even a problem we need to talk about?!). Report is very clear this is an income problem & investing in social security is crucial to solving it. epi.org.uk/publications...
159,380 homeless children. Absolutely shocking statistics that should shame us as a country.
Well done to @danielhewittitv.bsky.social for relentlessly highlighting the state of housing in the UK.
Well done to @danielhewittitv.bsky.social for relentlessly highlighting the state of housing in the UK.
NEW: The number of homeless children living in temporary accommodation in England has risen AGAIN to 159,380 - up 15% in a year.
Transient lives in temporary homes, defined by uncertainly, doing untold damage.
It is a scandal. But it’s not new. And it’s not going away.
Transient lives in temporary homes, defined by uncertainly, doing untold damage.
It is a scandal. But it’s not new. And it’s not going away.
November 28, 2024 at 11:51 AM
159,380 homeless children. Absolutely shocking statistics that should shame us as a country.
Well done to @danielhewittitv.bsky.social for relentlessly highlighting the state of housing in the UK.
Well done to @danielhewittitv.bsky.social for relentlessly highlighting the state of housing in the UK.
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Please help bees, butterflies and birds by reducing the mowing next year! By leaving a patch of grass in your garden to flower you'll be helping wildlife while reducing effort, cost and carbon emissions. Cartoon courtesy of the wonderful @sepponet.bsky.social
#Nature #ClimateAction #biodiversity
#Nature #ClimateAction #biodiversity
November 27, 2024 at 11:39 PM
Please help bees, butterflies and birds by reducing the mowing next year! By leaving a patch of grass in your garden to flower you'll be helping wildlife while reducing effort, cost and carbon emissions. Cartoon courtesy of the wonderful @sepponet.bsky.social
#Nature #ClimateAction #biodiversity
#Nature #ClimateAction #biodiversity
This is really concerning but not at all surprising given the increasing levels of poverty and deprivation in the UK. This should not be happening in the 6th wealthiest country in the world!
"Infant mortality rises for third consecutive year in England.
Risk of death for babies born in poorer areas is almost three times higher than in wealthier postcodes, figures show."
The UK is a declining econcomy with a few extremely rich people.
amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...
Risk of death for babies born in poorer areas is almost three times higher than in wealthier postcodes, figures show."
The UK is a declining econcomy with a few extremely rich people.
amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...
Infant mortality rises for third consecutive year in England | Infant and child mortality | The Guardian
Risk of death for babies born in poorer areas is almost three times higher than in wealthier postcodes, figures show
amp.theguardian.com
November 26, 2024 at 1:31 PM
This is really concerning but not at all surprising given the increasing levels of poverty and deprivation in the UK. This should not be happening in the 6th wealthiest country in the world!
Reposted by Sarah Cook
Good to see The Next 1000 days (2-5 years) getting attention, to consolidate gains children make in the First 1000 days (conception to 2)
This new article from the Lancet estimates the cost of not investing before 5 years is 8-19 times higher in later costs!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
This new article from the Lancet estimates the cost of not investing before 5 years is 8-19 times higher in later costs!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
November 23, 2024 at 7:13 AM
Good to see The Next 1000 days (2-5 years) getting attention, to consolidate gains children make in the First 1000 days (conception to 2)
This new article from the Lancet estimates the cost of not investing before 5 years is 8-19 times higher in later costs!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
This new article from the Lancet estimates the cost of not investing before 5 years is 8-19 times higher in later costs!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
This is severely impacting many VCSE BSFL commissioned providers too. We really need some news soon.
Start for Life teams now desperate for news about whether government funding will continue past March. Some staff already leaving for permanent posts, others putting major life decisions on hold waiting to see if they’ll still have a job in April. This is an embryonic workforce we need to nurture.
November 23, 2024 at 8:29 AM
This is severely impacting many VCSE BSFL commissioned providers too. We really need some news soon.
Reposted by Sarah Cook
On the streets of Liverpool, there is a humanitarian crisis
A perfect storm of problems means more and more people are finding themselves homeless & sleeping rough & it’s getting worse - it’s a situation playing out across the country
A difficult 🧵 on what I’ve found reporting on this situation
A perfect storm of problems means more and more people are finding themselves homeless & sleeping rough & it’s getting worse - it’s a situation playing out across the country
A difficult 🧵 on what I’ve found reporting on this situation
November 23, 2024 at 6:29 AM
On the streets of Liverpool, there is a humanitarian crisis
A perfect storm of problems means more and more people are finding themselves homeless & sleeping rough & it’s getting worse - it’s a situation playing out across the country
A difficult 🧵 on what I’ve found reporting on this situation
A perfect storm of problems means more and more people are finding themselves homeless & sleeping rough & it’s getting worse - it’s a situation playing out across the country
A difficult 🧵 on what I’ve found reporting on this situation
Reposted by Sarah Cook
In late 2023, researchers from Yale and Columbia Universities revealed that racism and discrimination experienced by pregnant women could alter their infant’s brain circuitry, as evidenced by MRI scans.
November 21, 2024 at 3:10 PM
In late 2023, researchers from Yale and Columbia Universities revealed that racism and discrimination experienced by pregnant women could alter their infant’s brain circuitry, as evidenced by MRI scans.
Just been sent this photo from last week and it just shouts charity AGM 😂
Distinguished guests twisting to see the wonky screen that you hope doesn’t fall off the table ✅
CEO crouching down to move slides on ✅
Projector propped up on books ✅
We may not be sophisticated but we put on a fab event!
Distinguished guests twisting to see the wonky screen that you hope doesn’t fall off the table ✅
CEO crouching down to move slides on ✅
Projector propped up on books ✅
We may not be sophisticated but we put on a fab event!
November 21, 2024 at 11:55 AM
Just been sent this photo from last week and it just shouts charity AGM 😂
Distinguished guests twisting to see the wonky screen that you hope doesn’t fall off the table ✅
CEO crouching down to move slides on ✅
Projector propped up on books ✅
We may not be sophisticated but we put on a fab event!
Distinguished guests twisting to see the wonky screen that you hope doesn’t fall off the table ✅
CEO crouching down to move slides on ✅
Projector propped up on books ✅
We may not be sophisticated but we put on a fab event!