INTRODUCTION
Authors: Hughes, M., James, D., Mizen, C.A.
Journal: Poverty in the Uk the Lived Experience
Publication Date: 01/01/2026
Pages: 1-9
DOI: 10.4324/9781003638476-1
Abstract:This introductory chapter sets the foundation for Poverty in the UK: The Lived Experience, a book created and shaped by people whose lives have been directly affected by poverty. Bringing together community commissioners, civic leaders and academic allies, we reflect on how our diverse positionalities influence what we see, what we know and how we understand poverty. Through sharing our own experiences, we illustrate that poverty is far more than an economic measure: it is a lived reality shaped by relationships, systems, stigma and unequal access to support. This chapter introduces our co-production approach, rooted in trust, inclusivity and the belief that lived experience expertise is vital in conceptualising and tackling poverty. We outline the policy and practice context that frames the book and offer insight into the structure and purpose of the chapters that follow. Above all, this introduction invites readers to listen deeply to the voices in this book, to question taken-for-granted assumptions and to consider their own role in challenging the personal, cultural and structural forces that sustain poverty in the UK.
Source: Scopus