 Study focused on local approaches to addressing poverty and inequality in the UK – commissioned by the Webb Memorial Trust in Association with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty  Raises questions about:- - the extent to which you can address poverty and inequality from and at a local level, i.e. issues of structure and agency; - the nature of democratic social change – representative v participatory democracy, consensus v conflict/adversarial based models; - the role of state, market and civil society.

 Michael Edwards – Civil Society best understood as encompassing three interrelated dimensions or perspectives:- - Civil society as associational life: charitable giving, volunteers, food banks, work of faith groups etc. - Civil society as the good society: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Equality Trust, Church Action on Poverty etc. - Civil society as the public sphere: Citizens UK, Unions, National Coalition for Independent Action (NCIA) etc.

Campaign started in 2001 by London Citizens, main affiliate of Citizens UK.  Civil Society as associational life - alliance of civil society organisations – faith groups, schools, universities, charities, unions, housing associations etc. – connected to low paid within organisations and localities.  Civil Society as the good society - strong vision of people in their localities and institutions coming together to act change and the common good.  Civil Society as the public sphere - Citizens UK and London Citizens exist essentially to build power and capacity of civil society organisations to engage politically in the public sphere

 Islington, Liverpool, York, Newcastle, Sheffield, Blackpool, Tower Hamlets, Newport, Bristol, Plymouth, Oldham, Southampton, Rochdale, Camden, Manchester, Birmingham, Lancashire…….  The Commission model - consensus-based approach; balance from across the public, private and third sectors, partnership working; most have followed parliamentary select committee model; enquiry based, taking evidence and producing final report.  Key issues emerging - Strengths and weaknesses - Post-commission - Generating sufficient political traction

Conclusions:-  Structure or Agency or both?  Scaling efforts beyond the local  Consensus- and Adversarial-based Approaches Examples of recommendations:-  A UK-wide Anti-Poverty Alliance;  Living Wage campaign to be scaled up significantly;  Study to be commissioned into ratio of pay differentials across different sectors of employment in the UK;  Local Government Association to disseminate examples of good practice including successful implementation of recommendations and steps involved in achieving them;  Charitable Trusts and Foundations to help support access to Citizens UK training in Community Organising;  Accountability Assemblies in the run up to the May 2015 General Election.