Understanding the Human Cost of Hardship

Trussell

We worked with people experiencing deep financial hardship, listening over months as they documented the realities of living without enough — the choices, the pressure, and the sense of being stuck.

Through workshops, in‑depth interviews, online diaries and collaborative groups, participants helped us explore how poverty affects every corner of life: health, relationships, work and hope.

We then brought these lived experiences into conversation with new economic modelling, ensuring policy ideas were grounded in the everyday realities of those most affected.

This inclusive process led to insights and recommendations now shaping the Trussell Trust’s advocacy and the wider understanding of hardship across society.

Impact:

A powerful evidence base combining human stories and economic insight — helping the Trussell Trust drive fairer policy and bring the lived experience of hardship to the heart of national decision‑making.