Helen Barnard
@helenbarnard.bsky.social
Director of Policy, Research, Impact, TrussellTrust Trustee NatCen. Former JRF & Pro Bono Economics. Author: Want (Giants: A New Beveridge Report) http://amzn.eu/d/hk1ojO6
Oh great. Our boiler’s broken. Glad I got the stove fire going & we’ve just stocked up on fuel.
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Oh great. Our boiler’s broken. Glad I got the stove fire going & we’ve just stocked up on fuel.
Lovely quote from @markeaston1.bsky.social about @natcen.bsky.social ‘s unique role - ‘I regard you as custodian of the national story’. Absolutely!
November 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Lovely quote from @markeaston1.bsky.social about @natcen.bsky.social ‘s unique role - ‘I regard you as custodian of the national story’. Absolutely!
Excellent lunchtime talk from Prof Sir John Curtice & @markeaston1.bsky.social ahead of our @natcen.bsky.social trustee meeting today. Delving into the top takeaways about the state & trajectory of the UK from the richness of the British Social Attitudes Survey.
November 13, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Excellent lunchtime talk from Prof Sir John Curtice & @markeaston1.bsky.social ahead of our @natcen.bsky.social trustee meeting today. Delving into the top takeaways about the state & trajectory of the UK from the richness of the British Social Attitudes Survey.
Great to hear the Chancellor make the common sense case for removing the 2 child limit.⬇️ We've seen positive first steps & clear commitment to tackling poverty in their first year. Now we need bold action in the Budget to give children a fair start & reduce the need for emergency food.
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Great to hear the Chancellor make the common sense case for removing the 2 child limit.⬇️ We've seen positive first steps & clear commitment to tackling poverty in their first year. Now we need bold action in the Budget to give children a fair start & reduce the need for emergency food.
For years I’ve had a mug that says tea on it. Turns out the kids believed I therefore only drank tea from it & had to use a different one for coffee. Only found out when there was shock and outrage expressed when one watched me pour coffee into it.
October 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
For years I’ve had a mug that says tea on it. Turns out the kids believed I therefore only drank tea from it & had to use a different one for coffee. Only found out when there was shock and outrage expressed when one watched me pour coffee into it.
Opera by candlelight in Leeds Minster, lovely!
October 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Opera by candlelight in Leeds Minster, lovely!
Luna 'having a moment'...
October 11, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Luna 'having a moment'...
First fire of the season.
October 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
First fire of the season.
How did the Prime Minister do? He spoke about reducing child poverty and giving children the best start in life. But warm words don’t pay the bills or put food on the table. The government must lift the two child limit, or see child poverty rise even further on their watch.
September 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
How did the Prime Minister do? He spoke about reducing child poverty and giving children the best start in life. But warm words don’t pay the bills or put food on the table. The government must lift the two child limit, or see child poverty rise even further on their watch.
New vlog👇The hottest topic at #LabourPartyConference is whether the PM will announce scrapping the cruel & counterproductive 2 child limit in his speech today. Here’s why he should ⬇️ @trusselluk.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 8:54 AM
New vlog👇The hottest topic at #LabourPartyConference is whether the PM will announce scrapping the cruel & counterproductive 2 child limit in his speech today. Here’s why he should ⬇️ @trusselluk.bsky.social
This is a brave puppy. She's scared of the ironing board, but I insist on standing near it. So she's going to lie by me and make sure it doesn't try anything.
September 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This is a brave puppy. She's scared of the ironing board, but I insist on standing near it. So she's going to lie by me and make sure it doesn't try anything.
2. For people referred to food banks who are in work, many want to work more hours but either can't find them or can't fit them around caring responsibilities.
September 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
2. For people referred to food banks who are in work, many want to work more hours but either can't find them or can't fit them around caring responsibilities.
Couple of interesting charts from @TrussellUK Hunger in the UK research out today, digging into the ways in which work isn't protecting people from hunger.
1. Rates of food insecurity for people who have something negative happen at work, especially unpaid sick or carers leave:
1. Rates of food insecurity for people who have something negative happen at work, especially unpaid sick or carers leave:
September 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Couple of interesting charts from @TrussellUK Hunger in the UK research out today, digging into the ways in which work isn't protecting people from hunger.
1. Rates of food insecurity for people who have something negative happen at work, especially unpaid sick or carers leave:
1. Rates of food insecurity for people who have something negative happen at work, especially unpaid sick or carers leave:
New vlog👇 @trusselluk.bsky.social research reveals shocking rise in the number of people facing hunger in the UK.
September 10, 2025 at 9:34 AM
New vlog👇 @trusselluk.bsky.social research reveals shocking rise in the number of people facing hunger in the UK.
New @trusselluk.bsky.social research: 14 million people face hunger due to lack of money. Big rise from 2022 (11.6 million people.)
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
September 10, 2025 at 7:44 AM
New @trusselluk.bsky.social research: 14 million people face hunger due to lack of money. Big rise from 2022 (11.6 million people.)
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
Fantastic day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park! Really loved feeding the sea lions, especially Labrador-wannabe Stanley (the sea lion most like to lick the ears of any visitor to the house). Plus unusually good sightings of the leopard, maned wolf & red panda. And lion cubs!!
September 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Fantastic day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park! Really loved feeding the sea lions, especially Labrador-wannabe Stanley (the sea lion most like to lick the ears of any visitor to the house). Plus unusually good sightings of the leopard, maned wolf & red panda. And lion cubs!!
Yes yes reshuffle…but my boy’s 18 today so tonight’s all about family, burgers & bowling!
September 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Yes yes reshuffle…but my boy’s 18 today so tonight’s all about family, burgers & bowling!
New @trusselluk.bsky.social research finds c 1 in 4 people from ethnic minority backgrounds has faced hunger hunger. Almost twice the rate for people from white backgrounds. No one should be trapped in food insecurity.
September 1, 2025 at 1:18 PM
New @trusselluk.bsky.social research finds c 1 in 4 people from ethnic minority backgrounds has faced hunger hunger. Almost twice the rate for people from white backgrounds. No one should be trapped in food insecurity.
Reminder that the UK is not a heavily taxed country by international standards. Chart from the excellent @danneidle.bsky.social over on LinkedIn.
September 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reminder that the UK is not a heavily taxed country by international standards. Chart from the excellent @danneidle.bsky.social over on LinkedIn.
Elsie has some feedback on how you’ve spent this bank holiday weekend. You might want to sit down.
August 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Elsie has some feedback on how you’ve spent this bank holiday weekend. You might want to sit down.
Truly a horrifying thought. Thanks @danbloom1.bsky.social
But...I'll be at Lib Dems and Labour, colleagues will be at Conservatives. So do get in touch if you'd like to catch up with one of us and chat about what @trusselluk.bsky.social's seeing on the ground and our plans for the next few years.
But...I'll be at Lib Dems and Labour, colleagues will be at Conservatives. So do get in touch if you'd like to catch up with one of us and chat about what @trusselluk.bsky.social's seeing on the ground and our plans for the next few years.
August 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Truly a horrifying thought. Thanks @danbloom1.bsky.social
But...I'll be at Lib Dems and Labour, colleagues will be at Conservatives. So do get in touch if you'd like to catch up with one of us and chat about what @trusselluk.bsky.social's seeing on the ground and our plans for the next few years.
But...I'll be at Lib Dems and Labour, colleagues will be at Conservatives. So do get in touch if you'd like to catch up with one of us and chat about what @trusselluk.bsky.social's seeing on the ground and our plans for the next few years.
Not a *very* reassuring sign to see on a door in a hospital tbh.
August 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Not a *very* reassuring sign to see on a door in a hospital tbh.
Came home from holiday & so good to see the garden looking like a garden again!
August 3, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Came home from holiday & so good to see the garden looking like a garden again!
Today’s relaxing interlude - making pebble towers in Dolgellau. And a little dog loving the river & wondering if the pebbles are either food or a ball.
August 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Today’s relaxing interlude - making pebble towers in Dolgellau. And a little dog loving the river & wondering if the pebbles are either food or a ball.
Name that castle!
July 30, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Name that castle!