Siobhán continues to work with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and a coalition of other organisations on the Keep the Lifeline campaign to keep the pressure on Westminster Government not to cut the £20 per week increase to Universal Credit scheduled for October.

As part of this work JRF are working to raise awareness of the forthcoming cut and are encouraging as many people as possible who will be affected by the cut to contact their local MPs.  There are concerns that MPs are not hearing about this issue despite the fact that many of their constituents will be impacted by this cut.

A Day of Action was held for this campaign on 17^th August and as part of this Siobhán wrote to all the NI MPs asking them to contact the Chancellor and Government Ministers about the likely negative impacts of the proposed cut in Northern Ireland.  Siobhán received positive responses to this letter from many of the local MPs who have agreed to write to the Chancellor on this issue.

Siobhán will be giving evidence before the Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Universal Credit on 7^th September.  This will be a chance to highlight the issues for local women if the proposed cut goes ahead.  Siobhán will be accompanied by an adviser from Community Advice Antrim & Newtownabbey.

Siobhán would like to speak to some local women to talk anonymously about the impact on them of a cut to their Universal Credit of £20 per week.  She will use this evidence to present to the APPG.  It is vital that the voices of local women are reflected in the national debate around this issue.

Please get in touch with Siobhán if you know any women who would be willing to speak about the impact of a cut to their Universal Credit including those women who are newly in receipt of Universal Credit since the pandemic.