Last Updated: 2025-05-29 14:30:35
Tackling Poverty Toolkit
Introducing the Tackling Poverty Toolkit
Poverty continues to be one of the most pressing challenges facing communities across Greater Manchester. It affects every aspect of life—from health and education to employment and housing—restricting opportunities and deepening inequality. This Tackling Poverty Toolkit has been developed by NHS Greater Manchester, with support from our strategic partner, Resolve Poverty, as a practical and empowering resource for the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership to address poverty as a determinant of poor health and inequalities.
This toolkit is important because poverty is complex, and tackling it requires coordinated, informed, and compassionate action. Whether you're directly experiencing hardship, supporting someone who is, or striving to influence policy and practice, this guide brings together the advice, information, and tools needed to take meaningful steps forward.
Here, you'll find:
- Information about why there needs to be a focus on poverty and the impact of poverty.
- Practical advice for navigating support systems and accessing help, including Poverty Proofing© and how to implement this and the Socio-Economic Duty.
- Inspiring stories of change, through case studies showcasing tackling poverty in action, showing that progress is possible, and that collective action works.
- Reports, research and anti-poverty strategies for Greater Manchester and beyond
- Guidance and resources for leaders and practitioners on developing effective responses to poverty at both individual and organisational levels.
- Training and workforce development equipping staff with the knowledge, tools, and understanding to recognise and respond to poverty.
- The role of data in supporting decision-making, strategy development, and community action.
This is more than a toolkit—it’s a call to action and a shared space for solutions. Together, we can build a fairer, more inclusive Greater Manchester where everyone has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.
Why focus on poverty?
Poverty and poor health are bidirectional in cause and effect: poverty is a key driver of poor health, and poor health is a key driver of poverty. Thus, those that experience poverty tend to experience poorer health outcomes and poor health outcomes can impact socio-economic status. Poverty is a significant issue in Greater Manchester. Home to some of the UK’s highest levels of poverty, 37% of children live in poverty across the city region and 9 of the 10 boroughs have child poverty rates1 higher than the national average (Resolve Poverty, 2024).
For more in-depth analysis of poverty rates and other related statistics across the Greater Manchester city-region, please visit the North West Poverty Monitor (Resolve Poverty, 2024a). All-in-all, the links between poverty and health are unambiguous: “poverty causes ill health, drives inequality in health outcomes and increases use of health services. In addition to the personal stress it causes, poverty is also expensive, [both] in direct costs to the state and in lost opportunity and productivity” (The King’s Fund, 2022). Equipped with the correct knowledge and tools, NHS GM can mitigate, reduce and prevent the effects of poverty on health. Our recommendations seek to do just this.
*NEW* Tackling Poverty Guidance Document for Health & System Partners!
To view the Tackling Poverty Guidance Document click here
Socio-Economic Duty
The Socio-Economic Duty is a powerful tool that helps public bodies consider how their decisions or policies can increase or decrease health inequalities that arise by socio-economic disadvantage. Despite featuring within Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010, the Socio-Economic Duty has never been commenced in England, however, 9 of the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester, Manchester Foundation Trust and Transport for Greater Manchester have voluntarily adopted the Socio-Economic Duty, with many other public bodies including NHS Greater Manchester are in the process of considering adoption.
Follow the links below to view a practical implementation guide for public bodies, a factsheet explaining what the Socio-Economic Duty means in practice, and to read about real examples of the Socio-Economic Duty in action.
Read more about the Socio-Economic Duty on the Resolve Poverty website here
The Impact of Poverty
Poverty is not just about a lack of income—it’s about limited choices, unequal opportunities, and the daily struggle to meet basic needs. In Greater Manchester, the impact of poverty is felt across our neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, and public services.
Through powerful frontline perspectives, and expert insights, this series explores how poverty shapes lives across our region—and what can be done to challenge it.
These videos are designed to inform, inspire, and spark conversation. Whether you’re an individual looking to understand more, or an organisation seeking to create change, this series is a valuable tool for building empathy, awareness, and action.
How Poverty Affects Greater Manchester
Did you know that 738,000 people in Greater Manchester are living in poverty? Find out how poverty affects the health of our residents by watching this video by Resolve Poverty (9 minutes).
Don't have much time? Check out the bitesize sections of the video below at your convenience.
Part 1 - The scale of poverty in GM
Part 2 - How does poverty impact health?
Part 3 - Resolve Poverty and NHS GM
Part 4 - What can the health sector do?
Poverty Proofing©
What do we mean by Poverty Proofing©?
Poverty Proofing© is the process of reviewing policies, practices, and services to ensure they do not unintentionally disadvantage people living in poverty. It involves actively identifying and removing barriers that might exclude or harm those with limited financial resources, and making sure that support systems are fair, inclusive, and accessible to all.
Poverty Proofing© can be applied in many settings across NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) - workplaces, community services, and across a myriad of agencies that we work in partnership with.
For example, it might involve:
- Ensuring that health care services are accessible for all
- Involving people with lived experience in shaping decisions
- Addressing financial barriers to health
- Ensuring cultural and linguistic sensitivity
- Support for mental health and well-being
- Community and social support integration
- Data collection and analysis
- Preventative health measures
- Inclusive employment and workforce practices
- Policy review and engagement
For a detailed understanding of what this means in practical terms here at NHS GM click here to see some examples.
Tackling Poverty in Action
Discover how innovative approaches, sharing of good practice and the collaborative efforts of partners are making a real impact in tackling poverty across Greater Manchester and beyond through our collection of compelling case studies.
Click here to view examples of tackling poverty in action.
Guidance and Resources for Leaders and Practitioners
Tackling poverty requires strong leadership, clear strategies, and the right resources to create lasting change. This section provides leaders and practitioners with practical guidance and essential tools to address poverty effectively within their organisations and communities. Whether you're working in local government, education, healthcare, or community services, understanding the complexities of poverty and how to respond with empathy and action is crucial.
These resources include evidence-based strategies, training materials, policy frameworks, and case studies of successful initiatives that have made a measurable impact. By equipping leaders and practitioners with the right knowledge and skills, we can work together to create a fairer society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Money Advice Referral Tool (MART)
Helping people dealing with poverty and finding information on where to refer people for appropriate support and advice is not always easy to find. The Resolve Poverty Money Advice Referral Tools (MARTs) aim to help these organisations and professionals by simplifying the process and putting the key information at their fingertips.
Click here to read more and access the Money Advice Referral Tool (MART)
Tackling Poverty Reports
Numerous reports and statistical analyses have been released, providing valuable insights into the issues of poverty and the approaches to tackling health inequalities in Greater Manchester.
Click here to view the reports
Anti-Poverty Strategies Across Greater Manchester
Highlighting the work of local authorities across Greater Manchester in developing their anti-poverty strategies:
Across Greater Manchester, local authorities are playing a vital role in tackling poverty by developing and implementing targeted anti-poverty strategies. Recognising the complex and interconnected nature of poverty, each council is working to understand the specific challenges facing their communities and respond with practical, long-term solutions.
These strategies are built on partnerships—with local organisations, voluntary groups, and people with lived experience—to ensure that actions are informed, inclusive, and rooted in local need. From improving access to affordable housing and food support, to strengthening employment, health, and education opportunities, councils are striving to address both the symptoms and root causes of poverty.
This collective effort reflects a shared commitment across Greater Manchester to build fairer, more resilient communities—where no one is left behind due to financial hardship.
Click here to view the Greater Manchester local authority anti-poverty strategies.
Research Studies on Poverty
Research is essential in understanding the root causes of poverty and in developing effective, evidence-based solutions. This section highlights key research findings, trends, and studies that inform our approach to tackling poverty. By exploring data, academic insights, and real-world examples, we can better understand the complexities of poverty and its impact on individuals and communities.
Ongoing research helps to identify innovative approaches, measure the effectiveness of interventions, and highlight gaps in existing policies. It also provides a platform for voices of those with lived experience, ensuring that solutions are grounded in reality. By leveraging research, we can ensure that efforts to reduce poverty are informed, sustainable, and ultimately successful.
Click here to view a list of key research studies and organisations involved in poverty research.
These organisations and research initiatives provide invaluable data and insights that help shape policies, interventions, and strategies aimed at reducing poverty in Greater Manchester. They are essential partners in creating a more equitable region where poverty is actively tackled with evidence-driven approaches.
For more information on policy and research visit Resolve Poverty here.
Training and Workforce Development
This section explores how poverty directly affects workforce development and why addressing it must be central to training, recruitment, and retention strategies. By equipping staff with the knowledge, tools, and understanding to recognise and respond to poverty, organisations can foster more inclusive environments and empower people to overcome barriers to employment and progression.
Investing in training that acknowledges the realities of poverty helps create more compassionate services, stronger teams, and better outcomes—not only for individuals, but for the wider economy and society. Tackling poverty through workforce development isn't just good practice—it's smart, strategic, and deeply necessary.
See below for current training and development offers...
Free Online Poverty Awareness Training - New Dates Coming Soon!
In 2023, along with our strategic partner, Resolve Poverty, we began delivering Poverty Awareness Training to colleagues working in health across Greater Manchester. As part of this programme, the partnership focussed on enabling health professionals understand the direct role they can play in addressing poverty, and to prevent the cycle of poverty deepening.
“Now I can more easily identify patients who have money issues and get them started on finding help” - Poverty Awareness Training attendee
The Role of Data in Tackling Poverty
Data plays a crucial role in understanding, addressing, and ultimately reducing poverty. It helps organisations, local authorities, and communities to identify where poverty exists, who it affects, and how it changes over time. By using accurate, up-to-date information, we can target resources more effectively, track progress, and shape policies that respond to real needs.
From household income levels and employment rates to access to services and lived experience surveys, data offers insight into both the causes and consequences of poverty. It also highlights inequalities across different areas, communities, and groups—ensuring that no one is overlooked.
Importantly, data must be used alongside the voices of people with lived experience. When combined, they provide a powerful foundation for more informed, compassionate, and impactful action. Key Data Sources for Monitoring Poverty in Greater Manchester It’s clear, structured, and suitable for local councils, community organisations, or stakeholders involved in anti-poverty work.
Monitoring Poverty in Greater Manchester: Key Data Sources & Indicators
Understanding and tackling poverty effectively requires good data.
Click here for a selection of trusted sources and indicators to support decision-making, strategy development, and community action.