Unsung Britain Unsung Britain Final Conference A portrait of the country's poorer half Tuesday 10 February 2026 The 13 million working-age families across the poorest half of the country, who at various times have been dubbed the ‘squeezed middle’, ‘just about managing families’ and ‘alarm clock Britain’ are widely courted by politicians of all persuasions. No party can win elections without their votes, and the country cannot succeed without their needs being met. And yet they are poorly understood and badly served in the 21sr century so far, which is why we have dubbed them ‘Unsung Britain’. READ MORE
Unsung Britain· Household debt· Pensions & savings Stronger shock absorbers How to build the financial resilience of low-to-middle income households Wednesday 10 September 2025 Savings are supposed to be the first line of defence against financial shocks. But in reality, millions of families across Britain don’t have enough to be more than a few pay-days away from trouble. For many low-income households in particular, the focus is less about building up savings and more avoiding the building up of debts and arrears. READ MORE
Unsung Britain· Living standards· Welfare From healthcare to carers’ care How disabilities and caring responsibilities impact the lives of lower-income Britain Thursday 17 July 2025 The rising prevalence of ill-health and disability across Britain has been under the spotlight recently; not least the implications for the country’s benefits bill. But the impact on those who are ill or disabled, and the family members who care for them, has been less discussed. Disability and the caring needs that can come with it already disproportionately affect the poorer half of Britain, and many of these families face a severe income penalty as a result. READ MORE
Unsung Britain· Living standards· Prices & consumption The price is tight How are the cost of essentials affecting low-to-middle-income families across Britain? Monday 30 June 2025 Disposable incomes have been squeezed in recent decades – especially for poorer households. And in recent years the cost of living crisis has hit the cost of essentials particularly hard – affecting how much families have left over for the more fun things in life. The cost of essentials therefore matters for families, the wider economy, and policy makers who want to ease the pressure on household budgets. READ MORE
Unsung Britain· Labour market Work is where the heart is? How lower-income families experience the labour market Thursday 12 December 2024 Rising employment has been one of the biggest economic changes for lower income families over the past quarter century, with the number of workless households falling by a third since 1996. But while more people from poorer households are entering the workforce, they are not necessarily getting on in their careers or enjoying the work they do. This second report of the Unsung Britian project – supported by JPMorganChase – examines low-to-middle income families’ experiences of employment, pay and job quality. READ MORE
Unsung Britain· Living standards Unsung Britain Understanding the stresses and strains of low-to-middle income families across the country Wednesday 13 November 2024 There are around 13 million low-to-middle income families across Britain today. This diverse group of families are at the heart of the country’s economic prospects, and any government’s political mandate. And yet they are poorly understood – who they are, how their lives have changed, and the stresses and strains they are under. In order to better understand low-to-middle income Britain, the Resolution Foundation is launching a new 12-month project – with support from JPMorganChase – which will also investigate what can be done to boost their living standards. READ MORE
