Women’s Policy Group NI Rejects Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy: Calls for Urgent Overhaul and Evidence-Based Action
22 September 2025 - The WRDA led Women’s Policy Group Northern Ireland (WPG NI) has issued a strong rejection of the Department for Communities’ draft Anti-Poverty Strategy, citing its failure to address the structural causes of poverty and its disregard for expert recommendations and lived experience.
Key Criticisms Include:
No new substantive policies and reliance on outdated or ineffective schemes.
Absence of measurable targets, timelines, or monitoring mechanisms.
Lack of gendered and intersectional analysis, despite clear evidence that women, carers, and marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by poverty.
Failure to include lived experience, particularly from unpaid carers, lone parents, and working-class communities.
Stigmatizing language and framing that blames individuals rather than addressing systemic barriers.
The WPG NI also highlighted the urgent need for a “cash first” approach, including:
Ending the Two-Child Limit.
Introducing a Child Payment Scheme.
Expanding Free School Meals to all children.
Investing in affordable, accessible childcare.
Eliminating the five-week wait for Universal Credit.
Public Feedback Echoes WPG’s Concerns
Feedback gathered by the Women’s Regional Consortium from 145 respondents revealed that:
78% believe the draft strategy will make no difference to poverty.
Only 3% rated the strategy as “Good”, with the majority calling it “Poor”.
Call to Action
The WPG NI urges the Department for Communities to:
Withdraw the current draft and begin a full rewrite.
Respect and incorporate expert recommendations and lived experience.
Publish a detailed action plan alongside the strategy.
Invest in long-term, cross-departmental solutions that reflect the scale of the crisis.
For further information, please contact:
Elaine Crory – elaine.crory@wrda.net
Meghan Hoyt – meghan.hoyt@wrda.net
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