The European Minimum Income campaign (EMIN) is an informal network of organisations and individuals committed to achieving the right to adequate, accessible and enabling Minimum Income (i.e. social assistance incomes, including income top-ups for those in low paid work. In the UK that means Universal Credit and the six benefits it is replacing).

Why is poverty on the increase in the UK?

How do we change our social security system to secure an adequate income?

How can we better tackle low paid work?

What can campaigners do to work together to tackle poverty more effectively?

These are just some of the questions that will be discussed at this seminar being organised by the European Anti Poverty Network to look at how we ensure adequate incomes for everyone, whether they are in work or not. The event is part of a European wide campaign to raise awareness of the need for adequate minimum incomes. A campaign bus that is touring Europe will be coming to Leicester, and events and discussions will be taking place across the country. Together we are working to highlight the need for adequate minimum incomes to help tackle poverty in the UK and across Europe.

If you working with an agency or organisation supporting people on low incomes, or if you are just interested in how we can achieve an adequate income then come along to this FREE event.

Programme

09.30: Welcome and introductions: Peter Kelly, Vice President, European Anti-Poverty Network

09.45: Why We Need to Campaign: Kate Rutter, actress, (Full Monty, I Daniel Blake)

10.00 Campaigning for adequate social assistance incomes in Europe: Fintan Farrell, Project Director, European Minimum Income (EMIN) Campaign

10:15 Minimum Income Standards & Social Security Benefits: Professor Donald Hirsch, Loughborough University

10:35 Work, Pay & Adequate Incomes: Tess Lanning, Director, the Living Wage Foundation

10.50: Questions and comments to the panel.

11.15: Round table discussion amongst participants:

1. Challenging myths and stereotypes of people living on low and moderate incomes

2. Examples of good practice locally – in challenging myths or in serving the needs of disadvantaged people

3. How Leicester and other cities can raise their profile in national and European debates on adequate income.

11.50 Summary & Next Steps

12.00 Round Table closes.

Participants are invited to visit the Minimum Income Bus, which will be at Humberstone Gate between 10.30 and 3.30, and meet the campaigners, sign the petition, talk to us about minimum incomes.

EMIN is led by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), in partnership with the European Trades Union Confederation (ETUC). EAPN is present in all EU countries, plus some which are not EU members, including Norway, Iceland, Serbia and Croatia.

For the period 2017-2018 EMIN receives financial support from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation “EaSI” (2014-2020) to develop its work in the EU Member States and at EU level. For further information please consult: http://ec.europa.eu/social/easi