Unconditional

What would it mean to help the poor without preconditions?
To address the precarity at the heart of poverty? To stand in solidarity, not offer charity, with those who are marginalised and forgotten?

Watch the trailer

Unconditional is a 30-minute documentary that explores two groundbreaking policy experiments in India and Bangladesh. These initiatives combined Universal Basic Income (UBI) with grassroots community organiser support across five urban slums in Dhaka and Hyderabad. The result? A powerful demonstration of what’s possible when social assistance is rooted in care, connection, and justice.

Told through the voices of participants themselves, Unconditional challenges conventional approaches to poverty and social welfare. It points toward a future where unconditionality is not a radical idea, but the foundation of compassionate and effective policy.

Following the screening, join us for a 60-minute panel Q&A with experts in social policy, economics, and lived experience. Together, we’ll explore the relevance of UBI in today’s world, from global poverty to local precarity, and ask: what kind of society do we want to build?

Why You Should Come:

• Learn how Universal Basic Income works in practice; not just theory.
• Hear from those whose lives were transformed by unconditional support.
• Engage with a panel of experts and practitioners on the future of social policy.
• Explore how UBI could address inequality, insecurity, and marginalisation in your own community.
• Be inspired by a vision of solidarity over charity, and justice over judgment.
  

Who Is This For?

Whether you're a policymaker, activist, student, researcher, or simply curious about new approaches to social justice, this event is for you. Universal Basic Income is not just an economic idea; it’s a human one.

This event is hosted by the University of Bath as part of the Festival of Social Sciences 2025

Panel Bios

Documentary Team

Dr Neil Howard is a researcher at the University of Bath who studies how to make the world fairer, especially for people in difficult jobs or living in poverty. He focuses on Universal Basic Income (UBI)—a simple idea where everyone gets a regular payment to help meet their basic needs. Neil works with communities in countries like Bangladesh and India to test how UBI can improve lives. He also helps lead the Bath UBI Beacon, a project aiming to make Bath a centre for UBI research. His work supports better policies to protect children and reduce exploitation.

Vibhor Mathur is a researcher at the University of Bath whose work focuses on universal basic income (UBI). His doctoral research explores how UBI can support dignity, freedom, and decent work for urban poor communities in South India. Vibhor also contributes to UBI policy and pilot evaluations in the UK and is active in global advocacy for inclusive social support systems.

Simon Wharf is a Film Producer at the University of Bath. He creates impactful documentaries and educational films that highlight global issues, from diamond mining in Sierra Leone to cobalt extraction in the Congo. His work has won multiple awards, including the Learning on Screen Premier Award, and has been screened internationally, including at the United Nations. Simon is passionate about using film to amplify research and tell powerful human stories.

Panel – Chaired by Dr Neil Howard

James Meadway is a UK economist who focuses on making the economy fairer and more sustainable. He used to advise the Labour Party on economic policy and worked at the New Economics Foundation, where he helped develop ideas for a better economy. He now leads the Progressive Economy Forum, which brings together experts to push for change. James also hosts the podcast Macrodose, where he explains how the economy works and what needs fixing. He’s known for making complex ideas easier to understand and for challenging the way things are usually done in economics.

Joanna Wright is a Green Party councillor for Lambridge in Bath and Northeast Somerset. She has served the community since 2019 and is currently the Green Party Group Leader. Joanna is passionate about sustainable transport and previously held the role of Cabinet Member for Transport. She chairs the Alice Park Trust Sub-Committee and sits on several council panels, including those focused on health and wellbeing. Joanna believes in practical, community-led solutions to climate and social challenges. Her work reflects a strong commitment to transparency, fairness, and improving everyday life for residents across Bath.

Saskia Heijltjes is a Green Party councillor for Lambridge and Member Advocate for Active Travel in Bath. She has lived in Bath since 2012 and is a strong advocate for cycling and walking. Saskia co-founded Kidical Mass rides to promote safe cycling for families and is active in local groups like Walk Ride Bath. She sits on the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Panel and the Alice Park Trust Sub-Committee. Saskia is committed to making Bath greener, healthier, and more inclusive, and she works hard to ensure council decisions are transparent and community-focused.