Dr Millie Light

I've avoided all forms of media so that I could sit down and (skim) read through the two documents published by the Department of Education today and form my own opinions of the contents.

"I am desperate to find the positives here. Yes, I want my child educated in a mainstream school. I also want to be able to choose which school that is. A right I will lose under the new system." New blog out 'SEND reform: putting my child last' by Helen:
www.changingrealities.org/blog/send-re...

As an SEN parent, it can often feel as though the whole world is against you. Exhaustion and overwhelm are embedded deeply in daily life, and the navigation through school support is dark, fruitless and treacherous to say the least. The glimmering hope of light at the end of the tunnel started with the publication of the SEND White Paper a few days ago.

Ella writes about the Schools White paper on SEND: "The fractured relationships between parents and schools are at an all time high; how can we tangibly see and trust that what is being offered will be upheld?" New lived expertise blog post out now:
www.changingrealities.org/blog/send-re...

Incredible to see @changingrealities.bsky.social named as one of the @bigissue.com Change Makers. So much more change to be made & no one better to do it with than the over 200 parents we work with and @cpaguk.bsky.social & @lshtm.bsky.social @glasgow.ac.uk

Congratulations to @changingrealities.bsky.social for being named as a @bigissue.com Changemaker - a wonderful recognition of hard work by parents and carers who've been lobbying politicians to eradicate child poverty in the UK.

The Schools White Paper is a vital opportunity to reform school support so that it works for all children. Changing Realities parents, who are all raising children on a low income, have set out what they would like to see in the White Paper on SEND reforms, parental engagement, and on the government’s approach to enrichment. Parents want to work directly with government to deliver the ambitious changes needed. While we may not agree on everything, one thing on which we all – and we believe government too – do agree is that the current system of SEND support is completely broken, and requires urgent and radical reform.

'Principles for the Schools White Paper' published today - from parents who know exactly what change is needed and why: www.changingrealities.org/writings/pri...

End of working week but this article from @madeleinepower.bsky.socialn is a must-read. A plethora of names to describe 'food aid' conceals the reality they're all experienced as food banks, with the key fault line not *type* of provision but *demographic* factors www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

On December 18, 2025, I stepped through the iconic black door of No. 10 Downing Street, carrying more than just a diary appointment. I brought with me hope, memories, and the quiet weight of every family whose story has intertwined with the mission we pursue at Changing Realities.

"As a mother, my heart swelled with pride. But as an advocate, I felt something even deeper: a reassuring reminder that this country still has space for compassion..." Why we [continue to] do this work, a blog by Beauty reflecting on a visit to No.10: www.changingrealities.org/blog/hope-at...

It’s time for A People’s BBC The BBC belongs to the British public, not to the Government. Licence payers, not Ministers, should determine it's future.

It should be the British public that decide the future of the BBC, not presidents or politicians. Agree? Add your name to the #APeoplesBBC campaign. party.coop/campaign/bbc...

It was a lot. I didn’t realise I’d be placed all over social media. I thought it would be just a couple of pictures for something, but it is what it is now. I have thought about it a lot this morning and I had to put my thoughts down on paper.

'I will never be sorry for standing my ground and standing up for what I believe is right.'

Vital, if hard to read, words from Stacey @changingrealities.bsky.social about why she won't be stopped from speaking out about poverty by trolls

www.changingrealities.org/blog/why-i-w...

A year ago today I joined some of the incredible @changingrealities.bsky.social parents at Downing Street who shared what changes are needed to end child poverty - incl why the two-child limit must be scrapped. It’s brilliant to see yesterday’s announcement after so much hard work from so many.

"The removal of the two-child limit brings my family a deep sense of relief. Without the cap hanging over me, I finally feel less weighed down by constant financial worry and more able to make choices that genuinely reflect what each of my boys’ need." (Kim, CR parent) #2CL #Budget 🧵1/3

The two-child limit will go. @nuffieldfoundation.org research by the fab team below showed the limit & the benefit cap didn't meet their behavioural aims & harmed families.
Huge thanks to the team & to the families who shared their experiences. Evidence matters: today it seems it was heard.

The two-child benefit cap inflicts suffering on the UK's children. Labour must scrap it Sam Richards, a mother and participant of the Changing Realities project, writes about why the two-child limit on benefits should be dropped.

Sam, a mother of one child, coherently explains why the two child benefit cap must be lifted as part of the upcoming child poverty strategy. Read her opinion piece @bigissue.com @uofgussp.bsky.social
www.bigissue.com/opinion/two-...

Here's why we need to fight for Britain's right to roam

Only 3% of the UK is common land, compared to 50% four centuries ago. How can we get back our right to roam?

This morning, I was invited to a meeting in The House of Lords, along with Changing Realities, two other participants and members from other organisations. The roundtable – chaired by Baroness Ruth Lister and Professor Ruth Patrick – was also attended by other Lords, senior civil servants and Changing Realities funders. We discussed the government’s Child Poverty Strategy, which will hopefully be announced shortly after the budget in November.

"Children are our future and will help this country thrive and grow, but to do this they must have the best possible start in life that they can have."
Read our wonderful blog from Brian on his experience at the House of Lords Child Poverty roundtable 👉 changingrealities.org/blog/hope-on...

Parents and carers of @changingrealities.bsky.social are doing essential work to bring child poverty issues to the public eye as the govt prepare to publish their Child Poverty Strategy. Powerful words from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on scrapping the two child limit in this popular substack.

Today, we attended a roundtable at the HoL hosted by Baroness Ruth Lister on the subject of the Child Poverty Strategy. CR participants, inc. Jo & Brian, delivered powerful testimonies, using the space to push for an ambitious Strategy that genuinely confronts the root causes of child poverty. ✊

Our participant James has written an excellent piece for @scotsman.com. ✏️

"The fight for true social justice is long and arduous. But for that hour or so, in that grand room, we were not just the ‘marginalised’ or ‘the beneficiaries’, we were the experts."

Read: www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

Energy bills rise while Westminster talks immigration Why have our politicians forgotten about the cost-of-living crisis?

A couple of weeks ago, CR participant Brian spoke to @newstatesman1913.bsky.social about the continuation of the cost-of-living crisis, which he feels politicians have "completely pushed to one side." Read more: www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...

@uofglasgow.bsky.social
@uofgussp.bsky.social

Looking forward to discussing the vital need for improved support for children and young people with send with @theifs.bsky.social @helenmiller.bsky.social & colleagues, drawing on our own recent @changingrealities.bsky.social briefing changingrealities.org/writings/wha...

Fantastic to see the @changingrealities.bsky.social work led by our own @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social cited in this piece 💪

Urggghhh

“Peter Mandelson lost his job for being friends with a paedophile. Donald Trump, who was friends with the same paedophile, was given a state banquet hosted by a King whose brother lost his job because he was friends with the same paedophile.“

I'm a single dad asking Keir Starmer to do more to tackle child poverty Jonny Roberts is a single parent with two children. He is speaking at a Child Poverty Action Group event at the Labour Party Conference.

Jonny from CR spoke on a CPAG panel at the Labour Conference today. As published in @bigissue.com, Jonny says "The most depressing truth about child poverty isn’t how many children are in it, it’s how easy it is for the government to lift so many out."
www.bigissue.com/opinion/sing...

'Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty.': one conference attendee's experience - LabourList Jonny Roberts has come to conference to share his experience of being a single dad - and call for Labour to take bold action on child poverty.

A father from CR attended the Labour Conference this week. He reports of "a sense of duty to speak to my own personal experiences in order to bring some emotion – but also some everyday reality – to the urgent challenge of driving record rates of child poverty down".
labourlist.org/2025/09/chil...

'Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty.': one conference attendee's experience - LabourList Jonny Roberts has come to conference to share his experience of being a single dad - and call for Labour to take bold action on child poverty.

Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty: Jonny from Changing Realities at the Labour Party Conference: labourlist.org/2025/09/chil...

'Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty.': one conference attendee's experience - LabourList Jonny Roberts has come to conference to share his experience of being a single dad - and call for Labour to take bold action on child poverty.

Bringing emotion and reality to the debate on child poverty: Jonny from Changing Realities at the Labour Party Conference: labourlist.org/2025/09/chil...

I'm a single dad asking Keir Starmer to do more to tackle child poverty

Jonny Roberts is a single parent with two children. He is speaking at a Child Poverty Action Group event at the Labour Party Conference.

On Thursday 18th September, parents and carers from Changing Realities met with the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Philipson to discuss the forthcoming Schools White Paper. There was a focus on planned reforms to SEND,and parents and carers shared their hopes and fears for the White Paper. Parents also shared reflections on their recent experiences of SEND systems, and the ramifications of these everyday experiences for planned reforms. In this short policy note, we summarise reflections and priorities for change in this arena, including points raised by those at the meeting and by others who were unable to attend.

Following the meeting, @changingrealities.bsky.social has published a policy note that highlights key principles that it believes the White Paper should include 👇

www.changingrealities.org/writings/wha...

With credit to @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social @milliemaglet.bsky.social & Maddy Power 💪

Save NHS dentistry now! I just signed the 38 Degrees petition calling on the Government to properly fund NHS dentistry. Millions of us are still struggling to access affordable dental care, so now the Government needs to stu...

Millions of us are still struggling to access affordable NHS dental care. I’ve signed 38 Degrees’ petition demanding Keir Starmer properly funds NHS dentistry now, will you join me? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fu...