Executive’s anti-poverty proposals under the spotlight at Féile 2025
The event brings together a panel of speakers with deep insight into the realities of poverty across the north of Ireland
A panel discussion at Féile 2025 will take a closer look at the Executive’s draft anti-poverty strategy, which has faced strong criticism from campaigners, academics, politicians and frontline organisations who say it falls far short of what’s needed.
The event brings together a panel of speakers with deep insight into the realities of poverty across the north of Ireland - including research experts, community leaders, and people with lived experience.
Among those taking part is Trása Canavan, Chair of the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group and Senior Policy & Public Affairs Lead at Barnardo’s NI. She works directly with services supporting children and families, using that frontline evidence to influence policy at Stormont. She is also a Trustee of the Children’s Law Centre.
She’ll be joined by Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, a Senior Lecturer in Law at Ulster University and Vice-Chair of the NI Anti-Poverty Network. Her research focuses on how social security policy impacts women and children. Fitzpatrick also chairs the All-Island Social Security Network.
Karen Mullan, Director of the Foyle Network Foundation, will speak from her organisation’s experience delivering emergency food and household support across the Derry area, while also working to tackle the deeper causes of poverty.
The Foundation is a member of the Trussell Trust network and coordinates a strong local partnership aimed at long-term change.
The panel will also feature a member of the Foyle Network Foundation’s lived experience group, sharing first-hand perspectives on living with poverty and accessing support in the north west.
The discussions will cut through policy jargon, taking a deep look at exactly what the current strategy means for people right now - and what needs to be done to ensure that any Anti-Poverty Strategy meets the real needs of ordinary people and families.
The panel will also explore what’s missing from the current proposals against the backdrop of the rising cost of living, insecure housing, and broken support systems - while highlighting the community-led solutions that are already making a difference to people’s lives.
The discussion takes place amid a growing campaign - including a public petition launched by the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group - calling for the draft strategy to be withdrawn and replaced with something more ambitious, grounded and effective.
The event is free and open to all, and you can register to attend here.