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Our work > Fair by Design

What is Fair By Design?

Fair By Design is a 10-year systems change programme to end the poverty premium so that people on a low income pay a fair price for essential goods and services. The programme is dedicated to reshaping those essential services, such as energy, credit, insurance and payments, so that they don’t cost more if you’re poor – also known as the poverty premium.

Fair By Design works with regulators, government, Parliament and industry to eliminate the poverty premium. Please note it is not a grant programme.

Martin Coppack, Director of Fair By Design, talks about Fair By Design’s campaign
to get rid of the poverty premium

How does Fair by Design work?

Fair By Design is made up of an advocacy programme run by the Barrow Cadbury Trust on behalf of a group of foundations, as well as a Venture Fund managed by Ascension Ventures, which operates separately from the advocacy programme. The Fair By Design Fund is no longer investing in new companies. A Steering Group provides overarching guidance for both.

 

Partnering with The Poverty Alliance

Fair By Design has partnered with The Poverty Alliance, a Scottish network of organisations and individuals working together to end poverty. The Poverty Alliance facilitates direct input from people with lived experience into its and its partners’ work. 

Stories of Change

The Fair By Design stories of change are a snapshot of our long-term, structural change approach.

Fair by Design
Stories of Change – 8 May 2024

Labour Party agrees to Fair By Design’s calls for a financial inclusion strategy

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Fair by Design
Stories of Change – 22 Apr 2024

Making the transition to net zero fair for low income consumers – Fair By Design, Ofgem and Toynbee Hall research project  

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Fair by Design
Stories of Change – 20 Mar 2024

Ending the extra cost of energy prepayment meters

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Latest News & Blogs

Fair by Design
Posts – 8 Apr 2024

Fair By Design launches its new payments film

Fair By Design's new film highlights the poverty premium through three stories looking at energy, car insurance and access to cash.

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Fair by Design
Posts – 23 Feb 2024

Prepayment meter announcement is a big win, but we need action on standard credit sooner

Ofgem, the energy regulator, announced a lasting solution to eliminate the extra costs…

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Fair by Design
Posts – 2 Feb 2024

Fair By Design respond to ESNZ Committee’s call for evidence: Energy bills for domestic customers

The Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Committee has launched an inquiry into the…

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Latest Publications & Research

Publications – 8 May 2024

Cost Cutters – A plan to tackle the poverty premium and make markets work

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Publications – 21 May 2023

Payments systems and the poverty premium: Key issues and recommendations

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Publications – 21 Apr 2023

The poverty premium in 2022: Progress and problems – full report

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Publications – 21 Apr 2023

The poverty premium in 2022: Progress and problems – executive summary

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