Tackling poverty remains one of the biggest challenges facing Britain. Yet even agreeing on what we mean by “poverty” is far from simple. By some of the most commonly used relative measures, more people are in poverty now than in the 1960s—a period when thousands still lived in slums. So what’s really going on?

In this session, Tom Calver, Data Editor at The Times, will use data to cut through some of the confusion. He’ll unpack the different ways we measure poverty, explore how Britain compares internationally, and look at which households and places are most affected.

Tom will also turn the lens on housing conditions, focusing on what we do—and don’t—know about the condition of social housing stock. He’ll examine how conditions have changed over time, how our housing compares with other countries, whether problems like damp and mould are genuinely increasing, and the challenges of local data and stock condition surveys.

Drawing on the latest evidence, Tom will challenge some of the prevailing myths about both poverty and housing conditions, and focus on what the data actually tells us about the policies and interventions that help to improve lives.

Key takeaways

By the end of this session, participants will:

• Understand the difference between relative and absolute measures of poverty and why our choice of definition matters
• See how Britain’s poverty rates compare internationally, and which households and areas are most affected
• Gain insight into the condition of social housing stock, how it has changed and how it compares with other countries
• Explore whether issues such as damp and mould are genuinely increasing, and what the data can and cannot tell us
• Appreciate the limits and pitfalls of stock condition and housing data, including gaps in local knowledge and data gathering
• Consider which policies and approaches are most effective at reducing poverty and improving housing conditions, based on evidence rather than assumptions

About our Speakers

Tom Calver – Data Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times

Tom Calver is the Data Editor of The Times and The Sunday Times, where he leads a ten-strong team of data reporters and developers and writes a weekly data column, Go Figure. He was named Data Journalist of the Year by the Wincott Foundation in 2023 and featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2020.

Tom began his career at Which? and BBC News before joining The Times in 2019, and is widely recognised for making complex data accessible, engaging and relevant to real-world decisions.

Chaired by
Dr Rob Rowlands – Curator of Curiosity & DIN Researcher in Residence
Rob is DIN’s Researcher in Residence and a thinking leader who helps organisations turn evidence into actionable insight, equipping teams to make confident, practical decisions and deliver meaningful impact. With around three decades’ experience working in and around housing, he understands how research needs to fit the real world—messy, pressured and full of competing priorities. (www.robrowlands.co.uk)

Who should attend

This session is ideal for:

• Senior leaders and board members who need a clear, evidence-based view of poverty and housing conditions in modern Britain
• Professionals working in housing, local government, welfare, social policy or community services
• Strategy, insight, data and research leads looking to deepen their understanding of poverty metrics and stock condition data
• Anyone who wants to move beyond headlines and myths to a more nuanced, data-informed picture of how people are living today

Delegate fees

Free for DIN members to attend as part of your subscription.