Partners from across the city have come together to deliver a refreshed strategy aimed at tackling poverty in Lincoln and supporting residents facing financial hardship.
The Lincoln Against Poverty Strategy brings together organisations from the public, voluntary, community, and faith sectors to coordinate action and address the causes and impacts of poverty across the city.
Originally adopted in 2014, the strategy has now been refreshed to reflect current challenges, including the ongoing cost-of-living pressures affecting many households.
The strategy has been developed by the Lincoln Against Poverty Stewards Group, which includes representatives from City of Lincoln Council, Acts Trust, Bridge Church, Citizens Advice, DevelopmentPlus, LocalMotion, NHS and the Veterans Support Service.
The group has met regularly over the past two years to review evidence, commission research and gather insight from residents and people with lived experience of poverty.
A key principle of the strategy is that it is not owned by one organisation. Instead, it is designed as a shared city-wide approach, with partners working together to deliver change.
Research informing the strategy includes studies on poverty in Lincoln, youth perspectives on hardship, and work undertaken through LocalMotion’s Poverty Truth Commission, which has helped bring the voices and experiences of local residents into the conversation.
The refreshed strategy focuses on three key areas: awareness, action and advocacy. This includes improving understanding of poverty and the support available, delivering immediate help for residents while investing in prevention, and influencing wider policy to address inequality.
Work so far has identified several key themes where support is most needed, including financial pressures linked to the cost of living, support for families and young people, health and wellbeing, access to suitable homes and spaces, and strengthening community networks and systems.
The strategy will be supported by an ongoing, fluid and proactive live action plan, which currently includes 37 actions. City of Lincoln Council is expected to play a lead or key partner role in 16 of these actions, with work continuing to identify organisations to lead others.
Alongside the development of the strategy, support for residents continues to be delivered across the city through a range of initiatives and partnerships.
During 2025/26, the council is on track to deliver more than £524,000 through the Household Support Fund, working with 19 partner organisations to provide help with essentials such as food and fuel. The council is also expected to deliver more than £140,000 in Discretionary Housing Payments during the same period.
Cllr Lucinda Preston, Portfolio Holder for Reducing Inequality, said:
“Poverty is a complex issue that no single organisation can tackle alone, which is why it’s so important that partners across Lincoln are working together through the Lincoln Against Poverty Strategy.
“This refreshed strategy will help us focus our efforts where they are most needed, supporting residents facing financial hardship now while also working towards longer-term change for our communities.
“Together, we want to ensure that everyone in Lincoln has access to the support and opportunities they need.”
Additional programmes include community grocery vouchers, budgeting and debt advice, income maximisation support and cooking initiatives designed to help households make food budgets go further.
Funding supporting the work includes the Household Support Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations and council cost-of-living reserves. Further funding opportunities are also expected through the national Crisis and Resilience Fund, which will provide support to local authorities between 2026 and 2029.
A new Lincoln Against Poverty website is also being developed to share the strategy and track progress against its actions.
The strategy concludes with a call for organisations and residents across the city to work together to tackle poverty and support communities across Lincoln.