Goal 1: No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Working in partnership both locally and globally, we are tackling each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our research, education and student experience, and through our operations. Discover how our unique commitments align with and support Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty.

Research and impact

The University of Liverpool contributes to SDG 1 by addressing the structural drivers of poverty through rigorous research and evidence-led policy engagement. In 2025, researchers at the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place provided oral evidence to the UK Child Poverty Taskforce highlighting that 40% of children in Liverpool live in poverty. Their analysis showed how removing the two-child benefit cap could substantially reduce child poverty and improve health equity (1.2, 1.3, 1.A). Further evidence from Liverpool-led studies reinforced the urgent need for action. A longitudinal analysis of more than 15,000 children demonstrated the lasting impacts of socioeconomic disadvantage on mental health trajectories (1.2, 1.4). Separate research found that persistent poverty and parental mental illness doubled the likelihood of youth involvement in violence and police contact, addressing the need for stronger social protection under target (1.3).

Education and student experience

Our students engage with the root causes of poverty through a diverse, multi-disciplinary curriculum that combines critical understanding with practical skills. In 2024/25 new interdisciplinary courses addressed contemporary issues such as the cost-of-living crisis and digital exclusion, enabling students to analyse poverty in evolving contexts and directly supporting target (1.2). Across programmes in Social Policy, Politics, History, Sociology, and Health Economics, students explore welfare systems, the political dimensions of poverty, historical perspectives, and health inequalities (1.2, (1.4). Beyond the classroom, students actively contribute to SDG 1 through community engagement. The IntoUniversity Mentoring Scheme pairs students with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to raise aspirations and improve access to higher education (1.4). In addition, volunteering programmes address food security, homelessness, and social justice across the Liverpool City Region (1.2, 1.3).

Sustainable campus and operations

The University supports SDG 1 by promoting social mobility and reducing poverty through widening access to higher education and comprehensive student support. Our Access and Participation Plan sets clear targets to improve enrolment and progression for underrepresented groups (1.4), while the Student Success Framework helps disadvantaged students secure meaningful employment or further study (1.2). We provide targeted financial aid through bursaries, scholarships, and dedicated support for refugees in line with our UNHCR commitment (1.B, 4.5). To reduce financial barriers, students have access to hardship funding, budgeting advice, interest-free loans, and emergency assistance, alongside wellbeing initiatives such as free sanitary products and extended campus facilities (1.2). In response to the cost-of-living crisis, the University has introduced subsidised meals and access to food support services (1.2). As a Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all staff and embed social responsibility in our employment practices (1.2). Our Liv to Give volunteering programme connects staff with local charities, while financial and mentoring support for social enterprises strengthens poverty reduction efforts across the Liverpool City Region (1.2, 1.4).

Case Studies

Tackling child poverty through localised policy reform

In July 2025, the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place published a policy brief highlighting the urgent need to address the UK’s growing child poverty crisis. Tackling Child Poverty calls for a fundamental shift in national and local policy approaches, grounded in the principle that child poverty is a political choice rather than an inevitability.

The brief demonstrates how successive policy changes have weakened the UK’s commitment to tackling child poverty, with the removal of national targets, reduced reporting, and significant cuts to local welfare budgets. It recommends the restoration of statutory child poverty targets, renewed duties for local government, and increased funding for welfare assistance schemes. This work directly supports (1.2) by addressing the multidimensional nature of child poverty, (1.3) through strengthening social protection systems, and (1.B) by advocating for locally driven, evidence-based frameworks.

By reframing poverty as a structural issue and promoting a place-based model, the brief encourages national government to re-engage with local partners and strengthen capacity for deprivation reduction. The research has been shared with Liverpool City Council and disseminated to local government and social welfare stakeholders as part of the Heseltine Institute’s Policy in an Age of Uncertainty series, contributing to ongoing policy dialogue across the UK.

Our students are addressing digital poverty

Students from the School of Law and Social Justice at the University of Liverpool proposed innovative solutions to address digital inequality across the Liverpool City Region during a Live Pitch and Celebration event. As part of their first-year social research methods module, students from the Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology worked in teams to develop strategies aimed at reducing digital poverty. They utilised academic research skills and analysed digital inclusion data provided by project partners, including the LCR Civic Data Co-operative and the LCR Combined Authority. At a Live Pitch and Celebration event, student teams presented their ideas for new products, services, or initiatives to tackle digital inequalities in the region to a panel of academic and industry experts. The winning pitch, delivered by Chloe Hargreaves, proposed creating ‘Let’s Connect’ community hubs, staffed by University of Liverpool volunteers, to help families develop digital skills together. Chloe's proposal, based on thorough analysis of datasets, was praised for addressing a clear gap in the market and was deemed the most viable for development. As a result, she was offered a work placement with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to further build on the skills she developed during the module.

Tackling health inequality

A study by University of Liverpool researchers, published in The Lancet Public Health, highlighted socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of multiple long-term health conditions. It projected that if current patterns of multimorbidity accumulation continued, the prevalence of people living with multiple long-term conditions in 2049 would be approximately one-third (34%) higher than in 2019. Using microsimulation to model individuals, the study analysed socioeconomic disparities in multimorbidity among adults over 30 in England. It used primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, covering 1 million individuals from 2004–2019, identifying those with multimorbidity from a list of 211 chronic conditions. The projections indicated that the rising multimorbidity burden would significantly affect daily life, place heavy demands on healthcare and social care systems, and lead to considerable productivity losses. The findings underscored the need for prevention-oriented policies to reduce both overall levels of multimorbidity and associated socioeconomic disparities.

Addressing the impact of digital inequalities

A recent project by the Centre for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences explored the impact of digital inequalities on various aspects of life, including work, education, and health. Researchers created a Minimum Digital Living Standard (MDLS) to define the essential digital resources, skills, and services needed for households with children to maintain an adequate quality of life. Using a deliberative approach, the team established a framework capturing these digital necessities and conducted a UK-wide survey to assess how social, economic, and cultural factors influenced digital access. Face-to-face interviews with 1,500 participants across the UK provided data representative of families with children, which was then used to model digital needs at a local level, combining the results with additional measures like broadband access and local training resources. The team also consulted disadvantaged groups, including those affected by poverty, disability, and ethnicity, to understand variations in digital needs. Engagement activities led by Good Things Foundation helped evaluate the MDLS's effectiveness as a tool for policy influence, aiming to shift the digital inclusion debate toward addressing structural inequalities rather than focusing solely on individual access and skills.

Addressing inequalities in rising infant mortality

Infant mortality in England is rising, particularly among deprived communities, the North of England, and Black and Asian ethnic groups, according to recent analysis. National data highlighted by Health Equity North (HEN) and the University of Liverpool in the Infant Mortality Report show a worrying trend: 2,240 infants died before their first birthday, up from 2,209 in 2021. The North of England saw the highest rates, with 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 3 in London. The increase in infant mortality rates (IMR) is attributed to factors such as prematurity, congenital anomalies, low birthweight, poverty, and inequality. The IMR was significantly higher in deprived areas, reaching 7 per 1,000 live births, compared to 2.8 in the least deprived areas. Ethnic disparities are stark, with Black ethnic groups experiencing the highest IMR at 6.8 per 1,000, followed by Asian groups at 5.7 per 1,000. Experts are calling for urgent government action to address these inequalities, improve maternity and early years services, and alleviate poverty. They warn that without targeted interventions, particularly in the North and among marginalised groups, the situation may worsen. The UK’s IMR now lags behind other high-income countries, signalling a need for immediate, focused policies to reduce health disparities and improve infant outcomes across the country.

Uncovering long-term impacts of severe childhood malnutrition

A study led by the University of Liverpool, published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, investigated the long-term health outcomes of children who had suffered from severe childhood malnutrition. This prospective cohort study followed a group of Malawian children for 15 years after their hospital treatment for severe malnutrition, comparing their health outcomes with those of their siblings and age-matched peers from the same communities who had not experienced malnutrition. The researchers found that many of those who had suffered severe malnutrition died in the years following their discharge, while survivors exhibited persistent issues such as shorter height and potential lower strength compared to their peers. However, the study also observed "catch-up" growth, offering hope for recovery of height deficits over time. The findings emphasized the need for continued support for the nutrition, health, and well-being of malnutrition survivors post-treatment, as well as addressing adverse life circumstances during early childhood and adolescence. This research is particularly timely given the global focus on malnutrition, heightened by the July 2023 release of new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the issue.

Reducing child poverty and parental mental health problems

A large-scale study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health led by University of Liverpool researchers, found that child poverty and caregiver mental health problems had significant negative impacts on the health of the next generation. This study was one of the first to examine the combined effects of both paternal and maternal caregiver mental health over multiple childhood years, including early adolescence. The research team analysed longitudinal data on 10,500 children from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, tracking poverty levels, maternal mental health, and secondary caregiver mental health from when the children were 9 months old up to 14 years. They then assessed associations between these factors and mental health outcomes at age 17, identifying five distinct trajectories. Compared to children in low-poverty homes with healthy parental mental health, those who experienced poverty and poor mental health in primary or secondary caregivers (53%) showed worse outcomes. Children exposed to both persistent poverty and caregiver mental health struggles faced a markedly increased risk of socioemotional and behavioural problems, mental health issues, and cognitive disability. The researchers estimated that 40% of socioemotional behavioural problems at age 17 were attributable to prolonged caregiver mental health challenges and poverty, with potential lifetime earnings improvements for these adolescents estimated at around £6.5 billion if these issues were addressed.

New centre tackling educational inequalities in Kirkby

A new educational centre aimed at tackling educational inequalities in Kirkby officially opened in March 2024, providing young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the town and surrounding areas with enhanced opportunities to attend higher education. The centre, a collaboration between education charity IntoUniversity, the University of Liverpool, LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community, and The Steve Morgan Foundation, held its opening event with special guests including former Everton player Ian Snodin and former Liverpool and England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. With 35.1% of children in Kirkby living in poverty and the town ranking among the 10% most deprived areas nationally, the centre aims to address the area's low progression rate to higher education, which stands at just 26.9% compared to the national average of 44%. The centre employs four full-time staff members and offers a range of services, including after-school academic support, mentoring, in-school workshops, and work experience opportunities. IntoUniversity, which supports over 50,000 young people annually across its 41 centres nationwide, has a strong track record of improving higher education outcomes for disadvantaged students, with 61% of attendees progressing to university, compared to just 28% of similar students nationally.