About Fair by design

Fair By Design is dedicated to reshaping essential services such as energy, credit and insurance so that they don’t cost more if you’re on low income – also known as the poverty premium. We work with regulators, Government, Parliament and industry to eliminate the poverty premium.

Read our Fair By Design Explainer Leaflet

Our Vision

A UK where people in poverty and on low incomes pay a fair price for essential services.

Our Mission

eliminate the poverty premium by 2028

Real Stories

Our work is evidence-based and informed by the voices of those who experience the poverty premium

Real stories

Our work is led by the voices of those who experience the poverty premium. Take a look at their stories.

Explore our real stories library

Scott’s story: When you’re young they don’t teach you about finances.

Date published: 23/02/26

Listen to this narration of one of Give Me Some Credit stories.

A quote displayed over a blurred building background reading: “We’re not here as case studies; we’re here as people who are contributing to shaping change.”

Blog: What Does ‘Lived Experience’ Really Mean? Our Panel’s Perspective

Date published: 29/01/26

A look at how our panel understands and reshapes the meaning of lived experience.

Guest blog: We tell our stories not for pity – but as a demand for change

Date published: 10/03/25

Read Zahida’s blog on what it was like to take part in our credit project.

Michael’s story: Give Me Some Credit – I Used to Be Cool

Date published: 19/02/25

Michael explains his battle with a debilitating mental illness.

Gordon’s story: Being a carer, your credit score is rubbish

Date published: 11/02/25

Gordon explains the harsh reality being denied access to credit.

Give Me Some Credit: The Reality of Life Without a Safety Net Exhibition

Date published: 07/02/25

View our online photo exhibition created by 14 lived experience project participants.

Catherine’s Story: Energy and the poverty premium

Date published: 15/05/24

Catherine explains why her energy costs more because pays on receipt of bill.

Caroline’s Story: Cash and the poverty premium

Date published: 15/05/24

Many people are forced to rely on fee-charging cash machines, this is Caroline’s story.

Zahada’s Story: car insurance and the poverty premium

Date published: 15/05/24

Zahada discusses her experience of being charged more for insurance because she is on a…

Caroline’s Story: Panel talk

Date published: 08/05/24

Real stories: Caroline Cawley speaks at Fabian Society event

Elspeth’s Story: Credit and the poverty premium

Date published: 06/06/23

Credit and the poverty premium: Elspeth’s story

Poverty Premium: Channel 5 news feature

Date published: 31/05/22

Leah’s story is featured on Channel 5 news

Paulette’s story: living with the poverty premium

Date published: 15/05/21

Living with the poverty premium – Paulette’s story

Fair By Design team

Governance

Fair By Design consists of: 

  • An advocacy programme managed by the Barrow Cadbury Trust on behalf of a group of foundations. 
  • A venture fund, managed by Ascension Ventures, that provides funding to grow new scalable ventures to innovate the market and design out the poverty premium. 

Barrow Cadbury Trust

The Barrow Cadbury Trust is an independent charity using all its resources for social justice. It seeks long-term solutions by looking at root causes of inequality, frequently working in partnership with others, to identify solutions.
 
It focuses on a small number of distinct policy areas and seeks to influence them by building evidence bases, advocating for change and ensuring the voices of people affected by social injustices are heard and listened to in the debate.
 
Much of its work is directed towards change at the national level.
More about Barrow Cadbury Trust