The 2015 election accelerated a thought process I've been engaged in for a while. Increasingly, it has struck me as odd that we don't really seem to have a true sense of duty to one another, as humans, beyond our immediate relationships. Often people will genuinely do what serves their interests best and to hell with the rest. The conservative majority being case in point. Fine, nobody in my direct vicinity will actually suffer under the Tories, but that's not the bloody point is it? Human beings, members of your society, vulnerable members will. Call me a naive idealist, but that ought to be enough to sway even the richest, or those termed with the vomit inducing phrase 'wealth creators', into sending Cameron home. Yeah, right.

As the election approached, many people I know shared the above concerns and let's be honest, Labour were feeling quietly smug whilst the Cameronites smarted. Yet somehow, I am presently not concerned with that how, the Tories took it in the end and sadly the indignation of Common Man dissipated fairly quickly. Ah well, shame that really isn't it? Three weeks down the line and election fever is over, people have largely gone back to their lives and what can we do about it. Now don't get me wrong I'm not preaching, nor am I judging, that certainly isn't my remit. I'm just frustrated.

Call me crazy, and Lord knows they sometimes make it hard, but I believe we should love people. I think it matters when they're downtrodden, when they're broken, when they've got nowhere to go and nobody to turn to. As another human I think I owe them something in some way. But where does that leave me? What can I do? Honestly, I don't know. But I believe it's a question that must be asked and I think I need to keep my eyes open for opportunities to help. The national demo on June 20^th* is a good start, donating time and if possible money helps, and as a far wiser friend than I myself am recommended during election fever, keeping abreast of current events and holding the government accountable for policy changes that will only push struggling people further into poverty is important. We need to rid ourselves of this inculcated and false belief that we cannot change the way things are. And sure, some of the things I’ve mentioned are band aids that won’t tackle the root causes of injustice and inequality, what we really need is a systematic change and a good old shake up of our often skewed values, but the important thing is that we start. I say this with a healthy dose of fear and trembling as I really, really don’t want to preach or give the impression that I consider myself in any way morally superior, but the status quo holds true because we let it. We actually can make a massive difference if we stand up and say no, we just need to believe it and be galvanised. Anyway, I’ve digressed somewhat.

In light of the above, as a starting point, I've decided to try and raise some money to donate to the Child Poverty Action Group (www.cpag.org.uk). I've never fundraised for anything in my life so, truth be told, I'm a little nervous about it. Be that as it may, I'm going to be undertaking the challenge of living on the poverty line for two weeks. As a brief aside, I was thinking about the implications of this and it's everything from missing out on the social dimension of life, we have a proud Tuesday pub tradition in the office that I couldn't have been a part of for example, to having absolutely no fall back in an emergency. It's frightening enough for an adult alone; I don't even pretend to understand what that must feel like as a parent.

So my challenge starts on 29^th June and ends on 12^th July.  

The poverty line is calculated as 60% below the median income (http://www.poverty.ac.uk/definitions-poverty/income-threshold-approach), which would give me £206 to live on a week for EVERYTHING. My deductions are as follows:

Rent, council tax, bills etc. £150
Weekly bus pass: £21
Phone contract (I already have it and want to try and do this as fairly as possible so it goes it): £27 p/m so £6 a week
Left: £29

It would be amazing if you could donate, even the smallest amount would be brilliant. I will be adding 15% of the total money raised as a personal donation. 

*http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/end_austerity_now_national_demonstration_saturday_20th_june