about us

Two senior local government practitioners with over 35 years' combined experience delivering practical responses to poverty, hardship and community vulnerability in complex urban systems

TOM BARRETT

Co-founder | Programme Director

23 years in local government, including 15 years leading major transformation programmes.

Former Programme Director (Cost of Living and Community Partnerships) at LB Lambeth, leading borough-wide responses to Covid, cost-of-living pressures and community resilience.

Specialises in:

  • Programme mobilisation and delivery

  • Multi-agency system leadership

  • Crisis response and community resilience

  • Data-driven targeting of support

Currently supporting an inner-London Borough with the design and delivery of their anti-poverty strategy alongside its Crisis and Resilience Fund delivery plans.

LAURA STOKER

co-founder | Strategy & commissioning

Strategic programme leader specialising in poverty reduction, financial resilience and homelessness services.

Head of Service (Tackling Poverty) and Strategic Commissioning Manager at LB Lambeth, where she developed borough-wide anti-poverty strategies and secured over £5m external funding.

  • Anti-poverty strategy development

  • Service design and commissioning

  • Evaluation and impact frameworks

  • Community co-design and engagement

  • Free School Meal opt-out advice to local authorities across England

  • Convenor of London Anti-Poverty Leads group