In August’s research café, Ruth Woolsey (Leeds Beckett University) will be discussing her PhD that looks at what people understand about poverty and why support to address it appears lacking. Information was presented to participants that showed barriers to moving out of poverty to see if more understanding was shown. Interestingly, it is not so much a lack of awareness or even empathy, but some continued to blame people for their own poverty. This is analysed using Gramsci’s concept of hegemony drawing on Gilbert and Williams current analysis of hegemonic power. Ruth concludes that rather than focus on the most marginalised, whether well intentioned or not, we need to scrutinise the richest in society that might lead to curbing their greed.