The Basic Income Research Group (BIRG) is the working name for the Citizen’s Basic Income Trust (registered no. 1171533). The organisation was founded as the Basic Income Research Group in 1984 under the auspices of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), to research all aspects of reform along the lines of a Basic Income. The association with NCVO continued until 1987, when BIRG became independent.
In 1989, BIRG became a registered charity and in 1992, it changed its name to the Citizen’s Income Trust as social security reform was seen to be an important part of the wider debate about the nature of citizenship. In 2017, the Citizen’s Income Trust became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and changed its name to Citizen’s Basic Income Trust. In 2024, Trustees agreed a refocus on the UK’s research strengths relating to Basic Income and a return to the Basic Income Research Group brand.
Trustees
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Dr Matthew Johnson (Chair)
Professor of Public Policy, Northumbria University.
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Dr Elliott Johnson (Secretary)
Vice Chancellor's Fellow in Public Policy, Northumbria University.
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Dr Howard Reed (Treasurer)
Senior Research Fellow in Public Policy, Northumbria University.
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Dr Simon Duffy
Director, Citizen Network
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Annie Miller
Heriot-Watt University
Annie Miller spent a major part of her working life in the Department of Economics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh teaching business economics econometrics mathematics and statistics for economists. In 1984 Annie was a co-founder of the Basic Income Research Group (BIRG) and has been a trustee since 1989. She has authored a number of books on Basic Income, most recently Basic Income: A Short Guide (2023).
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Julia Hines
Grange Big Local
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Remco Peters
Research Associate in Public Health Nutrition, University of Bristol.
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Jo Poulton
BI4Farmers
Joanna Poulton is a new entrant vegetable grower based in Bristol. Through traineeships and paid employment, Jo quickly became aware of just how little those who produce our food received financially. Believing in a better world, she started talking to colleagues and other growers about her idea of a campaign for a Basic Income for Farmers and found great support along with a clear hunger for change in the sector.
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Daniel Mermelstein
Daniel is a Universal Basic Income campaigner. He volunteers with the UBI Lab Network and is a director of social justice NGO Equal Right. He is involved in the proposal for the first ever UBI trial in England. Daniel has a professional background in journalism and technology product management.
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Roweena Russell
Jarrow Big Local
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