ABSTRACT
It would be wrong to carry out a detailed inquiry into the organisation and administration of the social fund and other discretionary payment schemes without taking account of the direct experiences of those whom such schemes are intended to help, collectively some of the most disadvantaged members of society. In order to address this specific task, it is important, first, to remind ourselves of the context of social exclusion and poverty, and their impact (see Lakhani, Chapter 10, this volume). We wil l consider poverty as the prevailing backdrop for those who are likely to come into contact with the social fund as 'consumers' of its services. This, in turn, wi l l allow us to relate the delivery of the social fund to the question of whether or not it meets the needs of those whom it is intended to benefit. Their experiences and views offer a crucial insight into its value as an instrument of welfare policy. In a very real sense, these are the most important indicators of its effectiveness.
