A handful of people in north London could take home £1,600 per month without obligation in the first trial of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in England.

The two-year pilot programme, proposed by think tank Autonomy, aims to examine how UBI would change the lives of the selected group and assess its potential for tackling poverty and simplifying the welfare system.

In a trial supported by charity Big Local and Northumbria University, 30 participants will be drawn from both East Finchley and central Jarrow in north-east England

The concept of UBI involves the government providing set salaries to individuals, regardless of their means.

Advocates claim it could be instrumental in alleviating poverty but detractors argue that it would be costly and potentially negatively impact public services.

Autonomy hopes that the proposed pilot will support a more comprehensive understanding of the potential of basic income throughout the UK.

Will Stronge, director of research at Autonomy, said: "All the evidence shows that [a UBI] would directly alleviate poverty and boost millions of people's wellbeing: the potential benefits are just too large to ignore."

Anyone from the two participating areas can put themselves forward for the trial, which will be randomised, but with consideration given to creating a representative group, including 20% of persons with disabilities.

The trial, which will cost £1.15 million over two years, will also incur additional costs of around £500,000 to fund administration, evaluation activities, and community support teams.

Autonomy believes that funding secured for the income payments will likely come from private philanthropic sources, local authorities, or combined authorities.

Calls for UBI have been made for some time now, and last year, the Welsh Labour government announced a £20 million experiment offering universal basic income to young people leaving care.

The scheme, which will provide £1,600 per month before tax to 500 care leavers, is still ongoing, and it remains to be seen what effect it will have.

If the pilot programme in East Finchley and Jarrow can secure financial backing, it may contribute to creating a national basic income, and a more thorough exploration of UBI’s potential impact throughout the UK.

Autonomy argues that there is an urgent need to alleviate poverty in one of the wealthiest countries globally, and basic income may play a vital role in achieving this goal.

"No one should ever be facing poverty, having to choose between heating and eating, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world," said Cleo Goodman, co-founder of Basic Income Conversation, a programme run by the work-focused think tank.