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UK Alliance for Investing in Children –

Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage

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The Alliance for Investing in Children (UK) is a project led by Children in Wales, working with our partners across the UK, as part of a wider Joint Action led by the EU Alliance for Investing in Children coalition to aid the implementation of the European Commission Recommendation ‘Investing in Children-Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage.’ The EU Alliance for Investing in Children is a temporary initiative developed in the framework of ‘Module 1: Facilitation of joint actions’ supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - PROGRESS / EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation. This programme is implemented by the European Commission. It was established to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment, social affairs and equal opportunities area, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Europe 2020 Strategy goals in these fields. The seven-year Programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development of appropriate and effective employment and social legislation and policies, across the EU-28, EFTA-EEA and EU candidate and pre-candidate countries. For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/progress The views contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.

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Forward This report outlines the principle legislation, policies and programmes for tackling child poverty

and breaking the cycle of disadvantage in the four nations that comprise the United Kingdom

(UK), namely England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and contextualises them against

the poverty target within the Europe 2020 framework and the European Commission (EC)

Recommendation on Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage. It also provides

some examples of best practice from across the four nations as case studies, so these can be

shared by partners across the UK.

The scope and scale of this exercise has been limited to an observational desk-based process

that cannot meet the criteria associated with a full scale evaluation of four separate policy

domains. Such an exercise would require extensive time and resources. However, it does

provide an overview of key policy, strategy and priorities across the UK and each of the four

nations. It also provides, through identification of good practice case studies, an opportunity to

share good practice and learn from the experiences of others in terms of what works well and

what does not and where the challenges are and how can these be overcome.

Acknowledgements The Alliance for Investing in Children (UK) would like to extend recognition and thanks to the

partners and members of the UK Alliance Steering Group who helped compile the contents of

this report, namely Children in Scotland, Children in Northern Ireland, Children in Wales and

Children England. We are also grateful to the support of Eurochild throughout the duration of

this project, and to the European Union (EU) for providing the resources for this guide as part of

the wider Joint Action led by the EU Alliance for Investing in Children coalition.

Dr Liz Jones and Sean O’Neill

January 2015

Copyright: Children in Wales (2015)

Copies of this report are available at www.childreninwales.org.uk

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CONTENTS

Introduction 4

European Policy Framework 5

Joint Action towards the Implementation of the

EC Recommendation 10

Child Poverty in Context (UK) 12

United Kingdom Key Policy: Child Poverty 17

Devolved Approaches to Poverty

• Wales 27

• Scotland 46

• Northern Ireland 70

Good Practice Examples/Models: Case Studies 84

Conclusion 117

References 118

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Introduction

The importance of protecting and supporting children in order to optimise their healthy

development and future learning is vital, not only for the children’s own future well-being but

also for the prosperity and security of our communities and society.

Across Europe, it is evident that the economic crisis has brought about increased rates of

poverty. Awareness of the importance of this issue has increased in recent years, supported by

a growing body of research and practice evidence. It is also clear that children are more likely to

be affected by poverty than any other age group in the population.i

“Child poverty is recognised to be a major drain on resources and waste of human

potential. The moral duty on governments to respect and implement children’s rights is

also gaining credence...By withdrawing investment in children and families, we store up

problems for the future.”ii

The pivotal role and responsibility of all levels of government (UK, devolved and local) in

ensuring that resources and services are provided that promote children’s well-being and

minimise risk of adverse outcomes has been unequivocally acknowledged. The role of children

and young people as independent social actors and the need to promote and respect the rights

of children, underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

framework, is of equal importance.

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European Policy Framework

Europe 2020 Europe 2020 is the European Commission’s flagship strategy to aid member states to emerge

from the impact of the financial and economic crisis. The strategy recognises the need for

Europe and its member states to learn lessons from the past and deliver smart, sustainable and

inclusive growth. This ambitious agenda demands both political will and a coordinated

approach across all member states, alongside dedicated delivery systems to ensure proposals

are achieved. Europe 2020 sets out five interrelated measurable goals for the EU to achieve by

2020 which are to be translated into national country targets and trajectories, in the areas of

employment, research and development, climate change and energy, education, and combating

poverty and social exclusion.

More specifically, the targets are:

1. Employment

• 75% of the 20-64 year olds to be employed

2. Research & Development

• 3% of the EU’s GDP to be invested in R&D

3. Climate change and energy sustainability

• Greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if the conditions are right) lower

than 1990

• 20% of energy from renewables

• 205 increase in energy efficiency

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4. Education

• Reducing the rates of early school leaving below 10%

• At least 40% of 30-34 year olds completing third level education

5. Fighting poverty and social exclusion

At least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion (a

reduction of 25%)

Europe 2020 has an annual governance cycle and includes specific key priorities for reducing

child poverty and promoting child well-being. The programme requires for member states to

submit annual National Reform Programme (NRP) reports, in April each year, as part of the new

EU surveillance structure, known as the European Semester.

The most recent NRP from the UK, submitted on 30 April 2014, draws upon publicly available

information and sets out the actions that the UK Government is taking to address the structural

reform challenges. This includes outlining future economic prospects and plans; its approach to

delivering the five Europe 2020 targets; and evidence of how the Government has sought to

address the Country Specific Recommendations (CSR) from the EC of the previous year. CSRs

are developed, agreed and published by the EC each year following member state submissions

of NRPs.

EC Recommendation on “Investing in Children: breaking the cycle of

disadvantage” To aid member states in meeting the expectations and the specific poverty target of Europe

2020, the EC adopted a Recommendation on child poverty “Investing in Children: Breaking the

Cycle of Disadvantage” on 20 February 2013.

In spite of the austerity measures in place in many EU countries, the Recommendation urges

member states to intensify their efforts and investment in children and to devote more resources

towards preventative services. The Recommendation provides guidance to member states on

ways to reduce levels of child poverty and promote children’s well-being through an agreed

European framework.

Through the Recommendation, the EC takes the opportunity to re-emphasise that the role of the

EU is to promote the well-being of its people, to tackle social exclusion and all forms of

discrimination, as well as to protect the rights of the child. By taking a multi-dimensional

approach to addressing child poverty and emphasising the key role of quality universal services,

the EC can identify early intervention and prevention, tackling disadvantage in the early years

and giving consideration to those most vulnerable as the key components, which will enable

children to realise their full potential and aid their resilience. The right of the child to participate

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is also recognised as paramount to promoting social inclusion, and a key cornerstone of the

UNCRC which has been ratified by all EU member states.

The principles outlined in the Recommendation on Investing in Children have been generally

welcomed by NGOs, seeing investment in children as a key priority for the successful

implementation of the Europe 2020 strategyiii. By giving greater visibility to children in the

Europe 2020 processes, this demonstrates the political will at a European level which aids to

advance the need for investment in children’s well-being at a national and local level.

Combatting child poverty must become an integral part of the Europe 2020 strategy and the

Recommendation provides the tool to aid member states to deliver the Commission’s

expectations.

Three Pillar Approach The Recommendation calls for member states to develop integrated strategies based on three

key pillars:

1. Access to adequate resources

2. Access to affordable quality services

3. Children’s right to participate

1. Access to Adequate Resources

The first pillar identifies the importance of:

Supporting parents’ participation in the labour market, and

Providing for adequate living standards through a combination of benefits

Support parents’ participation in the labour market

The focus here is on supporting parents’ participation in quality, inclusive employment through

tackling disincentives to work by making work pay, promoting gender equality and supporting

the employability of single parents. There is recognition of the need to promote parental

reintegration into the labour market, and promote in-work support arrangements by, for

example, providing employees with access to parental leave and flexible working arrangements,

as well as access to affordable quality early childhood education and care. Throughout there is

strong recognition of the relationship between parental participation in the labour market and the

living conditions of children as their dependents.

Provide for adequate living standards through a combination of benefits

The second focus is on ensuring adequate living standards through a combination of

complementary income support and benefits in key services. Supporting families through a

range of fiscal benefits are identified, together with the need to help ensure that where

entitlement is met, that take up is facilitated, and outreach services are in place. The risks of

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conditionality are highlighted in the Recommendation, although discretionary use is supported.

Means-tested and targeted benefits should avoid stigmatisation.

2. Access to Affordable Quality Services

The second pillar identifies the importance of:

Reducing inequality at a young age by investing in early childhood education and care

Improving education systems’ impact on equal opportunities

Improving the responsiveness of health systems to the needs of disadvantaged children

Providing children with a safe, adequate housing and living environment

Enhancing family support and the quality of alternative care settings

Reduce inequality at a young age by investing in early childhood education and care

The overarching message of the first strand is that investment in early childhood education and

care should be recognised as a social investment to tackle exclusion and inequality. Early

childhood education provision should be inclusive, of high quality, which is affordable and which

meets the needs of families. Services which engage and support parents/carers in their role as

principal educators for their children throughout the early years should be available, maintained

and promoted.

Improve education systems’ impact on equal opportunities

Education systems have a key role in tackling the cycle of disadvantage by being inclusive, of

high quality and through delivering provision which promotes social, emotional, physical and

cognitive development. The universal nature of education should be protected with resources

and opportunities targeted at the most disadvantaged as deemed appropriate. Building an

inclusive learning environment should encompass engaging and supporting parents,

recognising the professional role of teachers and removing all barriers to access and

achievement, particularly for those most marginalised or at risk.

Improve the responsiveness of health systems to address the needs of disadvantaged children

All children should have access to quality health care provision, which includes services in

respect of health promotion and disease prevention. Barriers to access by those most

vulnerable should be lifted and programmes which focus on prevention should be holistic.

Particular groups considered most at risk should be provided for.

Provide children with a safe, adequate housing and living environment

The environment in which children live and grow has a profound effect on their learning, health

and developmental needs. To support positive outcomes, children and their families need

access to quality, affordable housing free from overcrowding and fuel poverty. Member states

should protect children from homelessness, unnecessary moves and separation from their

family, providing long-term housing solutions and temporary accommodation as appropriate.

Housing planners should avoid segregation of particular communities and income groups, whilst

ensuring there is adequate access to public transport.

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Enhanced family support and the quality of alternative care settings

Child protection and preventative social care services should be strengthened whilst parents

should be supported to develop the necessary parenting skills. Children removed from their

family should be provided with accommodation appropriate for their needs. Children should not

be removed from parental care because of poverty alone. Tackling material deprivation would

aid some children to remain in or be returned to the care of their parents. Children in alternative

care settings should receive regular placement reviews, be given a voice and have access to a

range of universal and specific services. These should continue as the transition to adulthood

takes place. Quality foster care and community-based settings should be promoted.

3. Children’s Right to Participate

The third pillar identifies the importance of:

Supporting the participation of all children in play, recreation, sport and cultural activities

Putting in place mechanisms that promote children’s participation in decision making that

affect their lives

Support the participation of all children in play, recreation, sport and cultural activities

This strand recognises the role of children as social actors, with a right to participate in activities

outside of the family home and formal school settings. Member states are called upon to

address prohibitive financial and cultural barriers to play, recreation, sport and cultural activities

and ensure that provision is universally accessible. Children should be able to access safe play

spaces, with families aided to participate in social activities. Community volunteering

opportunities which help break down barriers between generations should be made available,

and local authorities, community partnerships and education settings should have a role in

providing inclusive after-school activities.

Put in place mechanisms that promote children’s participation in decision making that affect

their lives

Children should be supported to express their views and have those views taken into account

when decisions are made which affect them. Children should be routinely consulted by

professionals on relevant policies, using age appropriate mechanisms to capture their voices,

and should be involved in the running of mainstream services. Participation structures should

be inclusive and reach out to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The child’s right to be

heard should be effectively implemented in judicial proceedings.

With the Recommendation now firmly in place, the attention is now firmly focused on respective

member states to utilise the guidance and to prioritise investing in children. Member states are

expected to adopt national, comprehensive cross-cutting approaches to tackling child poverty

and promoting child well-being firmly within a child rights-based framework. To aid this process,

the EU, through the Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS), provided

financial support for a Joint Action towards the implementation of the EC Recommendation

which will be discussed in the next section.

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Joint Action towards the Implementation of the EC

Recommendation

The aim of the Joint Action is:

‘To ensure effective implementation of the Investing in Children Recommendation by

facilitating stakeholder cooperation at EU and national level and support effective

advocacy and communication activities.’

The objectives of the Joint Action are to:

Secure and retain political will to fight child poverty and promote child well-being

Trigger and support reform in policies and practice, based on what we know works best

for children

Strengthen meaningful engagement of relevant stakeholders in decision making on

public policy and resource allocation for children

The Joint Action operated at two levels.

EU Alliance for Investing in Children The EU Alliance for Investing in Children brings together over 20 European organisations and

networks committed to ending child poverty and promoting child well-being across Europe. At a

time when over a quarter of children in the EU face poverty and social exclusion, the EU

Alliance pushed for the full implementation of the EC Recommendation by facilitating

cooperation at EU, national and subnational level and supporting common advocacy activities.

Eurochild was the lead organisation and provided secretariat support.

The objectives of the EU Alliance are to:

Secure and retain political will to end child poverty and promote child well-being in

Europe

Trigger and support reforms in policy and practice based on what works best for children

and families

Strengthen meaningful engagement of relevant stakeholders in policy making and

resource allocation for children and build their advocacy capacity

The EU Alliance was established to:

Fight child poverty and promote child well-being in Europe

Promote effective implementation of the EC Recommendation Investing in Children –

Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage

Carry out advocacy activities at EU and national levels

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Make the most of opportunities offered through EU policies, processes and funding to

reach these goals

The EU Alliance is a temporary initiative operating throughout 2014, supported by the EU

Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS/EU Programme for

Employment and Social Innovation. Website: http://www.alliance4investinginchildren.eu/

National UK Alliance for Investing in Children To advocate for the effective implementation of the Recommendation in EU member states, the

EU Alliance initiated two national pilots – Spain and the UK – for the duration of the year.

Co-ordinated by Children in Wales, the UK Alliance for Investing in Children was formed, with

the key objective being:

The implementation of the EC Recommendation on Investing in Children in the context

of the four nations of the UK

To ensure the effective delivery of the project and recognising that the levers to tackle child

poverty rest not with one Government alone, a new and dedicated steering group was created.

The UK Alliance steering group consisted of four UK umbrella organisations who are members

of the Eurochild European National Networks representing each of the four nations - Children in

Wales, Children in Scotland, Children England and Children in Northern Ireland. To ensure

inclusivity, each UK Alliance steering group member was tasked with promoting the project

through their membership base, and engaging appropriately with the broader children’s sector in

their respective country as capacity allowed.

The UK Alliance programme of activities includes:

Developing a UK Alliance through building on existing co-operation structures

Identifying opportunities and plan activities which can be delivered across the four

nations (UK wide) under the UK Alliance banner

Identifying opportunities and planning activities which can be delivered within four nation

countries under the UK Alliance banner

Organising a national event to take place at the end of the year

Engaging with children and young people

The third point is based on the premise that each county would be best placed to identify

opportunities and approaches to influence change in their own countries, given the different

policy leavers, political priorities and Governments of each nation. This key developmental

phase of the project provided an opportunity to understand the situation in each of the four

nations, the political landscape and challenges, the positive/negative developments and any

forthcoming activities or opportunities planned.

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As part of the programme for action, the UK Alliance agreed to produce a four nation’s report

which would examine and compare the approaches taken by Governments to investing in

children (including European investment) in each of the four countries. This segment of the

broader project would help provide a lasting legacy from the project and be a useful resource to

support any post-project future activities in 2015.

Website: http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/our-work/poverty/allianceforinvestinginchildren/

Child Poverty in Context (UK) The UK Government’s latest report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

acknowledges that the number of children living in absolute poverty has risen by 300,000 since

2010/11 (page 39) but does not analyse the impact of Government policies on this increase.iv

On 29 May 2014, a joint press statement was released by a number of UK and England

charities challenging the UK Government to assess the impact of its policies on children’s

human rights. Paola Uccellari, Director of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, said:

“Children have a human right to have enough to eat, to safe and stable housing and to a

fair start in life. Yet increasing levels of child poverty, including in families where at least

one parent is working, and cuts to children’s services are having a devastating impact on

some of the country’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. The children’s rights

assessment by the UN presents an opportunity to take stock of how well children in the

UK are fairing. However, the Government’s report to the Committee on the Rights of the

Child shows it is in denial about the devastating impact its policies are having on

children’s human rights. The Government needs to acknowledge evidence about the

Joint Action towards the Implementation of the European

Commission Recommendation ‘Investing in Children – Breaking the Cycle of

Disadvantage’

This report is one strand of year long programme of activities which took place between January

& December 2014 across the UK. UK Alliance members were involved in lobbying politicians

and policy leads, undertaking engagement events and delivering presentations to a wide range

of stakeholders, in addition to producing written materials and writing articles for various

publications. The UK Alliance also planned and delivered a UK wide national conference on

Child Poverty & Child Wellbeing ‘Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage’ in

December 2014 - http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/news/press-releases/tackling-poverty-eu-

recommendation-investing-children-discussed-uk-wide-conference-cardiff-121214-w/ as well as

a series of engagement workshops with children and young people across the 4 nations which

lead to the creation of a number of animated films http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/news/news-

archive/launch-child-poverty-animations-wesni/

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poor state of children’s rights in the UK and take concerted action if they are going to

make rights real for children.”v

Recent trends in child poverty The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission Reportvi highlights recent trends in child

poverty as identified by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Department of Work and

Pensions (DWP).

Table 1.1: Recent trends in child poverty

2007-

2008

2008-

2009

2009-

2010

2010-

2011

2011-

2012

2012-

2013

Annual

change

Five

year

change

Relative

poverty

before

housing

costs

22.6% 21.9% 19.9% 17.6% 17.6% 17.4% -0.2pp -5.2pp

Relative

poverty after

housing costs

31.5% 30.3% 29.7% 27.4% 27.1% 27.4% +0.3pp -4.2pp

Absolute

poverty

before

housing

costs

21.5% 20.4% 18.0% 17.6% 19.8% 19.5% -0.3pp -2.0pp

Absolute

poverty after

housing costs

29.2% 28.0% 27.3% 27.4% 29.5% 30.6% +1.1pp +1.3pp

Low income

and material

deprivation

N/A N/A N/A 13% 12% 13% +1pp N/A

Severe low

income and

material

deprivation

N/A N/A N/A 4% 3% 4% +1pp N/A

Sources: IFS, Incomes in the UK, 2014 and DWP, Households below Average Income 2012/13, 2014. Measures in

bold text are the statutory targets under the Child Poverty Act 2010

The impact of growing up in poverty The State of the Nation: Poverty and Social Exclusion study highlights the challenges of growing

up on a low income. Around 2.5 million children live in damp homes, and around 1.5 million live

in households that cannot afford to heat their home. Lack of money means children are

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frequently going without; nearly four million children are lacking at least two things they need. A

large number (four million) of both adults and children are poorly fed.vii

Further evidence suggests families are under pressure, for example, food bank use has

increased significantly over the past year. Interpretation of this remains contested (for example,

it could indicate better awareness of food banks and more efficient systems for referral) but over

900,000 people received a three day food package from the Trussell Trust in 2013/14, a 163%

increase in food bank use to the year before.viii

Evidence on debt and savings is also suggestive of financial pressures among low income

families, including:

Nearly three in ten poor families had at least one bill in arrears in 2012/13,ix an increase

from one in four (24%) the year before.x The debt charity StepChange has reported an

82% increase in clients seeking help with pay day loans - the most expensive form of

short-term creditxi

Research for StepChange indicates that parents are often unable to protect children from

the impact of problem debt; nearly six in ten children in families with problem debt say

they are worried about their family’s financial situation, and nine in ten families have cut

back on essentials for children like food, clothing and heating because of the cost of debt

repaymentsxii

In 2012/13, nearly three quarters (73%) of poor families had no savings. One in ten had

less than £1000 in reserve. This compares to 2009/10 when 64% of poor families had no

savings and nearly two in ten had £1000.xiii The number of poor families who had no

savings increased by 10% in 2009/10 and 2012/13, suggesting the slow recovery has

eroded family savings

Regional differences in child poverty: the devolved nations Child poverty varies significantly across different parts of the United Kingdom, for example:

Wales has the second highest relative child poverty rate of any region of the UK, with 22%

of children in poverty against the headline regional poverty measure, compared to 18% in

the UK as a wholexiv

Scotland has a similar level of poverty to the rest of the UK, with 17% of children in

poverty against the regional measure, but annual data for Scotland suggests that poverty

is rising more rapidly than in the UK as a wholexv

Within England, poverty is higher in northern regions and the West Midlands (with

Yorkshire and the Humber having the highest poverty rate in the UK - 23%) and lower in

the south of the country (with only 13% of children in the east and south east in poverty)xvi

Looking at individual local authorities, against the HMRC Children in Low Income

Families Measure,xvii in England child poverty varies from 6.1% in Hart in Hampshire to

46.1% in Tower Hamlets; in Wales, from 12.5% in Monmouthshire to 29.4% in Blaenau

Gwent; and in Scotland from 6.9% in the Shetland Isles to 32.2% in Glasgow

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Northern Ireland also shows a bleak picture regarding child poverty. In 2012/13 there

were approximately 89,000 children (20%) in relative poverty before housing costs and

96000 children (22%) in absolute poverty before housing costs. Source: Northern Ireland

Statistics and Research Agency - Northern Ireland Poverty Bulletinxviii

Regional differences in economic recovery Economic recovery is being experienced differentially across the UK, with implications for

families in different regions. For example:

There are considerable differences in economic prosperity between different parts of the

UK and these widened significantly in the decade before the recessionxix. In 2012, gross

value added per head of residents of London was £33,104 – two thirds higher than the

£19,963 in the rest of the UK and more than double the £15,799 in Wales, the poorest

regionxx

The economic performance of different regions has varied widely since the start of the

recession in 2008.xxi Gross value added of businesses located in London and the south

east increased by 8.4% in nominal terms between 2008 and 2012,xxii compared to 3.7%

in the rest of the UK and only 0.1% in Northern Ireland - the worst performing region

Wide differences in employment performance remain, with the working age employment

rate varying from 69.1% in Wales to 76.7% in the south east and the unemployment rate

varying from 4.4% in the south east and 9.4% in the north eastxxiii

Recent employment growth has been almost twice as fast in the greater south east as

elsewhere in the UK. Since May 2010, London, the south east and the east have seen

employment growth of 8.0% compared to 4.1% elsewhere in the UKxxiv

Median hourly wages vary widely across the country - they are 26% higher in London

and 10% higher in the south east than the UK average.xxv Recent falls in real median

hourly wages since the recession, however, have been bigger in London than elsewhere

– they have fallen by 10.7% since their 2009 peak compared to the UK average of

7.8%xxvi

The Key Challenges (UK) Meeting the challenges of fiscal consolidation in the UK for the next parliament will be difficult.

The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commissionxxvii notes that delivering a further £3 billion

cuts to public spending over the next Parliament, without damaging social mobility and

worsening child poverty, will be extremely difficult. It recommends the following:

Firstly, there is a need for more honesty about the implications of planned public

spending cuts from all the political parties. Each party needs to set out clear and specific

plans about what they will cut and what they will protect to avoid negative impacts on

social mobility and child poverty. By 2017, public spending is expected to be at lower

levels in the UK than even the United States, with current spending on public services

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and administration lower than at any time since the Second World War. Benefit cuts

penciled-in by the current Chancellor imply total cuts to benefit and tax credit spending

on children and working-age adults between 2010/11 and 2018/19 of up to one third if

pensioner benefits continue to be protected. The political debate needs to move beyond

talking about spending numbers in the abstract, without acknowledgement of the

inevitable impacts on the scope and quality of public services the State will be able to

provide

Secondly, the next UK government will need to stop exempting pensioners from

austerity. It is not fair that the burden of adjustments falls disproportionately on the

shoulders of children and working-age adults. There is an understanding of the political

expediency of not doing so, but the Commission highlights that all the political parties

need to remember two key facts – first, overall this is the wealthiest generation of

pensioners the country has ever had; and second, pensioners are only half as likely to

be in poverty after housing costs as children are. Claiming there is no choice but to

reduce support for the poorest children in society, while protecting benefits for wealthy

pensioners, is not credible

Thirdly, there is a need to develop stronger institutional arrangements to ensure child

poverty and social mobility goals are at the heart of decision-making processes. The

Office for Budget Responsibility should be given a new role in independently reporting,

on Budget Day, on the social mobility and child poverty impacts of Budgets and

Spending Reviews, including publishing analysis about the distributional effects of policy

changes on different household types, producing forecasts of child poverty rates and

undertaking cumulative impact assessments. Transparency of this sort is desperately

needed to expose the political consensus

The Social Mobility & Child Poverty Commission reportxxviii indicates that there has been

progress on employment, and progress on raising the attainment of poor children. There has

been less success in translating achievements in getting more parents into work with higher

living standards for those at the bottom of the labour market. Real wages have continued to fall

and too many parents end up stuck in low paid, insecure work with limited hours. They get

limited income gains from more work because of high effective marginal tax rates.

All trends suggest that poverty is set to rise as limited gains from higher employment are

outpaced by cuts to social security. Recent research for the Commission shows that even world-

beating rises in employment and wages will not enable the 2020 targets to end child poverty to

be reached. The Commission suggests that radical reform is needed as the market with its

current pay and progression structures cannot do all the work alone.

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UK Key Policy: Child Poverty All of the policies covered in this section apply in England and to the other three nations where the UK Government

retains control and responsibility. The policy areas that are exclusively devolved are covered in the other three

sections for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Child Poverty Act 2010 The Child Poverty Act 2010 sets out UK-wide targets towards the eradication of child poverty by

2020. These targets relate to levels of child poverty in terms of relative low income, combined

low income and material deprivation, absolute low income and persistent poverty.

Broadly stated, the UK-wide child poverty targetsxxix provided for in the Child Poverty Act are

the:

Relative low income target – that less than 10% of children live in households that

have a household income of less than 60% of median household income

Combined low income and material deprivation target – that less than 5% of children

live in households that have a household income of less than 70% of median household

income and experience material deprivation

Absolute low income target – that less than 5% of children live in households that

have a household income of less than 60% of the median household income for the

financial year starting on 1 April 2010xxx

The persistent poverty target – to reduce the proportion of children that experience

long periods of relative poverty (that is to reduce the percentage of children who live in

households that have a household income of less than 60% of the median household

income for three years out a four-year period) with the specific target percentage to be

set at a later datexxxi

The Child Poverty Act 2010 requires the UK Government to produce a Child Poverty Strategy

every three years and to monitor progress. Each of the devolved administrations is responsible

for producing and monitoring their own Poverty Strategy. Local Authorities are also required by

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the Act to assess the needs of children in poverty in their area and to produce strategies to

address those needs.

Child Poverty Strategy 2011-14 The first UK Child Poverty Strategy (2011-14) was issued for consultation and published soon

after. This is a Strategy founded on the understanding that poverty is more than income alone.

It recognises the need to end inter-generational poverty, remove barriers to progression and to

invest early. Based on the principles of fairness and social justice, the strategy is focused on the

key pillars of strengthening families, encouraging responsibility and promoting work,

guaranteeing fairness and providing support to the most vulnerable.xxxii

The UK Government’s priorities within the Strategy are presented under the following

interrelated headings:

A New Approach – focuses on the current problems and the drivers of child poverty

with emphasis on improving life chances, making work pay and to ensure services are

tailored towards local need

Supporting Families to Achieve Financial Independence – outlines the benefits of

work and the proposed reforms to remove financial disincentives to work, the support

for parent to access work and avoid financial difficulties within a work-centred approach

Supporting Family Life and Children’s Life Chances – considers the non-income

dimensions, including the family and home environment, housing, early years,

education and health. It recognises the need for targeted support and the specific

barriers faced by the most vulnerable

Role of Place and Transforming Lives – sets out the Governments reforms around

localism, ‘Big Society’ and community approaches to tackling poverty

Translating our Vision into Reality – outlines how progress will be tracked, how

engagement with external partners will be achieved, as well as the interface between

the UK Strategy with local strategies in England and the devolved administrations

Actions set out in the Strategy are in the short to medium-term, but there is also a recognition

that this is a long-term approach in relation to developing sustainable approaches to tackle inter-

generational cycles of deprivation.

Child Poverty Strategy 2014-17 In February 2014, the UK Government published a new draft Child Poverty Strategy for

consultation, which was published in June the same year. The revised Strategyxxxiii sets out the

action to be taken from 2014-17 to tackle child poverty, and builds on the 2011-14 Strategy,

through:

Supporting families into work and increasing their earnings

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Improving living standards and increasing their earnings

Preventing poor children becoming poor adults, through raising their educational

attainment

Support through the 2014-17 Child Poverty Strategy focuses on the following four key areas and

firmly commits to tackling the root causes of poverty and to transform lives.

1. Work

2. Living standards

3. Education

4. Working with others

1. Work

Work is viewed as one of the most effective ways out of poverty. The 2014-17 Strategy

highlights worklessness and low earnings as a root cause of families being in poverty. In 2014-

17, the UK Government aims to support families into work and increase earnings by:

Creating jobs - helping businesses to grow by enabling small and medium sized

companies to access credit, investing in infrastructure and reducing National Insurance

contributions from some businesses

Supporting families into work - help for those out of work through the Work

Programme, Help to Work Scheme and flexible support through Jobcentre Plus,

supporting families with multiple problems through the Troubled Families Programme

Making work play - having clearer work incentives through introducing Universal Credit,

reforming the welfare system, increasing the subsidy for childcare and providing free

school meals to all infant school children

Tackling low pay - raising the minimum wage and the personal tax allowance,

continuing to lift low-income families out of the tax system

Helping people move on to better jobs that pay more - improving qualifications,

reviewing zero-hour contracts and providing additional support to move into better jobs

Improving the qualifications of parents - through adult apprenticeships, investing in

English and mathematics and helping parents through National Careers Service

Helping poor parents with health conditions into work - by providing tailored support

as set out in the Disability and Health Employment Strategy which puts in place

clearer and more flexible benefit rules, support for employers to employ parents with

health conditions and help for parents who experience mental health issues

2. Supporting Living Standards

In 2014-17 the UK Government aims to support the living standards of low-income families

by:

Reducing the typical energy bill - by around £50 on average in 2014/15. Giving some

low-income families money off their bills each year through extending the Warm Home

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Discount to 2015/16, and reducing the amount of fuel they need to pay for by making

their home more energy efficient

Reducing water costs - by capping the bills of low-income families, with three or more

children, on a water meter and promoting social tariffs that provide cheaper water for

low-income families

Providing Healthy Start Vouchers - for young children in low-income families, free

school meals for all infant school pupils, breakfast clubs in deprived areas, and free fruit

and vegetables at school for children aged four to six

Reducing transport costs for low-income families - through free home-to-school

transport, limiting rail fare increases, introducing more flexible rail tickets, and keeping

the price of petrol down by freezing fuel duty since 2011

Tackling rising housing costs - by increasing the supply of new housing

Increasing access to affordable credit - through investing up to £38 million in

expanding credit unions

Tackling problem debt - through working with the Money Advice Service, which co-

ordinates and funds debt advice, and safeguards the transition to Universal Credit by

offering support to manage the changes via the Local Support Service Framework

Fuel

Fuel prices make up a disproportionate amount of household spend for low income families.

The UK Government has committed to:

Changes announced in the Autumn Statement 2013, which are expected to reduce

typical energy bills, in 2014/15 by around £50 on average

Achieving further savings on fuel bills from 2016 onwards through the zero carbon

homes commitment

Giving eligible low-income families money off their bills through extending the Warm

Home Discount 2015/16 (in 2014/15 the discount is £140)

Helping low-income families insulate their homes to make them more energy efficient to

reduce their bills and help ensure that children live in warm homes (this is provided

through the Energy Company Obligation)

Reforming energy markets to increase competition and making it easier for families to

shop around to get better deals

In addition, the UK Government have made changes to the law which will set a new target to

tackle fuel poverty and further action, including help for poor families, will be announced through

the Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Water

The UK Government has encouraged water companies to reduce water prices for low-income

families by:

Enabling water companies to reduce bills of low-income customers by creating Social

Tariffs

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Capping bills under the Water Sure Scheme, so that low income families on a water

meter who have three or more children are not hit with bills they cannot afford

Food

From 2014-17 the UK Government aims to help with the costs of food for low-income families

by:

Providing Healthy Start Vouchers to help low income families with young children

Extending free school meals to all infant school pupils in England from September 2014

Investing just over £1 million from 2013 to 2015 to help schools in the poorest areas

establish breakfast clubs

Giving school children aged four to six access to free fruit and vegetables through the

School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

Transport

There is a recognition in the 2014-17 Strategy that high transport costs make it harder for

people to get to work and to stay in work. Support for parents to get to work and children to get

to school will be available through:

Provision of free home-to-school transport for those who live beyond the statutory

walking distances or have Special Educational Needs and disabilities. In addition, Local

Authorities are funded (£148.3 million 2011/12-2014/15) to provide additional transport

support to low-income families to widen their choice of schools

Providing a Job Centre Plus travel Discount Card for eligible claimants of certain benefits

to help parents with the costs of bus or train fares when seeking work or undertaking

training.

3. Education

In 2014-17 the UK Government aims to break the cycle of poor children going on to be poor

adults by:

Increasing the number of poor children in high quality pre-school education with

15 hours free childcare in England for all three and four year olds and for two year

olds from low-income families, getting better qualified staff in pre-school and having

simpler early years curriculum

Introducing Early Years Pupil Premium in England

Ensuring poor children do better at school by giving disadvantaged pupils an

additional £14,000 throughout their school career through the Pupil Premium in

England

Supporting poor children to stay in education post-16

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4. Working with others

There is a commitment from Government to work with partners across local areas, in business

and across the voluntary and community sector. Employers have a key role to play, for

example, in paying decent wages, supporting flexible working hours, offering recognised training

and qualifications and helping their staff progress at work.

Social Security (UK) The UK operates a comprehensive system of social security, administered through the DWP to

provide income for those who are disabled, have been made redundant, suffer ill health, are

retired or are unemployed for other reasons. A key function of the DWP is also to provide

practical support to help people transfer from unemployment into the labour market.

The Welfare Reform Act (2012)xxxiv saw the introduction of two new key packages of financial

assistance:

A new Universal Credit - a means-tested benefit that provides financial support for

those both in and out of work. Once fully implemented, it will replace a complex range of

currently existing benefits, including Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Working

Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits and Housing Benefit. Instead of families receiving multiple

payments for different elements of entitlement on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, one

monthly payment will be made. Financial assistance is also available for those who enter

work in order to assist with the transition from benefits and to assist those on low

incomes

The UK has operated a system of ‘in work’ benefits to supplement low incomes for

nearly 30 years. Family Credit (FC; 1986-1999) was replaced by Working Families

Tax Credit (WFTC; 1999-2003), which was in turn replaced by the current Working Tax

Credit (WTC). Child Benefit (UK) has been a universal UK non-means-tested benefit

since the 1940’s (formerly Family Allowance). From 2013, however, higher-rate tax

payers are no longer eligible for this benefit

Employability, transition to labour market and policies to reduce

families’ expenses Increasing the ‘employability’ of the population and removing barriers that prevent the transition

from education, unemployment or parenthood to the labour market have also been addressed

by the UK administration.

Job Centre Plus

Delivered by the DWP, the remit of Job Centre Plus is to directly support job seekers and

increase their flow into the labour market. Whilst supporting the efficient application and receipt

of benefits amongst its client group, it also provides one-to-one and group support to help

individuals become work-ready, find employment and remain in employment. Its most recent

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annual report outlines progress in meeting specific targets including supporting lone parents in

to work.

New Deal Plus for Lone Parents

The exact nature of this programme has changed over time as conditions associated with social

security eligibility have evolved, and as the programme has passed through different pilot and

extension phases. Overall, it offers a programme of support for lone parents, aimed at removing

barriers to employment and incentivising work through, for example, work-focused interviews

(one-to-one and group support) and in-work credit (financial support).

Tax credits (childcare element)

Lone parents and couples with children, who are working, are eligible to apply for support with

childcare costs. To qualify applicants must be working 16 hours or more and the child be

attending a registered childcare provider. A maximum of 70% of childcare costs will be awarded,

up to a maximum of £122.50 for one child and £210 per week for two or more children. Some

employers provide childcare vouchers in return for tax and National Insurance exemptions.

Reducing Debt and Improving Access to Affordable Credit From 2014-17 the UK Government plans to take action to improve access to affordable credit

by:

Protecting consumers - the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has introduced tough new

rules for regulating payday lending. This requires lenders to carry out robust affordability

checks, limits the number of times a pay day loan can be rolled over to two, places tough

restrictions on lenders’ use of continuous payment authorities (CPAs), and requires all

payday lending adverts to include a risk warning and information about where to get free

debt advice. In order to protect consumers from unfair costs, the Government has

legislated to require the FCA to introduce a cap on the cost of payday loans which will be

implemented no later than 2 January 2015

Increasing access to affordable credit - by investing up to £38 million in expanding credit

unions, with the aim of saving low-income consumers up to £1 billion in loan interest

(compared to pay-day lenders)

To help low-income families to manage their money and prevent serious debt problems there

are plans from 2014-17 to:

Help people manage their debts and improve their financial capability through the Money

Advice Service (MAS). The MAS co-ordinates and funds debt advice and offers free and

impartial information and advice on money matters to help parents better manage their

money and plan ahead

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Provide additional budgeting help for those families who need it most, during the move to

Universal Credit via the Local Support Services Framework

Children’s Rights There is no legislation in place, equivalent to Wales and Scotland that requires UK Ministers to

take account of children’s rights when carrying out their functions in respect of UK or England-

only matters. The UK Government has introduced the Children and Families Act 2014 which

puts the best interests of children at the heart of the family justice and alternative care systems,

and in arrangements to support children with special educational needs.

Meanwhile, the United Nations recommended that the UK Government develop a British Bill of

Rights which incorporated the UNCRCs principles and provisions. This recommendation was

not accepted, but a Commission was created to investigate a UK Bill of Rights. The

Commission’s report was submitted with the Government accepting the central conclusion that

the time was not right to proceed.

European Structural and Investment funds

European Social Fund The European Social Fund (ESF), created in 1957, is the EU’s main financial instrument for

investing in people. It supports employment and helps people enhance their education and

skills, thus improving their job prospects. There are five priorities of ESF funding:

Helping workers and enterprises adapt to changing circumstances in the economy

Enhancing access to employment and participation in the workforce

Improving training and skills, both for individuals, and through better education and

training systems

Promoting partnerships between actors such as employers, trade unions and non-

governmental organisations, for reform in the fields of employment and inclusion in the

labour market

Reinforcing the social inclusion of disadvantaged people and combating discrimination in

the labour market

Member states and regions devise their own ESF Operational Programmes in order to respond

to the real needs ‘on the ground.’ During the period 2007-2013, the ESF spent over 10 billion

euros per year across all member states, representing more than 10% of the EU’s total budget.

The ESF was set up to:

Improve employment opportunities in the EU and help raise standards of living

Help people to get better skills and better job prospects

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Help equip the workforce with the skills needed by business in a competitive global

economy

Read more about ESF at the European level on the European Commission ESF website.

There are separate ESF programmes for each of the four UK nations.

ESF in England The 2007 to 2013, England’s ESF programmexxxv invested a total of £2.5 billion of European

funding in jobs and skills. Priority groups for support include:

Young people not in education, employment or training

Families with multiple problems

Offenders

People with low skill levels

By the end of November 2013, there had been over four million participants on the programme

and over:

384,000 unemployed or inactive participants had been helped into jobs, with over

150,000 participants having gained basic skills

438,000 participants gaining qualifications at level two or above

418,000 disadvantaged young people having been helped to enter employment,

education or training

Some projects funded under the 2007 to 2013 England ESF programme will continue to operate

until mid-2015.

In May 2014, the UK Government issued guidancexxxvi which outlined plans for managing and

operating ESF in England from 2014-2020.

The new programme will support three overarching objectives:

Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility:

focusing on access to employment, including young people who are not in employment

or training

Promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination: improving

the employability of those most disadvantaged and furthest away from the job market

Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong

learning

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Rural Development Programme (RDP) in England The Rural Development Programme for Englandxxxvii provides money for projects to improve

agriculture, the environment and rural life. Funding in 2007-13 went to schemes to:

Improve rural life and businesses

Promote environmentally friendly ways of managing land

Sustain existing and create new areas of woodlands

The 2014-2020 RDP in England will help improve the environment, support business or promote

growth in the local economy. Investment of £3.5bn will be made in England over the seven

years from 2014-2020.

The new schemes will start in 2015 following full consideration by the EC and the new

programme will support three main areas:

Managing the environment

Increasing farming and forestry productivity

Growing the rural economy

There are separate RDP programmes for each of the four nations.

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Devolved Approaches to Poverty

Wales

The Welsh Government (WG) is a devolved administration within the UK. As such, while the

WG controls some of the policy areas required to tackle poverty effectively, several important

levers are held by the UK Government. This both limits the actions the WG can take to tackle

child poverty, and means that the UK Government may take actions that might have both a

positive or negative impact on child poverty levels in Wales.

The UK Government retains key policy responsibility for welfare, social security and fiscal and

macro-economic policy. The WG has responsibility over the following policy areas most relevant

to the tackling poverty agenda:

Culture

Economic development

Education and training

Environment

Food

Health and health services

Highways and transport

Housing

Local government

Social welfare

Sport and recreationxxxviii

Eradicating child poverty by 2020 is a fundamental priority for the WG. Wales has a higher

proportion of children living in poverty than England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and a

higher proportion than any English region outside London. Wales also has a high proportion of

children in workless households (again much higher than Scotland and most of England).

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Programme for Government 2011-16 The overarching framework for this term of the WG is the ‘Programme for Government.’xxxix

Published in 2011, this document outlines the high level aims and priority actions across all

areas of policy for which the WG has responsibility and control for. Chapter 9 ‘Tackling Poverty’

includes a range of actions under the following three pillars:

Poverty and Material Deprivation

Tackling Worklessness and Raising Household Income

Improving the Skills of Young people and Families

To support the delivery of these three pillars, a number of indicators are presented to enable the

WG to measure progress. The programme is updated annually with progress against key

milestones and targets made public.

Child Poverty Strategy 2005 The first Child Poverty Strategy 2005 for Wales sought to remedy the high levels of poverty in

Wales, building on the core values of the UNCRC and published in support of the UK-wide

commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020. The Strategy, supported by an action plan

containing specific targets and milestones to measure achievement, was presented under three

pillars:

Income Poverty – increasing access to employment and promote financial inclusion

Participation Poverty – programmes which enable the inclusion of disadvantaged

children as well as ways in which children’s voices can be heard

Service Poverty – programmes which support the Early Years, Housing, Integrated

Family Centers and Free School Breakfasts scheme

The Strategy was much heralded, and showcased the political will of the WG to address child

poverty despite the limited powers at its disposal. However, the Strategy’s publication coincided

with a slow-down in the economy across the UK. While the recession did not arrive until 2008,

2005 was actually the year unemployment was at its lowest. After that economic conditions

were much less favorable.

Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 The Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 places a statutory duty on a wide range of

public bodies, including the NHS and local authorities, as well as Welsh Ministers, to develop

and implement Child Poverty Strategies. As well as outlining statutory duties in respect of

tackling child poverty, it also includes duties in relation to Play and Child Participation. It aimed

to provide clarity about the contribution that the WG could make to reducing child poverty, as

well as to set the direction for effective local delivery arrangements.

29

Child Poverty Strategy 2011-14 The WG’s statutory Child Poverty Strategyxl set out three strategic objectives:

Reduce the number of families living in workless households

Improve the skills of parents/carers and young people living in low income households

so they can secure well-paid employment

Reduce inequalities that exist in health, education and economic outcomes and families

by improving the outcomes of the poorest

The Child Poverty Strategy defines poverty as:

“A long-term state of not having sufficient resources to afford food, reasonable living

conditions or amenities or to participate in activities (such as access to attractive

neighbourhoods and open spaces) that are taken for granted by others in their society.”xli

To support the delivery of the Strategy, the WG developed a dedicated internal team and

developed links with departments across all portfolio areas which recognised the cross-cutting

nature of poverty. External engagement and support was secured through the Child Poverty

Expert Group (CPEG) and the Child Poverty Solutions project which provided Local

Authorities and public bodies with training, support and a dedicated website.

Tackling Poverty Action Plan The Tackling Poverty Action Plan (TPAP) was published in June 2012 and is subject to annual

review and reporting against key milestones and targets. This plan complimented the delivery of

the statutory Child Poverty Strategy and takes a more holistic approach to poverty, of which

child poverty is a key part. The TPAP reinforces the three objectives of the Child Poverty

Strategy by stating that action to tackle poverty should have the following aims:

Preventing poverty - and making it less likely over the long term, by offering support

earlier and sustain that support until families become resilient and self-sufficient. This

includes raising aspirations, improving standards of education, increasing skills levels

and reducing inequalities in health and well-being

Helping people into work - and out of poverty to take up job opportunities and earn an

income by working with partners to identify and address the causes of the gender,

ethnicity and disability pay and employment differences

Mitigating the impact of poverty - by taking action to mitigate the impact of poverty

here and now, by offering support to improve the lived experience of poverty. This

includes access to financial advice services, benefit take-up advice, support for sources

of affordable credit, support to prevent fuel poverty, transport, affordable access to the

internet, and the provision of inexpensive leisure, sport and play facilities

30

A fourth, cross-cutting aim, was further introduced:

Joining up in communities and across Government - through the regeneration

programme, Communities First, as a primary means of ensuring the action plan

succeeds in the most disadvantaged places

Preventing poverty

Preventing poverty in the next generation is about ‘investment in giving children the best

possible start in life. From conception through to early adulthood, the WG’s aim is to reduce

inequality at the earliest possible stage and break the link between socio-economic

disadvantage, educational under achievement and the impaired life chances that flow from

these.”xlii

This first aim is supported by three headline targets:

By 2016, increase the proportion of three year olds receiving Flying Start services (Early

Years) that have achieved or exceeded their developmental milestones by 5% points (to

69%). We have implemented a new monitoring system and will further strengthen our

targeting once that system is embedded. 64% of children in the Flying Start programme

reached or exceeded their developmental milestones at age three in 2012/13

To narrow the gap in education attainment levels between learners aged seven eligible

for free school meals, and those that are not eligible for free school meals, who achieve

the expected levels at the end of the Foundation Phase, as measured by the Foundation

Phase Indicator, by 10% by 2017. The difference between e-FSM and non-FSM

attainment in 2012 was 18.3%

To improve the overall education attainment levels of students eligible for free school

meals, measured as the proportion of learners eligible for free school meals at age 15

who achieve Level Two inclusive at Key Stage 4 (GCSE grade C or above in English or

Welsh and Mathematics or equivalent), to 37% by 2017. In 2012, it was 23.4%

Helping people into work

This second aim is supported by five headline targets:

To offer 5,000 opportunities to adults in workless households to find sustainable training

or employment by the end of the calendar year 2017 (six pilot projects in Communities

First areas out of 52 clusters)

To invest at least 20% of our 2014-2020 European Social Fund programmes in tackling

poverty and social inclusion through helping people to find and maintain sustainable

employment

To reduce the number of young people who are not in education or training aged 16-18

to 9% by 2017. At the end of 2011, the figure was 12.1%

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To reduce the proportion of young people who are not in education or training aged 19-

24 in Wales relative to the UK as a whole by 2017

To increase the percentage of care leavers in education, training or employment to 51%

by 2017. It was 47% in 2011/12

Mitigating the impact of poverty

This third aim is supported by a series of eight headline targets:

To close the life expectancy gap between each fifth by an average of 2.5% by 2020

To reduce the number of babies born under 2500g in the most deprived fifth of the

population by 19% by 2020

To improve the dental health of five and 12 year olds in the most deprived fifth of the

population to that found in the middle fifth by 2020

To achieve 7,500 additional affordable homes (social and intermediate) by 2016

To increase the number of empty houses brought back into use by 5,000 by 2016

143,000 Credit Union members across Wales and £75 million in assets by 2020. As at

March 2013, total membership including junior savers was estimated at more than

68,400. Assets of Welsh Credit Unions were estimated to be £32 million

To generate £8 million in additional confirmed benefits for individuals per year through

advice services

By 2015 to increase digital inclusion in Wales

Each of the key priorities outlined above, and in the Plan, is also supported by a series of

Milestones and Indicators to measure progress.

As well as there being a mandate on public bodies requiring them to priorities child poverty

related goals within their local planning arrangements and action plans, the WG has asked all

22 Local Authorities to appoint Anti-Poverty Champions - senior strategic leads to mobilise

cross-local government action to help the poorest in society and protect those most at risk of

poverty and exclusion.xliii Current external support and engagement is achieved through the

publically appointed Tackling Poverty External Advisory Group (TPEAG) and through regular

meetings between Ministers, officials and the End Child Poverty Network Cymru. Finally, in

2013, Wales became the first part of the UK to appoint a dedicated Minister for Tackling Poverty

within the WG cabinet.

Revised Child Poverty Strategy for Wales 2015 A key requirement from the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 is for the WG to

revise their Child Poverty Strategy. At the time of producing this report, the Government are

publically consulting on their revised Strategy,xliv following the publication of the independent

review of the existing Strategy.xlv In addition to the actions set out in the TPAP, which are most

relevant for children and families, the draft Strategy includes proposed plans to prioritise action

in five key areas:

32

Food Poverty

Childcare

In-Work Poverty

Action to mitigate the impact of Welfare Reform

Housing and Regeneration

It is anticipated that a revised Strategy will be in place by spring 2015.

The WG has had a long-standing commitment to hearing the voices and enabling the

participation of children and young people in all policy areas. The revised Child Poverty

Strategy includes a section on the engagement of children and young people, in line with Article

12 of the UNCRC.

Contributing Programmes

Communities First 2.0 Communities First was launched in 2000 as an area-based regeneration strategy to tackle

widespread poverty in Wales. With acute concentrations of poverty in post-industrial

communities of the South Wales Valleys, the programme also reflected growing awareness of

rural poverty in the 1990s. There have been several reviews of the programme and some

revision.

From 2012, Communities First (renamed Communities First 2.0) has been remodeled as a

community-focused tackling poverty programme. It has 52 “Clusters” which, between them,

include all 10% of the most deprived areas in Wales (as defined by the Welsh Index of Multiple

Deprivation 2011).

The Communities First Clusters focus on supporting the most vulnerable people in those areas

working to make the communities wealthier, healthier, more skilled and better informed, under

three main objectives:

Prosperous communities

Learning communities

Healthier communities

Each Cluster has a detailed Delivery Plan which clearly shows the outcomes they are working

towards and how their performance will be measured. Based on the needs identified within

Clusters, teams are committed to working with key partners, for example the Local Authority,

Local Service Board, Local Health Board and the Police, to realise the following goals:xlvi

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Communities First 2.0

Prosperous Communities

Employment is the best protection against

poverty and its impacts. This part of the CF

programme supports employment skills,

employability, welfare advice and financial

inclusion; both helping people into work and

mitigating the impact of poverty. The WG has

a number of programme-bending activities in

place or under development to further

support communities in this area:

Job Centre Plus (JCP)

A programme-bending activity. JCP Parent

Employment Advisors worked in four pilot

areas (now expanded into a further eight

areas). The pilot project supported 201

parents back into employment. The

evaluation demonstrated the benefit of a key

service, such as JCP, working alongside CF

at a local level to deliver better services and

shared outcomes

Jobs Growth Wales (JGW) JGW is one of WG top five priorities, led by

the department for Education and Skills to

support young people into more sustainable

employment

Advice Services Communities First is working closely with a

range of advice providers to ensure that

every Cluster in Wales has access to

dedicated advice support. Further work is

underway to develop a project which will

support 35 Clusters across Wales which

currently do not have such support. This work

will be a key WG response to the Advice

Services Review and supporting communities

through the challenges posed by Welfare

Reform

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Learning Communities

Improving skills is an important part of

helping people out of poverty, into

employment and helping today’s children

have better chances in life. Many Clusters

have strong working links with key providers

and training organisations, particularly in the

area of adult learning, which contribute to

helping people into work and make it less

likely that people will be impacted by poverty

The Communities First Pupil Deprivation

Grant (PDG) Match Fund

This fund, developed by the WG, offered CF

Clusters an opportunity to develop a work

programme with the mainstream education

providers and access over £2 million over two

years to match against the WG PDG

allocated to their local schools. This fund

supports collaboration between schools and

local communities

Higher Education Funding Council Wales

(HEFCW)

HEFCW has a specific aim to raise the

number of pupils that achieve the goal of

more pupils from CF areas going into higher

education

Digital Inclusion Communities First 2.0 prioritises its support in

CF areas and works in close partnership with

CF Clusters to tackle digital exclusion,

alongside other priorities like financial

inclusion

Healthier Communities

Poverty can have both direct and indirect

impacts on health and well-being. Good

health is a critical factor in accessing

employment. A wide range of work is being

undertaken to support improvements in

health outcomes, particularly in developing

stronger links with Local Health Boards,

Public Health and Primary Care, in order to

mitigate the impact of poverty, improve health

35

and the access to health care

Over 50s Health Checks CF is working closely with Department for

Health and Social Services to ensure that

there is a strong link and support for rolling

out the Over 50s Health Checks in CF

Clusters

Early Years and Childcare Plan The Early Years and Childcare Plan supports

the development of early years’ services and

their greater integration. Communities First,

Flying Start and Families First programmes

are encouraged to develop new models of

working which combine the strengths of all

three programmes and successfully target

families living in poverty

Public Health Wales (PHW) Communities First is working with PHW to

use its training and experience in supporting

the Communities First workforce to deliver

fully integrated and evidence based

interventions in communities, and linking

where appropriate to projects listed above

Programmes and Actions for Preventing Poverty Contributing actions that currently, and in the recent past, are aimed at preventing poverty in the

next generation include:

Programmes and Actions for

Preventing Poverty

Ante-natal/Post-natal

Maternity

Provided since 1944, maternity services

encourage healthy behaviours of pregnant

women to support the health of their unborn

babies so that they can develop into healthy

children and adults

Early Years and Childcare:

Flying Start –

Has run from 2006/07 and ongoing, offering a

range of support, including high quality

36

childcare for two year olds. It is targeted at all

families with children aged 0-3 in the 140

most deprived areas of Wales

Educational Inequalities:

School Effectiveness Framework –

Delivered 2008-2011. Universal service

whose objective was to reduce the

educational attainment gap. Improves

standards around literacy and numeracy

Pupil Deprivation Grants (PDG) – Helps schools tackle the barriers to learning

and break the link between deprivation and

poor outcomes

Raising Achievement and Individual

Standards in Education (RAISE) –

Initially a two year programme from 2006/07,

extended to 2010/11. Targeted attainment at

Key stages 1-4 for schools with a high

proportion of (20%+) of Free School Meal

pupils

Primary School Free Breakfast Initiative – Started in 2005 and ongoing. Has outcomes

relating to diet impact on cognitive skills

development and attainment. For all children

in maintained primary schools in Wales. It

was only delivered in Communities First

areas in the first year

Early Support for Families:

Cymorth –

This ran from 2003/04 to 2011/12. It provided

geographic and targeted support for 0-25

year olds by need. It was replaced by

Families First

Integrated Children’s Centres –

Started in 2008 and ongoing. Originally

targeted geographically in Cymorth areas to

provide early years education and support for

families

Families First (previously Cymorth) – With pioneer areas running since 2010 with

national roll out from 2012. Provides

geographic support for families living in

poverty (and is focused on Communities First

areas). Families First has been the driving

force of the WG’s whole family approach by

establishing a Team Around the Family (TAF)

37

and Joint Assessment Family Framework

(JAFF). Wales is the first country in the UK to

have mandated a TAF in every Local

Authority

Integrated Family Support Service (IFSS) – Piloted from 2010 with national roll-out

2011/2014. It aims to strengthen families and

to tackle poorer outcomes associated with

children in care. Provides support targeted by

need in geographic areas

Programmes and Actions for Helping People into Work WG policies that focus on helping people into work and reducing the number of workless

households, and number of young people who are not earning or learning, include:

Programmes and Actions for Helping

People into Work

Community Benefits Policy –

This policy applies to all contracts over £2

million to help generate jobs for individuals

and support local supply chains

Economic Growth Fund – Over £30 million has been invested in the

Fund and approved projects. It is targeted at

creating new jobs and safeguarding others

Jobs Growth Wales – Established in April 2012, the programme

aims to create and fill 4,000 job opportunities

each year for three years for young people

aged 16-24. Participants will be paid at or

above the National Minimum Wage (NMW)

for a minimum of 25 hours per week.

Employers are reimbursed the NMW and

National Insurance contributions. The

ambition of the programme is that the jobs

are sustained after the six month opportunity

Youth Engagement and Progression

Framework -

This framework aims to reduce the number of

young people not in education, employment

or training (NEET) over a two year period.

38

The framework is based around six

component elements, proven to be effective

at increasing youth engagement and

progression. They aim to:

Identify young people most at risk of disengagement

Provide better brokerage and co-ordination of support

Provide stronger tracking and transition of young people through the system

Ensure provision meets the needs of young people

Strengthen employability skills and opportunities for employment

Provide greater accountability for better outcomes for young people

Traineeships for 16-17 year olds and

Steps to Employment for 18 plus –

Helping young people and adults gain

confidence, motivation, skills and work

experience

Pathways to Apprenticeship – Helping learners between 16 and 24 years

old to become apprentices

Young Recruits Programme – Paying a subsidy to employers to increase

apprenticeship opportunities and bring new

recruitment opportunities

Essential Skills in the Workplace and the

Wales Union Learning Fund –

Working with individuals and employers

directly to improve literacy, numeracy and

ICT skills

Welsh Government Apprenticeship Scheme

–

Giving over 140 Modern Apprentices

employment and training opportunities

Healthy Working Wales – Working with employers, employees and

health professionals to help people who at

risk of losing their job due to ill health, to

remain in work

LIFT (Tackling Workless Households) – In its “Building Resilient Communities –

Taking forward the Tackling Poverty Action

39

Plan” (2013) WG pledged to:

“Reduce the number of workless

households,1 especially those with children,

by establishing at least six pilot projects in

Communities First areas. These projects will

offer 5,000 opportunities to adults in workless

households to find sustainable training and

jobs. The project will offer personalised,

intensive support which considers the full

range of life circumstances to help the long-

term unemployed and those furthest from the

labour market back into work” (page 18)

The LIFT Programme (Tackling Workless

Households) was piloted in eight CF Clusters.

It targeted households where no-one has

worked for a minimum of six months and

those with characteristics, which make them

less likely to gain employment easily, such as

being a young single parent household; being

a household in which the adults have few or

no formal qualifications and/or weak

employment records; a large number of

dependent children; or individuals with

disabilities.

Opportunities provided through the LIFT

Programme will include:

Training courses linked specifically to a participant’s employability

Work experience or placements (with a minimum duration of two weeks) which enhance a participant’s employability

Actual employment and volunteering which leads to a recognised qualification appropriate for work

Childcare – Local Authorities are encouraged to provide a

flexible service for parents that recognises

1 A workless household is one that contains at least one person aged 16 to 64 where no-one aged 16 or over is in

work so they are unemployed (but have actively looked for work in the last 4 weeks and are ready to start work in the

next 2 weeks) or economically inactive (not in work and not looking for work).

40

working patterns are continuously changing

and that approaches need to meet varying

needs of parents to enable them to access

the job market

Transport – An effective transport system can make it

easier for people to access jobs and training.

The Active Travel (Wales) Bill aims to

develop new routes offering low-cost ways of

accessing work, education and childcare.

This is particularly important in rural areas to

enable people to access important services

and engage with the employment market

Programmes and Actions for Mitigating the Impact of Poverty WG policies that focus on mitigating the impact of poverty and ensuring fair access to

healthcare, financial and digital services include:

Programmes and Actions for Mitigating

the Impact of Poverty

Improving Primary Care Services -

The four year plan, unveiled in November

2014, aims to develop primary care services in

Wales by including all those organisations and

services in communities which can help to

improve the quality of care at or as close to

home as possible. It will be backed by a new

£10m WG primary care fund – three times the

size of the £3.5m investment in primary care

this autumn, which is tackling heart disease

risk in deprived communities, training an

expanded primary care workforce and

delivering more eye care closer to home rather

than in hospitals

Establishing and encouraging the use of

Credit Unions –

The Welsh TPAP aims to double the number

of credit union members by 2020 and support

credit unions to provide access to financial

products for 7,500 people excluded from

mainstream finance. In several CF Cluster

areas, Credit Unions form part of the

41

programme to improving prosperity through

financial inclusion. They provide a mechanism

for encouraging people to begin to save on a

regular basis and a more affordable alternative

for loans that payday lenders

Advice Services Review – WG has commissioned an Advice Services

Review to look, in particular, at the Not-for-

Profit advice sector and at the information,

advice and guidance services provided by the

public and private sectors. The report,

published in May 2013, made 10

recommendations surrounding the need to

improve the way advice services are co-

ordinated, funded and delivered in Wales.

These recommendations will be taken forward,

supported by an additional £1.8 million for

2013/14 from WG

Digital Inclusion – Communities First 2.0 prioritises support in CF

areas and works in close partnership with CF

Clusters to tackle digital exclusion

Discretionary Assistance Fund – The WG has introduced the Discretionary

Assistance Fund, which offers two types of

non-repayable grant support (Emergency

Assistance and Individual Assistance

Payments). The Fund is run by a single

partnership rather than by each Local

Authority. A total of £10.2m per year has been

set aside for two years, although it is not clear

whether additional resources have been

added to the DWP transfer from the Welsh

budget. The fund aims to increase capacity to

address hardship and potentially to mitigate

the impact of some benefit cuts, including

tougher sanctions

Housing - The TPAP includes targets in respect of increasing the supply of additional affordable homes by 7,500 as well as increasing the number of empty homes brought back into use by 5,000

42

Programmes and Actions Supporting Community Benefit The WG has identified priorities in respect of the following:

Community Benefits Policy – This policy will be applied to all contracts over

£2 million to help generate jobs for individuals

and support local supply chains

Economic Growth Fund – Over £30 million invested in the Fund and the

approved projects are expected to create

around 1,800 new jobs and safeguard 1,600

others

Vibrant and Viable Places – The WG has made £90 million available to

pump prime regeneration programmes which

create jobs and help people access work. CF

areas are to be one of the main priorities

Community Innovation Grant Scheme – This helps to support projects relating to the

development of town centre hubs serving rural

areas

Rural Development Plan (RDP) – This is targeted at promoting social inclusion,

tackling poverty and economic development in

rural areas

Other notable legislation and policy To compliment both the Child Poverty Strategy and TPAP, the WG has legislation, strategies

and policy documents in place which support the tackling poverty agenda. Most notable are:

The Early Years and Child Care 10 year Plan (2013) Early Years/Childcare

Raising Ambition and Attainment in Welsh Schools (2014) Education

Strategic Equality Plan (2012) Inclusion

Reducing Inequities in Health Strategic Plan (2011) Health

Youth Engagement and Progression Framework (2013) NEETS

Fuel Poverty Strategy (2010) Energy

Housing (Wales) Act 2013 Housing

Social Services & Well-Being Act 2013 Vulnerable Children/Protection

43

Rights of Children & Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011 Rights

Parenting in Wales: Engagement & Support 2014 Parenting

Children’s Rights The Rights of Children & Young People (Wales) Measure 2011 requires Welsh Ministers to

have due regard to the UNCRC when exercising any of their functions. Wales was the first UK

nation to pass such legislation which is supported by a revised Children’s Rights Scheme 2014.

A Child Rights Impact Assessment is undertaken by WG if a decision is considered relevant to

and impacts on children and young people. This requires that any future policy and legislation

which impacts on child poverty will be subject to the duties enshrined in the Measure.

The Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 places duties on Local Authorities to promote

and facilitate the participation of children and young people in decisions of the Authority which

might affect them. This should include decisions around the development and expansion of

services as well as the potential withdrawal of services.

European Structural and Investment funds

European Social Fund in Wales The European Social Fund (ESF) in Wales, is used to support a number of projects aimed at

raising skills and job prospects. ESF aims to help people fulfil their potential by giving them

better skills and better job prospects.

The ESF is a key part of the EU's strategy for growth and jobs. It supports the EU's goal of

increasing employment by giving unemployed and disadvantaged people the training and

support they need to enter jobs. ESF also equips the workforce with the skills needed by

business in a competitive global economy.

The overall aim of the ESF programmes in Wales is to create a high skill, knowledge driven

economy, with full employment, a skilled, adaptable workforce and responsive businesses, at

the cutting edge of sustainable development.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is the lead WG policy department for six of the

seven ESF Strategic Frameworks. It is also the lead sponsor for a number of strategic ESF

projects, representing a significant proportion of the ESF funding available across the

Programmes.

Strategic Frameworks set out the types of strategically linked interventions that will best deliver

on the priorities and themes of the Operational Programme, the Programme document for 2007

– 2013. Projects range between Apprenticeships Schemes which enable young people to

44

access high quality skills training to develop valuable employment related skills, right through to

schemes for people who have been made redundant or are under notice of redundancy.xlvii

The 2014-2020 programme will focus on supporting three main aims:

To tackle poverty and social exclusion by increasing labour market participation and

helping people to access sustainable employment by:

- Increasing employment levels, particularly for underrepresented groups and those

furthest from the labour market

- Reducing inequalities in the labour market amongst women and recognised equality

groups

To invest in skills as a driver of productivity and growth, to aid progression within

employment and improve the skills mix and diversity of our workforce by:

- Increasing skill levels of the workforce and reduce the number of people with no skills

or basic skills only and increase higher level skills in research and innovation

- Reducing inequalities in the labour market amongst women and recognised equality

groups

To invest in our young people to create a vibrant and responsive future workforce with

the skills needed to respond to the needs of a challenging knowledge based economy

by:

- Increasing youth employment and educational attainment, thereby reducing poverty

and disadvantage in our young people

- Reducing inequalities in the labour market amongst women and recognised equality

groups

Rural Development Programme (Wales) The Wales Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020xlviii is a seven year European

Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) programme funded by the EU and WG.

The Wales RDP 2014-2020, which was submitted to the EC on 11 July 2014, could provide

£953m of European and WG funding to rural Wales to help:

Increase the productivity, diversity and efficiency of Welsh farming and forestry

businesses, improving their competitiveness and resilience, reducing their reliance on

subsidies

Improve the Welsh environment, encouraging sustainable land management practices,

the sustainable management of our natural resources and climate action in Wales

45

Promote strong, sustainable rural economic growth in Wales and encourage greater

community-led local development

There are six Rural Development Priorities which set the context for the EAFRD and any actions

that form part of the RDP 2014-2020 will fit within this structure of priorities:

Fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas

Enhancing competitiveness of all types of agriculture and enhancing farm viability

Promoting food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture

Restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry

Promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift towards a low carbon and climate

resilient economy in agriculture, food and forestry sectors

Promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.

46

Scotland The UK Government retains key policy responsibility for welfare and social security, fiscal policy

and macroeconomic policy. Other related areas such as education, health, business support

and regeneration are devolved to the Scottish Government. It is important to recognise that

many of the key levers to drive the changes needed in Scotland are at local level, as well as the

wider context of powers reserved to the UK government.

Child Poverty Strategy 2011 The Scottish Government’s (SG) Child Poverty Strategyxlix was published in May 2011.

Towards the end of 2012, the Deputy First Minister established an advisory group to review the

Scottish strategy in light of progress to date and UK welfare reform. The wider anti-poverty

strategy ‘Achieving our Potential,’ dates back to 2008 and has not been subject to revision.

There is no real equivalent to the Welsh Tackling Poverty Action Plan in Scotland.

The Scottish Child Poverty Strategy 2011 has two main aims:

Maximising household resources - by maximising household incomes and reducing

pressure on household budgets amongst low income families through measures such as

maximising the potential for parents to access and sustain good quality employment, and

promoting greater financial inclusion and capability

Improving children’s wellbeing and life chances - with the ultimate aim being to

break inter-generational cycles of poverty, inequality and deprivation

Communities and place were also key.

It has three underpinning principles:

Early intervention and prevention: breaking cycles of poor outcomes

47

Building on the assets of individuals and communities: moving away from a focus on

deficits

Ensuring that children and families’ needs are at the centre of service design and

delivery

The 11 key measures set out in the Child Poverty Strategy 2011 are as follows:

To reduce levels of child poverty and minimise the impact of socio-economic disadvantage on children Promoting and embedding an early

intervention and prevention approach, including action and preventative spend

Develop and grow assets approaches through the inception of the Assets Alliance, and through further exploration of the evidence base on assets approaches

Working with partners to tackle stigma and discrimination against people living in poverty

Ensuring that Getting It Right For Every Child is implemented across Scotland

To increase household incomes Promoting financial inclusion and capability by:

Continuing to support the national information and advice infrastructure in Scotland

Embedding financial inclusion and capability across mainstream national and local service provision, such as housing and health

Working with partners such as Consumer Financial Education Body to improve leadership and co-ordination on financial capability

To increase the numbers of parent in good quality employment Promoting employment opportunities,

through supporting essential business growth – for example, through additional support for small businesses to grow and recruit staff and the expansion of Flexible Training Opportunities

Promoting employability, for example by embedding effective approaches to employability support for people, with complex needs, such as the Supported Employment Approach

Continuing to develop a flexible and responsive approach to skills and training, through implementing Skills for Scotland, and offering additional support for those seeking to gain the skills to enter work, for example through new Community Jobs Scotland initiative and record numbers of Modern Apprenticeships

Putting in place new arrangements for childcare support for student parents through Discretionary Funds, and working with local partners to improve childcare provision through examining the evidence and developing innovative delivery models

Recognising the additional pressures faced by lone parents and promoting flexibility in childcare and employment practice

Committing to paying a living wage to all employees covered by the Scottish Government’s 2011-12 Public Sector Pay Policy

Developing better links with the private sector to tackle poverty, for example by developing work to raise awareness and support good practice among

48

employers Taking action through ‘Close the Gap’

to close the gender pay gap and tackle occupational segregation

To reduce pressure on household budgets Reducing essential household costs for low income households, for example by:

Alleviating the effects of rising energy prices, through the Energy Assistance Package and Home Energy Hotline

Working to improve access to affordable and healthy food through the Access and Affordability Expert Group

Extending free school meal criteria to all parents in receipt of qualifying benefits

Investing record amounts in support of new affordable housing

To ensure that more children have positive outcomes in the early years, and that more children grow up in nurturing, stable households, with good parenting and home learning environments Working extensively with national and

local partners to implement the Early Years Framework

Expanding entitlement to pre-school education

Increasing the number of children having access to a teacher in pre-school settings

Improving play opportunities for children through initiatives such as ‘Go Play’, ‘Play@Home’ and ‘Play Talk Read’

Supporting frontline delivery of effective early interventions for young children, for example through the new Early Years Early Action Fund

Ensuring that children grow up in decent housing, for example by working closely with partners to meet the commitment that all unintentionally homeless people have the right to settled accommodation by 2012

To reduce health inequalities among children and families Working extensively with national and

local partners to implement the recommendations of Equally Well

Ensuring that learning from health-based pilots such as Family Nurse Partnership, ‘You First and ‘Healthier, Wealthier Children’ are promoted across the health service and wider public sector to highlight the important role that health and their local partners play in supporting families at risk of poorer outcomes

Working with partners to ensure that training, education and support for NHS staff includes an understanding of the impact of social determinants such as

To ensure that children and young people receive the opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their socio-economic background Continuing to transform education in

Scotland through Curriculum for excellence, and providing advice and support to practitioners and parents – including the Supporting Learners Framework

Taking forward new legislation to reduce class sizes, improving children’s learning experiences

49

child poverty on health inequalities

To ensure that more young people are in positive and sustained destinations Ensuring that all young people receive an offer of appropriate post-16 learning, through 16+ Learning choices – including:

Activity Agreements for the most vulnerable

Financial support to young people from low-income households to remain in education through Education Maintenance Allowances

Reshaping careers services for young people through our new Careers Information, Advice and Guidance Strategy

Continuing to provide support to vulnerable young people through investment in Inspiring Scotland’s 14-19 Fund

To ensure that families receive the sustained support they need, when they need it – especially the most vulnerable Working with national and local

partners to implement and embed Getting It Right for every Chid and the Early Years Framework

Improving the infrastructure of service delivery for children and families, for example by streamlining scrutiny of care and healthcare services

Taking forward actions set out in the comprehensive review of services for disabled children

Developing the skills of practitioners working with children, taking forward an implementation plan that builds on the findings of the Scottish Government consultation on common skills for the children’s workforce

To reduce levels of child poverty and minimise the impact of socio-economic disadvantage on children through communities and place Developing new models and new

approaches to regenerating Scotland’s deprived communities, building on the responses to ‘Building a Sustainable Future’

Continuing to support and work with third sector partners to engage with children and young people, and people from deprived communities, to better enable these groups to engage in the policy making process and have a say in matters affecting them

Improving green space and play opportunities for children and families, through national policy on open space and sport for recreation facilities, targeted activity to improve the play infrastructure through ‘Go ~Play’, and testing innovative approaches to delivering environmental policy through ‘Good Places, Better Health’

To drive change through working with local partners Working closely with Community

Planning Partnerships to embed three social frameworks in local planning and delivery, including innovative pilot work with the Improvement Service

Continuing to strengthen the support available for Community Planning Partnerships and improve the opportunities for local areas to share learning with one another – for example, through promotion of the Child Poverty Community of Practice and the publication of online resources on tackling child poverty at local level

Supporting third sector growth, for example through the Scottish Investment Fund, and build stronger links between the private sector and the tackling poverty agenda

50

Progress was reported against the eleven measures was reported in 2012 and noted that there

was cross over between these measures presenting them under the headings of Pockets,

Prospects and Places.

Pockets: Policies aimed to boost incomes and reduce the cost of essential goods and services

(ie the money that flows in and out of people’s pockets in a here-and-now sense)

Prospects: Policies to improve life chances for children and young people and for progression

in the workforce, which will have a longer-term impact on reducing poverty risks and effects

Places: Policies to improve the supply of quality, affordable housing and to regenerate

communities, especially targeted in places that experience multiple disadvantage

Child Poverty Strategy 2014-17 The revision of the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland builds on the actions already taken

under the 2011 Strategy. During 2013-14 discussions took place with the Ministerial Advisory

Group on Child Poverty and a full range of stakeholders from across Scotland. A number of

areas were identified as priorities for future work across a variety of policy areas including early

years, education, employability and financial capability.

The 2014-17 Strategyl reformulates the two key aims of the 2011 Child Poverty Strategy as

outcomes, alters how they are reported on, and recognises the increasing emphasis on place-

based policy via the introduction of a third outcome. These three outcomes Pockets, Prospects

and Places (the 3Ps):

Maximising household resources - the aim is to reduce income poverty and material

deprivation by maximising financial entitlements and reducing pressure on household

budgets among low income families, as well as by maximising the potential for parents to

increase family incomes through sustained good quality employment, and promoting

greater financial inclusion and capability (Pockets)

Improving children’s wellbeing and life chances - the aim of this Strategy is to break

inter-generational cycles of poverty, inequality and deprivation. This requires a focus on

tackling the underlying social and economic determinants of poverty, and improving the

circumstances in which children grow up – recognising the particular importance of

improving children’s outcomes in the early years (Prospects)

Children from low income households live in well-designed sustainable places -

the aim is to address area-based factors which currently exacerbate the effects of

individual poverty for many families by continuing to improve the physical, social and

economic environments in local areas, particularly in those areas of multiple deprivation

in which child poverty is more prevalent (Places)

51

Alongside these outcomes, the revised Strategy continues to emphasize three principles

underpinning this long-term approach. These are:

Early intervention and prevention

Building on the assets of individuals and communities

Ensuring that children’s and families’ needs and abilities are at the centre of service

design and delivery

A new outcomes framework has been developed which outlines key areas of activity in

relation to the aims and principles. Outcomes-focused working is intended to shift the focus of

policy from processes and inputs towards the impact that the policy and its delivery has on

people and communities.

The Child Poverty Strategy Scotland feeds in to the overall Purpose for Scotland, however,

it is also linked to, and builds upon, a number of policies that have been developed since

devolution. Three inter-related public policy frameworks underpin all of Scotland’s policies and

outline an explicit approach to tackle opportunity, health and economic inequalities in Scottish

society.

The three social frameworks promote an assets, rather than a deficits, approach to tackling

poverty and inequality. Assets approaches invite individuals and communities to take control of

managing positive changes to their circumstances by co-producing the interventions by which

they can be supported out of poverty. An assets-based approach relies on the ability of

professionals to recognise that individuals and communities can move from being consumers of

services to being a ‘resource’ which co-designs services. These are:

Early Years Framework for Scotland The Early Years Framework for Scotland (The Scottish Government, 2008b) highlighted the

importance of the early years in influencing later outcomes for children. Overall, the framework

states the desire for equality of opportunity and outcomes for all children and effective

intervention to prevent or address inequity as it arises. The Framework incorporates ten steps to

achieving the ‘transformational change’ necessary to realise these ambitions:

A coherent approach

Support for families and communities to achieve outcomes independently

Prevent the cyclical nature of poverty and other poor outcomes

Empower families and communities

Prevent and intervene with strong universal services

Services of high quality

Services that address the needs of families and children

Use of play to improve children’s outcomes and quality of life

Straightforward and efficient service delivery

Collaboration that works

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The Framework puts the emphasis on outcomes and the Single Outcome Agreements (SOA)

and Community Planning Partnership (CPP) mechanisms to achieving positive outcomes for

children, and specific actions relate to children’s well-being broadly rather than solely focusing

on poverty per se. The Framework defines the early years as pre-birth to eight years, but puts

particular emphasis on birth-three as a critical time in determining children’s outcomes.li

Equally Well Implementation Plan The ‘Equally Well Implementation Plan’ (The Scottish Government, 2008c) was launched in

Scotland following the report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities. Its overall aim

is to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities through four key areas for action

and reform: (1) early years; (2) mental well-being; (3) alcohol, drugs and violence; and (4) ‘big

killer diseases’ (i.e., heart disease and cancer). The Framework highlights the role of local CPP

in planning, implementation and monitoring progress. It also describes the need to support

individuals in adopting healthy lifestyles and remove barriers preventing them from doing so,

such as supporting people to maintain a healthy weight or develop skills to increase

employability. As part of the implementation plan a number of ‘test sites’ were approved (Local

Authorities submitted applications based on identified local targets and implementation plans).

These test sites were akin to pathfinder sites to test change and provide learning. The

Framework (and test sites) covered specific topics including:

Early years

Education and information for young people

Mental health and well-being

Poverty and fuel poverty

Employment and business

Physical environment

Alcohol, drugs and violence-prevention and treatment

Primary care and dental health

Smokinglii

Achieving our Potential Framework In 2008, the SG outlined a specific framework to reduce poverty and income inequality (The

Scottish Government, 2008a) by maximising incomes through greater financial inclusion, for

example, “by supporting and empowering families to reduce debts and take greater control of

their finances to reduce pressure on household budgets.”liii This linked with the overall purpose

target of creating a wealthier and fairer Scotland. The Framework targets not only people living

in poverty currently, but also those living on the edges of poverty. Therefore, it aims to increase

incomes for the poorest 30% of people in Scotland. The Framework outlines five key areas of

action:

53

Tackling income inequality (i.e., making working pay and maximising the potential for

people to work)

Introducing long-term measures to tackle poverty (focusing on children and young

people, health inequalities, discrimination and disadvantage)

Supporting those in poverty (local taxation, fuel hardship and financial inclusion)

Making benefits work better for Scotland

Partnership workingliv

The three social policy Frameworks recognise that children’s start in life, cycles of poverty and

poor health are interlinked. They also promote an assets, rather than deficits, approach to

tackling poverty and inequality. Assets approaches invite individuals and communities to take

control of managing positive changes to their circumstances by co-producing the interventions

by which they can be supported out of poverty. An assets-based approach relies on the ability of

professionals to recognise that individuals and communities can move from being consumers of

services to being a ‘resource’ which co-designs services. The Frameworks have been

developed in partnership with COSLA, and provide the basis for SG with its local partners (local

government, the NHS, the third sector and other community planning partners) to set out a

shared approach to tackling the major and intractable social problems that have affected

Scotland for generations.lv

These Frameworks are underpinned by policies that are consistent with the principles of

Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and are linked to a wide range of other social

policies. GIRFEC aims to improve outcomes for all children and young people through a shared

approach to service provision, including adult services where parents are involved. It is about

how practitioners across all services for children and adults put the needs, experiences and

wishes of children and young people at the heart of the process.

GIRFEC:

Builds solutions with and around children and families

Enables children to get the help they need when they need it

Supports a positive shift in culture, systems and practice

Involves working together to make things better

The GIRFEC system creates a single system for planning and delivery across children’s

services. It helps create a positive culture of collaborative working, streamlining systems,

achieving savings in time and resources and develops consistently high standards of practice.

The guidance, first published in 2008 and updated in 2012, incorporated 10 ‘core principles’

focusing on developing high quality, coordinated and streamlined services that were developed

in a participative way and that allowed children and families’ choice. Overall, the guidance

outlined a set of integrated outcomes for children:

54

GIRFEC outcomes for children and young people

Safe

Protected from abuse, neglect or harm

Healthy

Experiencing the highest standards of physical and mental health, and

supported to make healthy, safe choices

Achieving

Receiving support and guidance in their learning – boosting their skills,

confidence and self-esteem

Nurtured

Having a nurturing and stimulating place to live and grow

Active

Having opportunities to take part in a wide range of activities – helping

them to build a fulfilling and happy future

Respected

To be given a voice and involved in the decisions that affect their

wellbeing

Responsible

Taking an active role within their schools and communities

Included

Getting help and guidance to overcome social, educational, physical and

economic inequalities; accepted as full members of the communities in

which they live and learn

Taken from: Appendix D. Scotland case study - Chloe Gill, National Children’s Bureau Research Centre, October

2012, p.11

The guidance explicitly links to a range of other policies for children, including the Early Years

Framework mentioned earlier and UNCRC. Through Working Together, Achieving More, the

SG is committed to work collaboratively with the other administrations within the UK in response

to the UNCRC and have identified tackling child poverty.

The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 By enshrining elements of the GIRFEC approach in law, the Act will ensure there is a single

planning approach for children who need additional support from services, create a single point

of contact for every child and provide a holistic understanding of wellbeing. Through the Act,

Local Authorities and Health Boards will now jointly develop children’s services plans that show

how services across the whole of a local area will affect the wellbeing of children and young

people. lvi

Local Measures

At a local level, Scotland consists of 32 Unitary Authorities represented by the Convention of

Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). From 2009, each Local Authority Community Planning

Partnership (CPP) was required to draw up, in partnership with the SG and supported by the

Improvement Service, a three-year ‘Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) outlining key strategic

priorities for the area, the outcomes these should achieve, and how these local outcomes would

contribute to achieving the overall purpose for Scotland. lvii

55

Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs)

The SG has not chosen to introduce statutory requirements for the production of local needs

assessments and strategies relating to child poverty. Instead SOAs have been set out between

SG and Community Planning Partnerships in terms of how each will work towards improving

outcomes for the local people in a way that reflects local circumstances and priorities, within the

context of the Government’s National Outcomes and Purpose. It is for CPPs, with their

knowledge of local needs and priorities, to decide the best way to tackle child poverty at local

level, and to reflect this within their SOAs.

The Scottish approach is the least centrally driven of the devolved nations and offers most

discretion for local government and community planning partners to devise their own responses

within the SOA Framework. There is no requirement to show how the child poverty strategy is

being delivered. Instead good practice examples in the progress report offer a descriptive

account of promising approaches.

Policies that promote child well-being and early intervention and

prevention A range of programmes and policies have been implemented by the SG over a period of time

aimed at supporting families, early intervention, and reducing social exclusion and inequality of

outcomes.

Child well-being and early intervention

programmes and actions for preventing

poverty

Early Years and Childcare:

Sure Start

Sure Start was introduced in Scotland in 1999

with four key objectives:

Improve children’s social and emotional development

Improve children’s health Improve children’s ability to learn Strengthen families and communities

Family Nurse Partnership

Implementing the Family Nurse Partnership

(FNP) parenting programme was earmarked

as an immediate action in the Early Years

Framework to target vulnerable first time

mothers and break the cycle of poverty and

poor outcomes in the early years. It is currently

being piloted in two Scottish NHS health

boroughs. The programme provides intensive,

consistent support via a family nurse to

56

mothers from early in pregnancy until the child

reaches two years. Overall, it aims to develop

parental capacity in order to improve the

health of the mother and child, improve child

development and encourage self-sufficiency

Since 2010, NHS Scotland has developed the

‘Psychology of Parenting Project’ (PoPP). This

project aims to improve access to evidence-

based parenting initiatives for families whose

children display behavioural difficulties. This

has primarily involved collecting evidence

regarding the effectiveness of parenting

programmes being delivered across Scotland,

two of which were considered to be ‘gold

standard’. However, this research also found a

number of barriers that prevented the

translation of theory in to practice

Policies To Reduce Families’ Expenses:

Childcare:

Funded Childcare Places Currently, Local Authorities are required to

provide funded childcare places for three and

four-year-olds of 12 hours per week (2.5 hours

per day during school time, a maximum of 475

hours year). The Children and Young People’s

Bill currently in development proposes that this

be extended to disadvantaged two-year-olds

Childcare Vouchers

Some employers provide childcare vouchers

(in return for tax and national insurance

exemptions). The SG had promoted their use

across all employment sectors

On 7 January 2014, the First Minister

announced action to expand childcare to our

most vulnerable two year olds. With an

investment of £15 million, the childcare offer of

600 hours per year to two year olds in

workless households from August 2014. This

57

offer is planned for extension to two year olds

who meet the current free school meals

criteria from August 2015, giving an overall

investment of £44 million

Early Support for Families:

Scottish Drug and Alcohol Strategies:

The SG launched a specific ‘Framework for

Action’ in 2009 to tackle alcohol misuse in

Scotland. This recognised the costs to

individuals, families and communities from

alcohol misuse (eg, ill health and

unemployment) (The Scottish Government,

2009). The Framework aims to reduce

consumption, support families and

communities, change attitudes and behaviour,

and improve treatment. In relation to child

poverty, this strategy aims to improve

parenting and parents’ work readiness, as well

as prevent children and young people

misusing alcohol

Similarly, the 2009 drugs strategy The Road

to Recovery: A new approach to tackling

Scotland’s drug problem also highlights

steps to prevent and treat drug use (The

Scottish Government, 2008d). The Strategy

includes a specific chapter around children in

substance misusing families, highlighting their

vulnerability and the need for early intervention

and support

Education Strategies A range of strategies, programmes and policies have been implemented by the SG over a

period of time aimed at education. These include:

Education strategies to improve

educational outcomes and prevent

social exclusion

Curriculum for Excellence (CfE)

Education Scotland offers a range of on-line

teaching resources to support the

development of financial education skills in the

classroom. It aims to raise standards, improve

58

knowledge and develop skills through more

coherent and flexible learning for ages 3-18

Literacy Action Plan

Published in October 2010, is aimed at raising

literacy standards for all and breaking the link

between deprivation and poor literacy skills.

The plan is being overseen by the Standing

Literacy Commission. There is a wide range of

work on-going to improve literacy standards,

including establishing four literacy hubs in

which Local Authorities have joined up through

voluntary consortia and can share their

successful literacy approaches more

systematically across the country. Six Local

Authority numeracy hubs who are sharing

successful approaches are now being

supportedlviii

Economic Strategies A range of strategies, programmes and policies have been implemented by the SG over a

period of time aimed at improving financial literacy and ameliorating economic inequalities.

These include:

Education strategies to improve financial

literacy and ameliorate economic inequality

Scottish Government Economic Strategy:

The 2007 Government Economic Strategy

(The Scottish Government, 2007) highlighted

that growth in Scotland’s GDP has lagged

behind that of the UK as a whole and the other

small European countries, eg, Austria,

Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg,

Portugal and Sweden. It sets out several

targets in relation to economic growth, but also

outlines how, with greater devolution or

independence, Scotland would be able to take

more substantial actions to improve growth,

such as through the ability to adapt the tax

system and employment policy, and increase

the representation of Scotland within Europe.

The Economic Strategy was updated in 2011

(The Scottish Government, 2011b),

59

acknowledging the turbulent financial

environment sparked by the financial crisis in

2008, but reaffirming commitment to the

existing six key strategic priorities, which

include:

A supportive business environment A low carbon economy Learning, skills and well-being Infrastructure development and place Effective government Equality

Money Talks: Family Finances

Is a new interactive financial education

resource for primary and secondary pupils.

The resource has been prepared in line with

Curriculum for Excellence and is from

education Scotland.

Financial Health Service/

Financial Capability

The Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland)

Bill 2013 was introduced in June 2013, with

the aim of ensuring that fair and proportionate

debt management and debt relief mechanisms

are available to the people of Scotland,

modernizing bankruptcy for the 21st century.

The Bill requires that everyone accesses

money advice before entering any statutory

debt solution; it will provide financial capability

education for those who are assessed as

vulnerable to recurring problem debt; and it will

make sure that those who can pay, so pay,

thus delivering the best return for creditors. A

single budgeting tool will be used to ensure

those in debt receive a fair, standard and

transparent assessment of their surplus

income and ability to pay.

Financial education is a key part of the

Financial Health Service concept and

therefore in partnership with Money Advice

Scotland, the SG is developing a financial

capability learning module. The module is

designed to develop the user’s skills and

understanding and enable them to be better

60

equipped to budget, source affordable credit,

ensure they are appropriately insured,

maximize their income through tax and welfare

benefit systems and consider how to plan for

their future well-being.

Credit Unions

The SG recognises the valuable role that

credit unions play in providing financial

services and products to a wide range of

customers, including those facing financial

exclusion. This includes the Enterprise Ready

Fund (ERF) which will distribute £6 million

during 2013-15 to help maintain, develop and

grow Scotland’s enterprising third sector. As

part of the third sector, credit unions are

encouraged to apply for business support

training like the Just Enterprise programme

(JE).

Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill

The Scotland Welfare Fund (SWF) has been

running since April 2013, providing support to

people in crisis.

Under the scheme, Local Authorities have

been paying out two types of grants, Crisis

Grants, to support people in an emergency, or

disaster, and Community Care Grants, to help

people avoid institutional care, or for families,

including those with children, facing

exceptional pressures. The SWF is to be put

on a more secure footing with the Welfare

Funds (Scotland) Bill. This will:

Set out the purpose of the Fund

Place a duty on Local Authorities to deliver the Scottish Welfare Fund

Make outline provision for the review of cases where an applicant wishes to challenge a decision

Set out that those delivering the Scottish Welfare Fund should report in a manner to be set out in regulations

61

Unemployment Strategies A range of strategies and programmes have been implemented by the SG over a period of time aimed at tackling unemployment and improving employment chances across the population.

These include:

Education Strategies To Improve

Employment Chances And Tackle

Unemployment

Youth Employment Scotland Fund

The £25 million fund being delivered by Local

Authorities is being used to help small

businesses (with less than 400 employees)

and social enterprises (or other third sector

employers) to create up to 10,000 new youth

jobs by September 2014 by offering financial

incentives to take on young people. These

incentives are targeted at work-ready 16-24

year olds who have been unemployed for up

to six months. The funding covers half the

salary costs for the first six months of the job

which means that, from the start, employers

are making their own financial investment in

employing the young person

Job Creation And A Living Wage:

A number of policies and programmes have

been introduced by the SG aimed at

generating employment and ensuring that

employment pays a wage comparable with

living costs in Scotland

Community Jobs Scotland

Targeted Employer Recruitment Incentive

Is now entering its third year and provides

support to those young people who have lived

through, or are living with, disadvantage. It is a

job creation programme, whereby the

Government provides up to £6,175 to third

sector organisations to employ young people

in roles paying minimum wage for at least 25

hours per week for a minimum of six months.

Training and support for young people is

provided.lix

In 2012-13 the programme will focus on

supporting 16-19 year olds.

The SG has invested £1.5 million over three

62

(ERI)

financial years (2012/13, 2013/14 and

2014/15) to support targeted young people.

The aim is to support 1,000 young people

aged 16-24 with transitions to sustainable

employment. Targeted young people currently

include: care leavers and looked after young

people, ex-offenders, young carers and young

people with additional needs or disability

Scottish Living Wage

The Scottish Living Wage Campaign was

established in 2007, aimed at increasing the

income of low paid workers and making ‘work

pay’. It is a multi-agency campaign led by a

steering group comprising of key trade union

and anti-poverty membership organisations

(including, for example, Unison and the Child

Poverty Action Group). The campaign has had

some impact, as a ‘living wage’ rather than a

‘minimum wage’ was adopted by the public

sector in 2011. The minimum wage is currently

defined as £7.20 per hour (compared to the

current UK minimum wage of £6.08 for those

over 21, £4.98 for those aged 18-20 years and

£3.68 for those aged 16-17).

Analysis predicting the outcome of

implementing the living wage across the public

sector was carried out by the SG. They

reported that increases in income would be felt

in households across the income distribution,

not just within the lowest 30 per cent targeted

by the Scottish anti-poverty policies (The

Scottish Government, 2010b). It was also

suggested that any increases in income for the

lowest paid would be offset by reduced

entitlement to in-work tax credits

Regeneration

The Scottish regeneration strategy Achieving

a Sustainable Future sets out a range of

regeneration initiatives to boost economic

growth. For example, Urban Regeneration

Companies (private and public partnerships)

have undertaken area specific regeneration

projects leading to housing and leisure

63

developments, job creation and civic spaces

Employability and Transition to the Labour

Market

Scottish Working For Families Fund

(2004-2008)

A £50 million government fund in Scotland

supports initiatives in 20 Local Authorities

aimed at supporting disadvantaged families to

move in to work by removing barriers (eg,

employability skills and childcare). An

evaluation found the programme recruited

25,508 voluntary ‘clients’ and supported them

before, during and after securing employment

through individually tailored packages of

support, including activities such as

establishing goals, personal development,

careers advice and so on (McQuaid, Bond, &

Fuertes, 2009). Support was also provided in

relation to finding and meeting initial costs for

childcare

Supported Employment Framework

Was launched in 2010, and sets out an

alternative model of supported employment

that involves a staged approach of progression

for an individual which will move them towards

sustained, mainstream employmentlx

Young People And Education, Employment

and Training

More Choices More Chances (MCMC)

This overall NEET strategy for Scotland was

published in 2006 (The Scottish Executive,

2006). It set out plans to develop flexible and

varied learning opportunities, and information

and support for young people via Job Centre

Plus. Young people in and leaving care, and

young offenders were specifically referenced

16+ Learning Choices (16+ LC)

This programme formed part of MCMC above

and was rolled out across Scotland in 2010,

following an initial implementation phase in

2008 (The Scottish Government, 2010a). The

64

policy indicated that every young person

should have a 16+ learning offer made to them

and required local partners to work together to

develop appropriate learning provision,

effective advice and guidance, and the

financial support in place to remove barriers to

continuing education.

16+ LC aims to ensure an offer of appropriate

post-16 learning for every young person who

wants it before they make a transition within

the Senior Phase of Curriculum for Excellence

(broadly age 15-18). The model has three

components: the right provision; the right

personal support and careers information,

advice and guidance and the right financial

support

Opportunities for All

Brings together More Choices, More Chances

Strategy, 16+ Learning Choices and the Post-

16 Transitions Policy and Practice Framework

into a single coherent approach to support all

young people between the ages of 16 and 20

to engage in learning, training and

employment

Improving Scotland 14-19 fund

The third sector has a critical role in providing

opportunities and support to many of the most

vulnerable young people. Inspiring Scotland’s

14:19 Fund offers long-term funding to over 20

third sector organisations, supporting them to

develop services they provide to young people

and working closely with Local Authorities and

other partners to improve young people’s

experiences and outcomes

Youth Employment Scotland

Helping unemployed 16-24 year olds into

work. Delivered by Local Authorities

Activity agreements

This targeted programme, specifically set up to

engage young people at risk of becoming

NEET, was piloted 2009-2011. It engaged

young people in learning or other activities that

would help them get ready for formal learning

65

or employment. As part of the programme,

young people voluntarily entered in to an

‘activity agreement’ where they went through a

needs assessment and package of tailored

support, and were able to access Educational

Maintenance Allowance (EMA) payments of

£30 per week

Reducing household expenditure A range of strategies and programmes have been implemented by the Scottish Government

aimed at reducing household expenditure. These include:

Strategies For Reducing Household

Expenditure

Free school meals

Free school meals are now available to school

children in Scotland of any age whose family

meets certain income criteria, ie, they are in

receipt of income support, Job Seekers

Allowance and maximum child and working tax

credits). Further, free school meals are now

available to all children aged 5-7 years (P1-P3;

Key Stage 1 in England), following a pilot

during the academic year 2007-2008.

On 7 January 2014, the First Minister

announced plans to further extend the

entitlement. From January 2015 all children in

primary 1-3 will have the option to access a

free meal at schoollxi

Free higher education

In February 2008, the Graduate Endowment

Abolition Bill (Scotland) was passed in the

Scottish Parliament, removing all tuition fees

for Scottish students studying in Scottish

universities (prior to this partial payment of

fees was deferred until a graduate’s income hit

a certain threshold). Figures published by

UCAS (cited by the Scottish National Party 14)

suggest a greater drop amongst English

students than Scottish students since the

introduction of tuition fees

66

Free prescriptions

In April 2011, Scotland introduced new

regulations that removed the £7.40 fee for

Scottish prescriptions (Welsh and Northern

Irish prescriptions are also exempt under a

reciprocal agreement). The fee is payable in

England or for English prescriptions

Energy assistance package (fuel poverty)

Data from the Scottish House Condition

survey indicates that the rate of fuel poverty in

Scotland has been growing since 2002. The

Energy Assistance Package provides

graduated support so households can afford to

meet fuel bills and heat their home. The

scheme, set up by the SG and delivered by

the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland, provides

a free energy check for anyone who requests

it. Further, the scheme can provide eligible

parties (generally those in receipt of particular

benefits) with free or subsidised home

insulation or heating systems to minimise fuel

bills and ensure maximum household fuel

efficiency

Approach 2014-17

POCKETS - maximising financial

resources of families on low incomes

Universal entitlements (social wage)

Welfare reform mitigation

Scottish Welfare Fund

Fuel poverty programmes

Free school meals and school activity funding

Financial capability and welfare advice

Economic growth policies

Living Wage

Employability/Skills Strategy

Childcare for employment and education

PROSPECTS - improved life chances of

children in poverty

Health inequalities

Early Years Collaborative Change Fund

National Parenting Strategy

Educational Attainment, including further and

higher education

Youth Employment Strategy

Modern Apprenticeships

67

Access to professions

PLACES - children from low income

households live in well-designed

sustainable places

Housing

Fuel poverty

Homelessness

Regeneration Strategy

Transport Links

Children’s Rights

The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 places duties on Scottish Ministers and

Local Authorities in relation to the UNCRC. Under Part 1 of the Act, a range of public bodies will

be expected to provide reports on actions taken to advance meeting of requirements under the

UNCRC. Scottish Ministers, like their Welsh counterparts will also be required to promote public

awareness and understanding (including children and young people) of the rights of children.

European Structural and Investment funds

European Social Fund (ESF) in Scotland The following Operational Programme provides the framework for the spending of the ESF for

the Convergence Programme for Scotland for 2007-13lxii. The Programme covers the Highlands

& Islands area, defined as the NUTS 2 area of the same name. It will complement the European

Regional Development Fund Programme under the Convergence Objective for the same area.

In March 2000, the EU leaders agreed the Lisbon Strategy, which committed the EU to become

by 2010:

“The most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of

sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and

respect for the environment.”

The achievement of this goal is seen as essential if Europe is to respond to the challenges of

globalisation and competition from other parts of the world. Scotland is no less ambitious in its

goals aimed at ensuring that the SG and its partners work together to make a real difference to

the lives of all the people living and working here to ensure they fulfil their potential and

contribute to and benefit from a high-earning, knowledge-based economy.

In working together to achieve these goals it is important to remember that for each person who

moves into sustained employment, the effect is more widespread than just getting a job – it

affects their health, their family, their friends, their neighbourhood and brings about economic

68

benefits, with less dependency on welfare benefits and contributing to the economic growth and

competitiveness of Scotland. The target is not just or even mainly about numbers – it is about

improving the lives of individuals, families and communities.

The Highlands & Islands area is particularly challenged by the unique combination of

peripherality, insularity, low population density, a widely dispersed enterprise base and low

GDP. In particular, the two phenomena which substantially influence the identification of

priorities and allocation of resources for this Programme have been low GDP and relatively low

value added by the enterprise sector, contrasting with the near-full employment of the region.

The Programme takes account of the significant progress achieved in the last programming

period and details the strategic framework and priorities considered most appropriate in

addressing the region’s continuing.

Scotland’s ESF priorities

Scotland has two ESF Operational Programmes: one for the Lowlands and Uplands region, and

a second for the Highlands & Islands region. Both aim to create more jobs and raise productivity

while addressing the challenges of low skills, low pay and unemployment – wherever possible

before they become established, and particularly among the younger generation. Scotland is

also striving to make lifelong learning more accessible, to bring more under-represented groups

into the workforce, and to improve the skills of its entrepreneurs and managers in small and

medium-sized enterprises. Sustainable growth is the key objective for both programmes, aiming

to expand skills and opportunities for all while ensuring that economic growth reduces

inequalities without compromising the environmental resources of future generations. The

Operational Programmes for Scotland share three priorities:

Priority 1: Progressing into employment

Help will be given to unemployed people of all ages to find sustainable employment. This

support will cover all stages in finding a job, preparing for a job and starting a job.

In this process, individuals will be guided to identify their needs and then provided with the

particular help required for them to apply for and get a position. Individualised approaches will

be offered in particular for people furthest away from the labour market – those facing multiple

obstacles including childcare responsibilities, lack of qualifications and health problems.

Activities will include innovative approaches to job brokerage and there will be support for the

first months in a new job – for both the new workers and their employers. Raising awareness

about the world of work will encourage and motivate those young people who are not in

education, training and employment, to seek employment and realise their potential.

Priority 2: Progressing through employment

To support equal opportunities, diversity and fair pay, there will be activities to reduce

employment gender gaps where they occur. For example, by encouraging more women into

jobs that use ICT, or more men into jobs as carers, where appropriate. Entrepreneurship will be

encouraged and managers offered the training required to help set up new businesses, and

69

expand existing businesses – and the jobs they bring. In particular, less-represented groups,

such as women and ethnic minorities, will be targeted. Social enterprises and voluntary sector

organizations make significant contributions to combating unemployment and its consequences,

in particular among the worse-off groups. These organisations will be supported with training in

the skills they need to support their work and develop their organisations for the future.

Priority 3: Access to lifelong learning

People will be encouraged to take up learning opportunities by making it easier to participate.

Training and lifelong learning will focus on the skills people need for their work, and it will be

offered where and when they need it. There will be a focus on those with little experience of

education and on groups facing cultural, physical or skills barriers to learning, such as

immigrants, lone parents and those in rural areas. New and innovative ways of attracting people

into learning will be funded, as will new qualifications and skills for those providing training to

improve the employability of the long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups. Workplace

training initiatives will be funded, in particular in small companies and among groups of

companies where training opportunities are scarce.

Funding under this priority will be partly delivered by the UHI Millennium Institute as a Strategic

Delivery Body, which will be charged with carrying forward a series of key strategic project to

address lifelong learning on a region-wide basis. The Programme will be fully complementary

with other sources of EU funding, particularly the European Regional Development Fund

(including the Co-operation Objective), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development,

the European Fisheries Fund and EU research and lifelong learning programmes.

The Programme will also promote three key cross-cutting themes: equal opportunities;

environmental sustainability; and social inclusion. These will be mainstreamed into all aspects of

project design, delivery and monitoring.

Rural Development Programme (Scotland) The Scotland Rural Development Programmelxiii was a £1.2 billion programme of economic,

environmental and social measures, designed to develop rural Scotland between 2007 and

2013. It was outcome-focused and primarily aimed at delivering a Greener Scotland whilst

promoting a wealthier and fairer rural Scotland. It contributed to the Government's Healthier and

Smarter objectives and helped to strengthen rural communities.

It brought together a wide range of support schemes including those covering farming, forestry

and primary processing sectors, rural enterprise and business development, diversification and

rural tourism. It supported and encouraged rural communities and delivered the LEADER

initiative for local innovation in rural areas. The SRDP 2007-13 was approved by the European

Commission in late February 2008. The approved programme was first published on 3rd April

2008. The next stage of the Scotland Rural Development Programme is due to run from 2014-

2020. The SG has taken steps to ensure that transition arrangements are in place for as much

as possible of the SRDP for 2014, until the new Common Agricultural Policy starts in 2015.

70

Priority axis Community

Northern Ireland The Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998 established devolved

regional government in Northern Ireland (NI) and a wide range of responsibilities including

urban and rural regeneration, housing, planning, health, education, transport planning,

economic development and tourism. The UK Government retains key policy responsibility for

fiscal and macro-economic policy, but all other policy areas relevant to child poverty are

devolved to the NI Executive. Welfare benefits are administered under a parity agreement with

Great Britain.lxiv

The NI Executive is required (by the Child Poverty Act 2010) to publish a Child Poverty Strategy

and to report on progress against that Strategy annually. The Act also requires the NI Executive

to request the advice of the Child Poverty Commission, a UK-wide body set up under the Act.

Child Poverty Strategy 2011 The NI Executive published its Child Poverty Strategy - Improving Children’s Life Chances

in 2011. The Child Poverty Strategy sits alongside the Executive’s Anti-Poverty and Social

Inclusion Strategy ‘Lifetime Opportunities’ (OFMDFM, 2010). This takes a whole life-cycle

approach to tackling poverty and social exclusion, recognising that action from the early years is

crucial in order to prevent a ‘cycle’ of deprivation persisting through generations. Both strategies

sit within the wider Delivering Social Change (DSC) framework where additional proposals to

tackle poverty are found. Actions under each are also detailed in the Programme for

Government 2011-2015.lxv

The NI Child Poverty Strategy set out four strategic priorities:

Ensure, as far as possible, that poverty and disadvantage in childhood does not translate

into poorer outcomes for children as they move into adulthood

Support more parents to be in work that pays, or pays better (also described as ‘to

access reasonably paid work’)

71

Ensure the child’s environment supports them to thrive

Target financial support to be responsive to family situations

Priority policy areas were identified as:

Education

Early Years

Childcare

Health and Social Care

Family Support

Parental employment and skills

Housing

Neighbourhoods

Financial support

The two key strands of emerging work relevant to causes and the consequences of child

poverty are:

To reduce poorly paid work and unemployment among adults with children

To improve longer-term prospects through child based interventions which are designed

to tackle the cyclical nature of poverty

A number of principles underpin and support the delivery of the strategy:lxvi

A shift towards the root causes of poverty and not just treating its symptoms

Putting children at the centre of the strategy and taking into account their views when

developing policies and programmes to tackle child poverty

Adopting a Life Cycle approach, breaking the cycle that results in children born into

poverty becoming working age adults on low income

Promoting excellence in support across a range of key policy areas including

employment and skills, education, childcare, health and family support, housing and

neighbourhoods, and financial support

A shift towards the use of preventative measures to tackle child poverty and, when

families face difficulties, intervention at an early stage, reducing the likelihood of more

serious problems developing in the future

Applying an evidence based approach

Adopting a whole family approach which concentrates on all members of the family –

children, young people, and their parents and supporting family life

Empowering and enabling parents on low income into work and make work pay for

those on low pay

Promoting partnership working across all sectors including public, private, voluntary, and

community sectors

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Recognising the current economic climate and the need for the Strategy to be balanced

against existing financial limits

In October 2012, six ‘signature projects’ worth £26 million were announced ‘which reflect the

values of the DSC Framework and will be driven forward from the centre.’ The projects focus on

support for families in areas of multiple deprivation:

Extra literacy/numeracy support for under-achieving pupils; and targeted support to

improve skills/ enterprise

Provision of positive parenting programmes

Establishment of 10 Family Support Hubs, 10 Social Enterprise Incubation Hubs and 20

additional nurture units; and provide skills programmes to help young people not in

education, employment and training

A seventh signature programme ‘Play and Leisure’ was announced in October 2013 by

Ministers, with a potential investment of up to £1.6 million to enhance play and leisure

opportunities for children and young people.

On a smaller scale than Wales, NI’s approach has a clear element of targeting disadvantaged

households and places.

Child Poverty Outcomes Framework In October 2013, OFMDFM published a Child Poverty Outcomes Frameworklxvii developed by

the National Children’s Bureau and the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes to support a cross-

departmental approach to reduce child poverty. The Framework was developed to:

Strengthen alignment between the aims of the child poverty strategy with action taken

across and beyond government

Provide a framework around which to coordinate the work of different departments,

agencies and key stakeholders in relation to child poverty

Help focus resources on activity that has been shown to have a positive impact on

reducing child poverty and/or its effects

Enable agencies to monitor progress and strengthen transparency and accountability

Inform action taken to secure further improvement

Child Poverty Strategy 2014-17 A draft Child Poverty Strategy for 2014-17 is in preparation, however, it has not yet been agreed

by the Executive, and has not been presented before the Assembly. Therefore, implementation

of the Outcomes Framework has been delayed.

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‘Our Children and Young People – Our Pledge’

10 Year Strategy for Children and Young People 2006-2016

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister launched the 10 Year Strategy ‘Our

Children and Young People – Our Pledge’lxviii and it replaced Every Child Matters. This aims to

deliver improved outcomes in six key areas:

Health

Enjoying, learning and achieving

Living in safety and with stability

Experiencing economic and environmental well-being

Contributing positively to community and society

Living in a society which respects their rights

The strategy is underpinned by a number of core values. All children and young people:

Have dignity as human beings and are respected

Have rights as individuals

Need loving and supportive families or carers

Are unique individuals each with a valuable and diverse contribution to make to

society

Are active participants in society

Are important in their own right both now and in the future

Are entitled to both adult protection and opportunities to exercise their independence

Are entitled to live in a peaceful and non-threatening environment

Are entitled to educational opportunities

Need support to explore and achieve their individual potential

Need support and encouragement through the transition from childhood to

adulthood enabling them to express respect for others and take increasing

responsibility for their actions and decisions

The 10 Year Strategy marked the first ever strategic cross-cutting approach to meeting the

rights and needs of all children and young people in NI. However, a lack of collaborative, co-

operative working across Government departments has meant that there are impediments to

the implementation of the Strategy. This has hampered the development of Action Plans for the

period 2011-16 and the ability to fully deliver on previous Plans. It has also had a major impact

in further development of strategic initiatives for children and young people.

Families Matter Strategy The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s (DHSSPS) regional family and

Parenting Strategy – Families Matter - launched in March 2009. It provides the recognised

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priority needed in respect of early intervention and prevention services to support all families to

parent confidently and responsibly and help give their children the best start in life and realize

their potential.lxix

It will help to achieve the vision set out in the children and young people’s strategy by

supporting parents and compliments policy development in child poverty, child protection and

safeguarding. There are a number of other important policy drivers behind this strategy. These

are:

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

• The Programme for Government

• Care Matters NI

• Child Poverty

• Safeguarding

This Strategy endorses the ‘whole child’ approach that draws on the work of the NI Children’s

Services Planning process, which proposes that a whole child model should be regarded as a

core map for integrated planning. Family support is defined as the provision of a range of

supports and services to ensure that all children and young people are given the opportunity to

develop to their full potential. It aims to promote their development primarily by supporting and

empowering families and strengthening communities. Its focus is on early intervention, ensuring

that appropriate assistance is available to families at the earliest opportunity at all levels of

need.lxx

Delivering Social Change for Children and Young People

Delivering Social Change for Children and Young People was adopted and extended,

recognising that in order to prevent a cycle of deprivation persisting through generations, issues

effecting early years children and young people are crucial.lxxi It set out the actions proposed by

the Executive between 2011 and 2014 to fulfil its obligations under the Child Poverty Act 2010.

The Strategy was changed again when it was subsumed under a new programme titled

Delivering Social Change. The aim of this new programme was to:

“Deliver a sustained reduction in poverty and associated issues across all ages; and an

improvement in children’s and young people’s health, wellbeing and life opportunities

thereby breaking the long-term cycle of multi-generational problems...”

The new programme was to be outcome-based with an enhanced delivery on cross-

departmental and cross-agency basis. In January 2014, it was proposed to change the Child

Poverty Strategy for the fourth time. A consultation on the new strategy was published on

Delivering Social Change for Children and Young People: Consultation Document: Child

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Poverty. The lengthy and confusing title reflected the four very different things which the

document attempted to do:

To consult on the new child poverty strategy

To deliver on the NI Executive’s current child poverty strategy

To provide an annual report as required under the Child Poverty Act

To take forward the Children’s and Young People’s Strategy and to deliver on its

obligations under the UNCRC

After consultation, Delivering Social Change for Children and Young People was withdrawn.

There is now a separate Child Poverty Strategy

Programme for Government 2011-15 The NI Executive made a commitment to help reduce poverty, promote equality and tackle

existing patterns of disadvantage and division through the use of the Delivering Social Change

Framework. This was a new approach of tackling multi-generational poverty, based on

additional, strategic actions which can make a difference in their own right, provide a rich source

of evaluation information to identify which interventions can work at scale and act as a catalyst

for improvements in mainstream service provision with a view to improving long-term

outcomes.lxxii

Contributing Programmes and Actions for Preventing Poverty Contributing actions that currently and in the recent past are aimed at preventing poverty in the

next generation include:

Early Years & Childcare

Childcare:

Bright Start 2013

The NI Executive’s Programme for Affordable

and Integrated Childcare launched its first

phase in September 2013. Bright Start aims

to give children:

The best possible start in life

Better social skills

Better performance at school and beyond

Bright Start will also aim to help parents who

want to work and are deterred by a lack of

quality, affordable childcare

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Childcare through the Women’s Centre

Childcare Fund (WCCF) and the

Community Investment Fund (CIF)

WCCF and CIF assists parents in low income

families to increase their skills.

A revised Childcare Strategy remains elusive

as ever. The first Childcare Strategy for NI

was published in 1999, entitled Children First.

Bright Start is still in the developmental

stages with a new strategy expected in the

autumn of 2015

Early Years:

To ensure all children have opportunities to

achieve their potential through high quality

early years education and learning

experiences

Sure Start and Free Pre-School Education

Sure Start (UK Initiative) in 2013, 35

programmes were available in Northern

Ireland, covering the top 20% most

disadvantaged areas measured by the 2010

Index of Multiple Deprivation. It is planned to

extend services to the 25% most

disadvantaged wards by 2015.

There continue to be separate strategic

initiatives on an Early Years Strategy and

Childcare Strategy. April 2006 saw policy

responsibility for early years (0-4) transferred

from the Department of Health, Social

Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) to the

Department of Education, (DE) with the

intention of promoting a more integrated

approach to policy and service delivery for

children. It was not until June 2010 that a

draft Early Years Strategy was ready for

public consultation, however, a revised Early

Years Strategy did not materialise. Instead

the DE launched the Learning to Learn

Framework, omitting actions for the 0-2 age

range and those outside Sure Start areas

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Education & Training

Educational Inequalities: Education &

Training:

Every School A Good School: A Policy for

School Improvement (ESaGS)

Is the overarching policy for raising standards

and tackling under achievement.

ESaGS was launched in April 2009 and is the

DE’s overarching policy for raising standards

and tackling underachievement. ESaGS is a

pupil-centred policy and is based on the

premise that every school is capable of

improvement and that schools themselves

are best placed to identify areas for

improvement and implement changes that

can bring about better outcomes for pupilslxxiii

Extended Schools Programme The Extended Schools programme enables

those schools that draw pupils from some of

the most disadvantaged communities to

provide a range of services and programmes

outside the normal school day to help meet

the needs of pupils, their families and wider

communities

Literacy and Numeracy Strategy

Education is fundamental in determining a

child’s adult life. Education is not only

associated with higher income, but also with

better health, and even longer life for

individuals.

The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy was

published as a result of an undertaking given

to PAC in 2006. At that time, the Department

had indicated that the strategy would be

implemented by September 2007.lxxiv To

assist the Department in finalising the

strategy, it established a Literacy and

Numeracy Taskforce in February 2008.

However, the strategy was only finally

completed in March 2011 and launched in

November 2011.

The aims of the Strategy are to:

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Support teachers and school leaders in their work to raise overall levels of attainment in literacy and numeracy among young people

Narrow the current gaps in educational outcomes

Delivering Social Change NEET Signature

Programme

A pilot intervention to support young people

Not in Education, Employment or Training

(NEETs) in developing skills and linking them

to the employment marketed through

structured programmes and projects

Derry 2020 Project A collaborative city-wide project which

provides community based education and

training programmes to participants with no or

basic qualifications to prepare them for

employment

Youth Work

Provision of non-formal opportunities of non-

formal learning opportunities that promote

personal and social development and help

young people to overcome barriers to

learning

Community Education Initiatives

Programme

To support a new community education

initiatives programme with the aim of

addressing the high levels of educational

achievement in disadvantaged communities

Community & Financial Inclusion

Community:

Neighbourhood Renewal Programme

This Programme aims to bring together the

work of all government departments in

partnership with local people to tackle

disadvantage and deprivation in all aspects

of everyday life

Financial Inclusion:

Mortgage Debt Advice Service Provides specialist housing and debt advice

79

to households who are having difficulty

paying their mortgage.

A Financial Capability Strategy for Northern

Ireland was issued in May 2013 by the

Department for Enterprise, Trade and

Investment (DETI)lxxv. A final strategy is

awaited

Free School Meals/ School Uniform

Grants

The Free School Meals and Uniform Grants

help support families that are experiencing

food poverty and to reduce the financial and

material barriers facing children from low

income families to participate in and remain

in education and obtain formal qualifications

Economic & Regeneration Strategies

Economic:

Fuel Poverty Strategy

This Strategy is guided by the vision of

homes that are free from cold and damp, one

of homes in which people enjoy living. These

homes will be healthy and enhance the

quality of their occupants’ lives.

Associated with this vision are a number of

guiding principles. These principles will be

evident in all the programmes and projects

that are put in place as a result of this

strategy. The Department’s Fuel Poverty

Policy will:

Be focussed on people

Adopt a partnership approach

Build on the commitment of community

and voluntary groups, businesses, local

authorities and statutory agencies

Promote equality of opportunity, target

social need and promote inclusion

Focus on the maximum practical help for

households in fuel poverty

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Seek to provide cost-effective solutions to

fuel poverty

Benefit the environment

Regeneration:

Neighbourhood Renewel

Neighbourhood Renewal is a cross-

Government strategy and aims to bring

together the work of all Government

Departments in partnership with local people

to tackle disadvantage and deprivation in all

aspects of everyday life.

Neighbourhood Partnerships have been

established in each Neighbourhood Renewal

Area as a vehicle for local planning and

implementation. Each Neighbourhood

Partnership should include representatives of

key political, statutory, voluntary, community

and private sector stakeholders. Together

they have developed long term visions and

action plans designed to address the

underlying causes of poverty

Children’s Rights The Child Poverty Strategy intends to progress the rights of children and young people as

outlined in the UNCRC and particularly articles 26 and 27 of this Convention:

‘State Parties shall recognise for every child the right to benefit from social security,

including social insurance, and shall take the necessary measures to achieve the full

realization of this right in accordance with their national law.’ ‘The benefits should,

where appropriate, be granted, taking into account the resources and the circumstances

of the child and persons having responsibilities for the maintenance of the child, as well

as any other consideration relevant to an applicant for the benefits made by or on behalf

of the child.’ UNCRC Article 26

‘State Parties recognise the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the

child’s physical. Mental, spiritual and social development.’ ‘The parent(s) or others

responsible for the child have the primary responsibility to secure, within their abilities

and financial capabilities, the conditions of living necessary for the child’s development.’

‘State Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means shall take

appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement

this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes,

particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.’ UNCRC Article 27

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European Structural and Investment funds EU funding has been of great importance in NI. The region had Objective One status from 1989-

2006 (three funding periods) and Objective Two transitional funds from 2007-13 and for 2014-

20.

European Social Fund (ESF) in Northern Ireland The overall strategic aim of the NI ESF Programme 2007–2013lxxvi is to reduce economic

inactivity and increase workforce skills. The ESF Programme contributes to employment policies

to make progress towards increasing the overall employment rate and reduce inactivity in NI

(subject to economic conditions) by extending employment opportunities in particular for those

groups at a disadvantage in the labour market.

It also contributes to skills policies to increase productivity, enterprise and competitiveness by

raising the skills levels of the workforce through lifelong learning and ensure the right workforce

skills for future employment opportunities.

Priorities

The Programme’s objectives are being realised by two inter-related Priorities:

Priority 1: Helping people into sustainable employment

Priority 2: Improving workforce skills

Priority 1

Priority 1 is focused on increasing employment and reducing unemployment and inactivity by

improving the employability of those groups experiencing significant employment gaps such as

people with disabilities and health conditions, lone parents and other disadvantaged parents,

older workers, young people not in education, employment or training, women and people with

no or low qualifications, and other disadvantaged groups, including people experiencing multiple

disadvantage.

Priority 2

Priority 2 contributes to the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce by improving the

qualifications and skills of workers without essential (basic) skills and low or no qualifications.

Cross-cutting themes

The Programme’s cross-cutting themes are gender equality and equal opportunities and

promoting sustainable development, including the creation of sustainable communities.

Innovative and trans-national and inter-regional activities will be promoted under the

programme. Technical Assistance funds will be available to finance the specific responsibilities

associated with the management and implementation of the programme.

82

Social Investment Fund

Established in 2011, it aims to reduce poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration in

targeted areas across NI (OFMDFM, 2011a) the budget is £80 million. Selection of areas has

been problematic and the first tranche of funding was not announced until February 2014, when

£33 million was allocated to 23 projects covering employment, childcare, fuel poverty, health

and infrastructure (OFMDFM web site).lxxvii

Rural programmes

Rural development has remained heavily dependent on EU programmes. INTERREG III (200-

2006) and INTERREG IV (2007-13) were programmes to support economic development in

border areas, thus including some urban settlements although much of Ireland’s border area is

rural. The aim of INTERREG III was to “promote sustainable regional development across the

eligible region…by concentrating on the strategic dimension of cross-border development which

involves and benefits local communities.’”

Rural Development Programme (Northern Ireland) The new rural development programme for NI will run from 2014 – 2020lxxviii. The size and shape

of the programme is not yet known and will depend on the outcome of discussion on the EU

Budget for 2014 – 2020 and the final European Union regulations.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has responsibility for preparing

the new RDP, and will work with key stakeholders to create a programme that meets the needs

of people who live and work in rural areas of NI.

The draft EU regulations for rural development were published by the EC on 12 October 2011

as part of the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform proposals. These proposals inform how

DARD have designed the RDP for Northern Ireland for the 2014 - 2020 period.

A key document in driving all EU policy is the Europe 2020 strategy which has three main aims

for reviving the European economy in response to the current economic downturn. The EU aims

to see growth that is competitive, sustainable and inclusive.

These aims have been translated into three objectives that are relevant to rural development. It

sees:

Smart growth as being achieved through the competitiveness of our agriculture and

food industries

Sustainable growth through the sustainable management of our natural resources

Inclusive growth through balanced territorial development of rural areas

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Six EU proposals for rural development

Beneath the three objectives, the proposals specify six EU priorities for rural development:

Knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas, which is

described as a cross-cutting or horizontal priority

Farm competitiveness and risk management

Food chain organisation

Restoring and enhancing ecosystems

Promoting resource efficiency

Social inclusion, poverty reduction and rural economic development

The main differences from the 2007 – 2013 rural development regulation are:

The removal of the axis structure to improve the flexibility of the programme

A consolidation of existing measures into fewer broader measures

An increased focus on knowledge transfer and innovation, co-operation, climate change

mitigation and the environment

DARD Draft Proposals for rural development

The challenge for DARD and, indeed all Member States, is to develop a rural development

programme based on these draft proposals. The EU draft proposals are subject to change and

the budget for the new rural development programme has yet to be confirmed by the EC.

In response to these challenges DARD established an internal CAP Reform Programme board

in January 2012 to take forward the development of a 2014 – 2020 draft rural development

programme for NI. The senior responsible officer (SRO) of the board is the Deputy Secretary of

DARD’s Central Policy Group.

Beneath the Programme Board sits six sub-groups - five of these six sub-groups reflect the EU

priorities for rural development and the sixth considers the synergies with Pillar 1 (direct

payments). The sub-groups consist of both policy and delivery experience however as we move

through the development of the programme the emphasis of the groups will gradually shift from

policy to delivery.

The sub-groups have been considering the rationale for intervention for each of the six priorities

and have proposed a number of areas of potential support. These proposals are outlined in the

Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 consultation document.

84

Good Practice Examples/Models: Case Studies

England: Supporting employability and participation

of single parents and second earners

Timewise Foundation London

Legislative/Policy Framework – Context/ Description

Stimulating the growth of a quality part time jobs market is key to increasing maternal

employment, reducing gender inequality and raising family living standards in the UK.

Gender inequality - experienced by millions of part time women who earn 39% less on an

hourly rate than their full time male counterpartslxxix

Maternal worklessness - experienced by hundreds of thousands of people who remain out

of work because they cannot find a job to fit around family responsibilities. Between June and

September 2012, the Office for National Statistics dataset identified 638,000 economically

inactive people looking after a family who want a joblxxx

Raising family living standards - a study conducted by Joseph Rowntree Foundation in

2012 highlighted that raising family living standards is needed by tens of thousands of

families whose struggle to find a quality part time job is the difference between living in or out

of povertylxxxi

Skills utilisation - which is needed to aid the economy. The state is missing out on skills and

experience on currently on offer

The second half of the 20th century saw families living standards rise. This period also saw a

rise in the participation of women in the labour market. Yet low and middle income families’

household budgets have been falling over the past decade.lxxxii Family earnings are now

forecast to fall 15% in real terms for 2020, as the cost of living continues to increase.lxxxiii For

many low and middle income families, one wage is no longer enough.

There is a pressing need to enable second earners, usually women to find work. The Joseph

Rowntree Foundation’s research into minimum income standards indicates that a family with

two children now needs to earn a third more than it did pre-recession just to make ends

meet.lxxxiv Similarly, a significant number of lone parents need to earn more from the hours

they have available to work.

However, shrinking tax credits and rising childcare costs mean that the additional income

85

earned for each hour worked is falling. This then forces families to work even longer hours,

which leaves them increasingly stretched both in terms of income and time. Parents are being

forced into a choice between earning enough to look after the family or spending the time to

care for them, it is at best a stretch and at worst a spiral into poverty.

The impact of parents not being able to balance work with nurturing children can have a

detrimental effect on family wellbeing.

Employment is key to raising household income but work simply isn’t sustainable for

thousands of households across the UK. Mothers currently have two options to improve their

families’ living standards: either work more hours or find a better-paid part time job.

Significant financial barriers exist for many families wanting to pursue either option.

Work more hours

For many families the option for second earners to move into full time work simply doesn’t

pay, due to the rising cost of childcare and the reductions in work subsidies they can receive

through tax credits. Analysis from the Resolution Foundationlxxxv shows that a coupled woman

in a median income household only takes home an extra £20 a week by moving from part

time to full time work due to lost benefits and childcare costs. With both parents in work, time

with the children is squeezed for negligible additional income.

For families on a low income, this scenario is worse. A recent analysis by Barnardo’slxxxvi

suggests that lone parents with average childcare costs on minimum wage would actually

lose 70 pence per hour worked above 15 hours.

Earn better wages

Investing heavily in up-skilling, both for those out of work and in-work, cannot be the sole

answer as three-fifths of all families in poverty already have entry-level qualifications.lxxxvii

Training and education are expensive and cannot alone guarantee a path to a well-paid job.

Women on average earn 20% less than men. But the biggest contributing factor is not gender

per se but the fact that more women choose to work part-time. Working part –time means

selecting from a pool of largely low-paid jobs. As a result the gender pay gap between men

working full time and women working part time is 39%.lxxxviii

The UK experiences the highest part-time pay penalty in the EU.lxxxix Research by Timewise

identified that only 3% of new vacancies in the London labour market are for part time roles,

paying salaries at £20,000 full time equivalent or more. This is eighteen times lower than the

proportion of full time vacancies at this salary level. Earning better wages while working less

than full time hours is a considerable challenge for families, largely because women face a

considerable pay penalty when they choose to work part-time.

Description – Practice

86

Timewise Foundation promotes the societal benefits of quality part-time and flexible working

through research, public affairs and media. Timewise shares insights and case studies on its

website; runs a programme of roundtables and events for partner businesses; and provides

bespoke training and consultancy.

Ten years ago Karen Mattison and Emma Stewart were looking for flexible jobs that would fit

in with raising their young children. They were unable to find vacancies at the right skill level

and became frustrated by seeing women like themselves drop out of successful careers.

They founded a social business called Women Like Us which operates through the

Timewise Foundation is a leading specialist for women returners in London, providing online

and offline career coaching and support. It runs a bursary scheme for parents and carers in

low-income households, alongside a paying service for those who do not meet the means-

testing threshold.

The issue of part time jobs cuts across many different areas of society. However the founders

soon realized that pigeon-holing flexibility as a women’s issue is not in the best interests of

women. They realized that the best way to get employers to open up to flexibility is to

showcase the wider business benefits, and to find role models (men as well as women) for

successful flexible working in all sorts of businesses, and all sorts of roles.

The Timewise Group

In 2012, the Timewise Group launched:

Timewise Jobs – this is a national board specializing in roles that are part time or open to flexibility. It encourages and attracts employers and recruitment agencies to advertise jobs on a part-time basis

Timewise Recruitment – this is a full service agency specialising in finance, marketing and business support roles. It has embedded flexible job design into its service offering, and covers roles across the full spectrum of flexibility – full time, part time, interim roles, and flexible contracts

Timewise has also launched the Power Part-Time List to showcase senior level role models

for part time and flexible working.

Linkage policy and practice

Stimulating more quality part time jobs in the economy has the potential to create significant

social and economic impact – an important step towards building a resilient and sustainable

society.

What’s good about it?

87

More than 55,000 parents, predominantly mothers, have registered with Timewise for advice

or to find part-time jobs. 6,500 have accessed careers advice and employability programmes,

and the Foundation has helped over 3,000 women with children into quality part time work

they can fit with family life.

What are the challenges?

Addressing the issues that women face in finding and sustaining work requires action in three

key areas:

Providing integrated employment support and advice which covers the spectrum from confidence building to high-end careers advice

Opening up intermediate and senior level roles to flexible and part-time working patterns, to prevent women (and others with caring responsibilities) from having to compromise their career aspirations

Providing affordable, flexible, quality childcare

Emerging messages & lessons learnt

What’s the future? Recommendations?

There is a model of good practice here in terms of engaging with policy makers, opinion

formers and employers to inform the strategic development of public services and HR,

diversity and recruitment practices. Currently it is mainly limited to the London area but should

be replicated across other areas.

Funding allocations and sources

Unknown

Timewise Foundation is a Community Interest Company (C.I.C), a limited company registered

in England and Wales

Involvement of stakeholders

Research has been conducted by the Timewise Foundation on flexible working and family

policy, with a focus on gender inequality, child poverty and worklessness.

Research has included:xc

88

Jobs not careers – a three year tracking study of mothers looking for work

The flexibility trap – a report on how part time work prevents career progression

Part-time working: part of the solution to tackling child poverty – an 18 month initiative, funded by trust for London, to highlight the link between stimulating the supply of part-time work in London and improving family life chances by lifting them out of poverty

The part time paradox – a report on senior part time working

Stimulating the quality part time recruitment market – research to establish the size of the quality part time recruitment market and understand what might stimulate it further

Mothers’ attitudes to self- employment and business start-ups – a qualitative and quantitative study, researching the barriers to enterprise faced by women returners

Liaison with decision makers

The Timewise Foundation frequently commissions and contributes to research on flexible

working and family policy, with a focus on gender inequality, child poverty and worklessness.

It aims to increase understanding of the social and business benefits of a more flexible labour

market. Research findings are shared with policy makers, opinion formers and employers to

inform the strategic development of public services and HR, diversity and recruitment

practices.

Participation of children, young people & families

Research has been conducted involving mothers returning to work.

What aspects of this case study reflect the Recommendation? What aspects of

the Recommendation are missing from implementation?

Recommendation 2.1 Access To Adequate Resources – Support Parents Participation

in The Labour Market.

“The primary focus of this pillar is on supporting parents’ participation in quality inclusive jobs,

tackling disincentives, making work pay, but also increasing working conditions and support

measures, i.e. parental leave and access to affordable quality early childhood education and

care (ECEC).”

The EC insists that measures to improve the family’s economic situation, such as

employment support, can prevent the intergenerational poverty trap. However, this does not

focus on moving families out of material poverty through active labour market participation,

but also by embracing a child centred rights based approach by creating decent employment

opportunities for parents that do not involve long working hours on low pay, that entitles both

parents to flexible working hours and paid parental leave, that ensures adequate family

89

benefits and income support and that does not just focus on children as ‘the next working

generation’ but as children who need a good childhood now. xci

90

Wales – Tackling Workless Households

Tackling Workless Households – Lift Programme

Legislative/Policy Framework – Context/ Description

The proportion of children in workless households in Wales stands at 19.4% compared to

16.2% for the UK (Quarterly Labour Force Survey Data, 2009-11). As such, any negative

impacts of this household type are expected to be felt disproportionately in Wales.

Overall the welfare reforms will strengthen the incentive to have one partner in work, but will

reduce the incentive to have both partners in work. The reforms are therefore expected to

reduce the number of workless families, increase the number of one-earner couples, but

reduce the number of two-earner couples in employment. Second earners in couples, ie, the

partner who earns less, are primarily women, so their employment prospects will be at greater

risk. Adams and Phillips (2013) estimate that, in Wales, women with children and a working

partner will see a greater reduction in their employment rate (0.8% points) than men with

children and a working partner (0.5% points). xcii

The WG’s Tackling Poverty Action Plan 2012-2016 emphasises the requirement for the

careful application of balancing the need to tackle the impacts of poverty now, with the need

to tackle the issues which will cause people to be in poverty in the future – in the current

climate, this balancing act continues to present a weighty challenge.xciii

In the three years to 2009-10, about a fifth of children in Wales living in households where at

least one adult was in paid work were in poverty, amounting to some 98,000 children.

Children living in such low-income working families accounted for around half of all children in

poverty. Further analysis showed that children in self-employed families and part-time

working families (where all adults are working part-time or one partner is not working) made

up the majority (about 85%) of children living in-work poverty. Such families also have a much

higher child poverty rate (37%) compared with 8% for full working families (where at least one

adult is in full-time work and the partner is working at least part-time).xciv

As compared with the values in 2005, hourly pay in Wales was stagnant; and hourly pay in

Wales, both at the bottom and in the middle, was lower than any other region.xcv

By the end of 2011, 20% or about one in five children were living in workless households in

Wales. This amounted to about 102,000 children. The proportion in 2011 was around 4%

points higher compared with the baseline year 2005 and was back to the levels seen in early

2000s. Data for individual years shows that the proportion of children in workless households

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was falling continuously from 2001 until 2008, after which it started rising.xcvi

Nearly one in 10 (9%) of the current working age population of Wales are out of work,

compared with 8.4% in the same quarter for the previous yearxcvii The proportion of those in a

low-paid job in Wales is higher than in the UK as a whole, with more than one in 10 in-work

households living in poverty. One in five of the Welsh population are claiming some form of

benefitxcviii – including many who are, in fact, in some form of employment. A higher proportion

of the Welsh population claim benefits than in other parts of the UK.

Disabled people in Wales are almost twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in a low

income household.xcix Whilst urban areas remain some of the most deprived in Wales, rural

poverty remains a significant problem. A survey of 4,000 households in rural Wales found that

one quarter of households were surviving on incomes of less than £10,000 a year.c

Worklessness is complex

Employability is about being capable of getting and keeping fulfilling work and of moving self-

sufficiently within the labour market to realise potential through sustainable employment’.

Barriers to work exist at many levels, including:

Individual characteristics (employability skills and attributes, demographics, health and well-being, job seeking, adaptability and mobility)

Personal circumstances (household circumstances, work culture, access to resources)

External factors (the wider economy and local employment, and the support that is given to workless people)

Evidence from New Deal for Communities Areasci suggests that certain groups are more

likely to be out of work. Factors include:

Tenure: 72% of owner-occupiers, 40% of social sector renters, were in employment

Lack of qualifications: 42% of workless people, 20% of those in work

Long standing illness: 32% of people out of work; 10% of those in work

Being a lone parent: 27% of those not in work; 13% of people in work

When talking about the barriers to employment:

29% cite having insufficient or inappropriate experience and qualifications

29% make reference to the limited availability of work or the lack of suitable jobs

24% cite personal reasons (eg, age, availability of childcare, caring, or health)

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Tackling Worklessness –The Need for Flexibility

Interventions to tackle worklessness need to be flexible.cii One size does not fit all –

successful interventions are holistic, client-centred and include customised provision of

services relevant to clients:

Delivery of solutions need to take place locally, taking into account local conditions

Engagement of clients requires locating premises in central or accessible venues, working in the local community, through outreach, employing local people as advisors and networking through local organisations, using organisations less connected with government

Employer commitment is fundamental and needs to be engaged from the start

Effective partnership working and flexible interventions are critical

People are more motivated by post-employment training than pre-employment courses

Many people face major obstacles to work and need specialist and intensive help to overcome them – this should not be underestimated

There is mixed evidence about the value of financial incentives/wage subsidies.

Critical success factors include:

Effective targeting of the long-term unemployed

Having diverse work placements available

Voluntary participation

Payment of a wage

Effective links to support services

Placement with committed ‘for profit’ organisations

Funds to cover travel costs, better travel information & concessions

Experiences of Young People

A study was conducted in 2012,ciii on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which

examined the difficulties faced by disadvantaged young people seeking low-skilled work. It

examined three contrasting local labour market areas in England and Wales in 2010–11. Key

findings were:

• Only 24 % of low-skilled vacancies found for the study offered full-time, daytime work

• Since the recession the labour market has become increasingly competitive, with fewer vacancies, which are filled more quickly and shorter response times. Most young jobseekers had used a variety of job search methods and sources of advice and support. The internet was a key tool; most had internet access at home. Not all

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jobseekers were aware how speedily they need to respond to vacancies. Those without internet access at home were at a marked disadvantage

•

• More could be done to help jobseekers enhance their chances of success by explaining

employers’ recruitment behaviour. Methods varied considerably between job type, area and

by employer (some using JC+ others their own websites).

•

Well-qualified, experienced candidates applying full time for work were discouraged by seven

out of 10 receiving no feedback. Leading employers and intermediaries could be encouraged

to improve information to employers and applicants, to reduce the discouraging effect of failed

applications.

Even the most difficult local labour markets have vacancies, but jobseekers have particular

skills, experience, preferences and constraints, and cannot apply for every vacancy. Many

jobseekers were prepared to take any job, but those with minimal or non-standard hours and

low pay posed real constraints for people trying to combine several jobs or combine work with

family/caring responsibilities, or who would incur extra costs (eg, travel, childcare, uniforms) in

taking work.

Over half of vacancies stating the pay offered minimum wage, and 78% paid under £7 an

hour, making it less likely that jobseekers could travel far for them. Employers also preferred

local candidates for such jobs. So although jobseekers need to search beyond their

immediate neighbourhood, policies demanding wider geographical searches will not

necessarily get more people into work.

Geography matters. Candidates living in weak labour markets face markedly higher rates of

rejection. To enhance their chances, jobseekers needed good intelligence about their local

labour market as well as local employers’ recruitment practices and to tailor strategies for

individual areas and job types.

Transport was a key issue. Employers expressed a preference for people living nearby,

especially for jobs with non-standard hours. Without a car, those from neighbourhoods with

poor transport connections have fewer job choices, face travel problems and reluctance from

more distant employers.

There was no evidence that applicants from areas with poor reputations faced discrimination.

The internet affords some protection from postcode discrimination. Young jobseekers with

additional disadvantages, including criminal records, health problems or caring

responsibilities have greater barriers. Some young people volunteered, others sought to

improve their qualifications, and some relied on networks of friends to help them find work,

with varying success.

The Youth Contractciv was launched in April 2012 to provide additional support for

unemployed young people aged 18 to 24. It found that more intensive support from JC+

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advisors, financial incentives for employers to recruit a young person who was long term

unemployed, and work experience placements were all valuable. Trainees were able to try

out a sector and get into a working routine; they gained experience, a reference and

something on their CVs and some were offered employment.

Description – Practice

The Lift Programme (Tackling Workless Households) was initially implemented in eight areas,

based on Communities First (CF) clusters and has now been extended to nine (two of which

cover two CF clusters). These are:

Afan Valley (Neath Port Talbot)

Anglesey

Caerphilly Basin

Cardiff East

Carmarthenshire

Flintshire East & West

Swansea North West

Taf West (Rhondda Cynon Taf)

Tredegar & Ebbw Fawr (Blaenau Gwent)

Flintshire East and West

The programme reflects a commitment by the WG in its Building Resilient Communities –

Taking forward the Tackling Poverty Action Plan (2013) to:

“Reduce the number of workless householdscv, especially those with children, by

establishing at least 6 pilot projects in Communities First areas. These projects will

offer 5,000 opportunities to adults in workless households to find sustainable training

and jobs. The project will offer personalised, intensive support which considers the full

range of life circumstances to help the long-term unemployed and those furthest from

the labour market back into work” (p18)

Lift seeks to target households where no-one has worked for a minimum of six months and

those with characteristics which make them less likely to gain employment easily, such as:

Being a young single parent household

Being a household in which the adults have few or no formal qualifications and/or weak employment records

A large number of dependent children; or individuals with disabilities

It aims to provide by the end of 2017, 5,000 training and employment opportunities for people

living in households where no-one is at work.

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Opportunities provided through the Lift Programme will include:

Training courses linked specifically to a participant’s employability

Work experience or placements (with a minimum duration of two weeks) which enhance a participant’s employability

Volunteering which leads to a recognised qualification appropriate for work

Actual employment

Lift sets out to tackle worklessness through personalised, intensive support aimed at

addressing the holistic needs of the whole household. This case-load approach is innovative,

challenging and ambitious and deals with some of the people who are furthest from the labour

market and largely fall outside education and training and other forms of support. In each

area, two Lift Brokers have been recruited, representing a significant enhancement in

capacity for the cluster, and particularly the Prosperity teams.

Linking policy and practice - monitoring and evaluation

Given the complex reasons underlying long-term worklessness, the WG sought to ensure

effective practice and good value for money by recruiting a team of researchers to:

Establish through a literature review what is known about worklessness and what has

worked elsewhere

Collect local information from each Lift area about the barriers to and opportunities for

work and identify possible ways of overcoming barriers; and

Write a report of their findings

Work was conducted through Welsh Council for Voluntary Action’s (WCVA) Communities

First Support Service to explore the barriers to work for people in workless households.

In each area the research included the following:

Collecting information about the local geography and demographic profile

Interviewing 3-5 key informants identified by the Cluster to ascertain key issues

Facilitating two focus groups of 8-10 people recruited by the local Cluster team in accessible, local venues to reflect a range of characteristics

Interviewing by telephone or face to face individuals or groups to fill any gaps in the focus groups

Providing a record of activity undertaking and evidence of participation.

The work took place between January and May 2014.

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What’s good about it?

Lift provides tailored 1-1 ‘hands-on’ support that can positively impact on personal motivation

and confidence and enhance people’s chances of success in getting a job.

Lift is well designed to help make qualifications more accessible to people, and for Lift

brokers, partners and stakeholders to enable their clients to better match what they have

available with what is needed.

Key informants suggested that Lift is most likely to be able to help:

People who are willing to positively engage, change their lives, train and get involved in new things

People whose main issue is lack of confidence

Young people age under 25

Parents with children aged 3 and 4 providing they have skills/qualifications and access to child-care and transport

People who have barriers, eg, child-care or lack of transport

Lift will need to work in partnership with education and learning providers in helping people to

develop a sustainable learning plan to address their multiple barriers to work and support

their routes to employment.

What are the challenges?

A variety of challenges to getting people into work were identified in the research. Some of

these were general in nature, for example:

Lack of confidence and self esteem

Health issues and disability

Lack of qualifications

Financial fear of being worse off

Whilst others related to specific demographic groups:

• Parents and childcare

• People aged 50+

• Job seekers aged under 25

• People who have been unemployed for more than a year

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Emerging messages & lessons learnt

What’s the future? Recommendations?

Having a marketable skill or experience is critical. There is intensive competition for entry

level jobs, especially those requiring basic or low level skills. Too many people without, or

having few or out of date qualifications, are looking for work. Many people remain outside the

job market because they lack basic literacy, numeracy or IT skills, driving skills or have no

team-building experience. Many unskilled jobs pay low wages and involve non-standard

hours, which pose real constraints for people experiencing multiple barriers – single parents,

people without their own transport, or people with poor health.

Parents and childcare

Whilst parents were motivated to work to give their children a better future, lack of

qualifications, access to child care and transport may result in perceptions that the cost of

working outweigh the benefits, especially for lone parents lacking qualifications, confidence or

organisational skills. There were problems with childcare in all areas with some examples of

social enterprises providing childcare.

It may be appropriate for Lift to consider ways of developing a social enterprise providing

childcare as a way of supporting lone parents back into work and creating employment

locally.

For parents with caring responsibilities for disabled children/young people

All parents who were interviewed expressed a desire to work, and recognised the

opportunities work could bring them, in terms of improving social and financial opportunities.

Despite this they felt that a job was unattainable without specialist childcare for their children

and many were reluctant to leave their child in any circumstances.

There needs to be recognition by WG and Lift of the complexity of their needs and the

contribution they make as full time carers for their children, which prevents them from

accessing the job market.

Funding allocations and sources

Lift Programme funding amounts to just over £1 million in 2014-15. Future funding is

currently being considered.

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Stakeholder involvement

Five to seven interviews were held with key informants selected by the Cluster team. These

were conducted over the telephone or face to face during the period of February to May 2014.

They included the Cluster Manager, a member of the Prosperity Team, and others from Job

Centre Plus, housing provider, learning provider, Bridges into Work or other scheme, and a

local employer.

Participation of children, young people & families

In each of the areas two focus groups and additional interviews were held with Lift

participants who had been recruited by the cluster teams. The issues covered were:

• Realistically what kind of work the participant’s would like to have in a year’s time

• What work could give them that they do not currently have

• What problems they may experience if they had a job

• Barriers that could stop them getting a job

• What kind of help they would like to receive from support organisations

• What incentives would encourage them to try harder to get a job

• How they felt about volunteering as a pathway to getting a paid job

Participants were offered confidentiality and anonymity. Some participants appreciated the

opportunity to talk about their daily frustrations and ongoing needs, and hoped that this might

constitute a part of the Lift programme.

What aspects of this case study reflect the Recommendation? What aspects of

the Recommendation are missing from implementation?

Recommendation 2.1 Access To Adequate Resources – Support Parents Participation

In The Labour Market.

“The primary focus of this pillar is on supporting parents’ participation in quality inclusive jobs,

tackling disincentives, making work pay, but also increasing working conditions and support

measures, ie, parental leave and access to affordable quality early childhood education and

care (ECEC).”

The EC insists that measures to improve the family’s economic situation, such as

employment support, can prevent the intergenerational poverty trap. However, this does not

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focus on moving families out of material poverty through active labour market participation but

also by embracing a child centred rights based approach by creating decent employment

opportunities for parents that do not involve long working hours on low pay, that entitles both

parents to flexible working hours and paid parental leave, that ensures adequate family

benefits and income support and that does not just focus on children as ‘the next working

generation’ but as children who need a good childhood now. cvi

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Scotland: Childcare

Commission for Childcare Reform

Legislative/Policy Framework – Context/Description

In Scotland, the Early Years Framework makes a strong commitment to the importance of

affordable, flexible and accessible childcare and states a long-term aim to ensure access to

integrated pre-school and childcare services in every community matched to an assessment of

local needs and demand.cvii

The Working for Families model identifies difficulties in accessing affordable qualify childcare

as a significant barrier to employment and provides a range of support and referrals to address

this.cviii

Research Context: Childcare

Of all the barriers to employment, childcare emerges from research as the most significant. This

is a particularly acute problem for lone parents. Although they enter employment at about the

same rate as others with children, their exit rates are double those of other parents (Sinfield,

2007; Wright, 2008 cited in Sinclair and McKendrick, 2009). This is due to their precarious

childcare arrangements, as well as the financially unrewarding and poor quality jobs available to

many of them. Lower income families are more likely to use informal childcare arrangements,

which are not eligible for Child Tax credit. One in five lone parents referred to the cost of

childcare as a barrier to employment, and 15% mentioned the lack of available care in Families

And Children Study (Willitts et al, 2003 cited in Sinclair and McKendrick, 2009). Although both

the UK and Scottish Governments have childcare strategies, current provision does not meet

parents’ requirements.

In particular, policy has underestimated the importance of parents’ assessments of the quality

and flexibility of affordable childcare in influencing their employment decisions. Parents will not

place their children in what they judge to be unacceptable care, and the Government must

convince them that quality is assured.cix

Childcare Needs

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The Commission will necessarily have a core interest in what size and kind of childcare

workforce is required to support a transformed system of provision. The Commission recognizes

however, that the Scottish Government’s Workforce Review is already addressing much of this

agenda.

The Commission may wish to comment on the Review’s findings and recommendations on

workforce planning and development, and will aim to ensure there is coherence between the

Commission’s emerging or interim findings and the findings being reported by the Workforce

Review (due March 2015).

The Commission’s interest in the quality of provision will, in most respects, be confined to the

rules and practice found on the frontline which are intended to ensure that the child receives a

high-quality experience, as opposed to any direct consideration of any particular early learning

activities or care offered to that child.

The Commission will be interested in informal childcare only for its effects on the larger market

for formal childcare. The Commission will not make recommendations about the prevalence,

suitability or implicit costs of informal arrangements that families routinely make within their own

kinship networks.

The Commission will take a particular interest in childcare provision for families living in

deprived areas; in rural areas; and with children with additional support needs. It will also have a

particular interest in provision for school-age children; for children at risk; and for one-parent

families.

The Commission will take a particular interest in understanding and taking account of the needs

of employers for a flexible and reliable workforce, and the needs of workers for fair and

progressive family-friendly policies.

Description – Practice – Childcare Alliance

The Childcare Alliance, is a network of hundreds of partners drawn from civic society, business

and the childcare sector. It was launched by Children in Scotland. The Alliance is independent

of any political party but enjoys full cross-party support. Its aim is to identify and implement

better ways of organizing and funding high-quality childcare provision so that it meets children’s

developmental needs; is affordable, accessible, flexible and convenient for all families who want

it; and contributes sustainably to Scotland’s economic prosperity.

Linkage policy and practice

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The Commission for Childcare Reform was established in March 2014 by the Childcare

Alliance. For the next year, the Commission will be engaging widely with businesses etc., as

well as considering evidence from within Scotland and other countries, to develop advice on the

key features of an excellent system of childcare provision and offer recommendations for how

that excellence might be obtained and paid for.

The Commission will in most cases be concerned with provision for children up to early

secondary school age, but will also consider within scope continued services for older children

and young people where this is needed or where there is parental demand.

The Commission will presume that provision for pre-schoolers will deliver early learning and

childcare, as set out in the Scottish Government’s draft Guidance on Early Learning and

Childcare (April 2014).

The Commission will take a holistic view of all childcare provision. This is against the context

that certain areas of childcare reform are already being vigorously progressed by the Scottish

Government and Parliament, through the Children and Young People’s Act and other initiatives

such as the Early Years Collaborative. The current and proposed future increases in hours of

statutory provision for pre-school children will be of interest to the Commission for their wider

impacts on the flexibility, accessibility, sustainability and affordability of the system of provision

taken as a whole.

What’s good about it?

The remit of the Commission is:

• To engage widely with businesses etc., and consider evidence from within Scotland and other countries, to identify and explore issues related to childcare

• To deliver advice on key features of an excellent system of childcare provision for Scotland, and make recommendations on how such an excellent system might be established and sustainably funded

Excellence is to be regarded as referring to:

• The quality of the pre-school child’s experience of early learning and care, and the school-age child’s experience of wraparound care, and how that experience meets the needs of the individual child

• The quality of the arrangements for delivery of funding, including the implications for the childcare sector and those who work in it. In particular, how the provision meets the needs of the family through being flexible, accessible, affordable, sustainable and convenient; and how such provision supports parents to secure learning and /or employment opportunities, which in turn contributes to improved workforce resilience to

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benefit employers in Scotland and promote economic growth

Where arrangements for delivery and funding have a potentially adverse impact on the quality of

the child’s experience, to make recommendations on how to prevent or mitigate the impact.

What are the challenges?

The Commission’s objectives are:

To build on the case that is being made in Scotland for significantly expanded and improved children’s childcare provision, and further develop an approach to investing in children (whether with public funds or otherwise) which:

• Meets children’s development needs

• Enables and sustains a viable childcare delivery sector

• Helps tackle embedded inequalities in Scottish society

• Improves lives and choices for parents and contributes to more stable families and

flourishing communities

• Promotes a fair, sustainable and efficient use of public and other funds

To engage innovatively with civic society, families and employers:

• To help generate well-informed, challenging and enthusiastic support for a transformed

model of childcare provision

• To identify, and help build, consensus around the forms, levels and sources of funding

needed to build and sustain this, as part of securing Scotland’s long-term prosperity

To deliver a report to the Childcare Alliance Steering Group which:

• Provides options which model in outline how childcare services might be delivered and

paid for in ways which reasonably balance the various outcomes sought

• Makes recommendations for how childcare provision in Scotland may best be funded

and progressed in ways which will engender transformative change to the primary

benefit of children and their families

Emerging messages & lessons learnt - What’s the future? / Recommendations?

The Commission for Childcare Reform will publish its report by Summer 2015 which will outline

the key messages and findings from its investigation. An Interim Report is due in March 2015.

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Funding allocations and sources

The Commission will investigate a variety of potential and actual sources, levels and means of

funding for childcare. Its interest is not confined to publicly-funded provision.

Stakeholder involvement

Invited delegates gathered in Edinburgh, at the request of Children in Scotland and the Scottish

Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), to discuss the current childcare system –

identifying challenge within the current system and highlighting what areas should be reviewed

in order to establish a new model of childcare in Scotland.

High costs, inflexibility, uneven quality and inaccessibility were all cited as issues to be

addressed within the current system. Points were made around the economic, social and

developmental cases for good quality, affordable and flexible childcare that benefited both

parents and children alike.

A key element of the day was the discussion on how to approach developing and delivering a

model that works in and for today’s society, including how to engage employers in this debate

and discussion.

At the end of the session, the launch of a new Childcare Alliance was announced. This is a

network of partners with a shared aim of working towards identifying a new model of childcare in

Scotland. A Commission for Childcare Reform, will take forward the remit of the Alliance. The

Commission will engage with employers, families, communities and childcare providers.

The Childcare Alliance also conducted an event, in August 2014, involving:

• Parents/carers

• Employers

• Members of the workforce

• Childcare service providers

• Members of the Scottish Parliament

Events have been held to discuss high quality childcare, and how it is organised and funded, so

that outcomes for children can be improved and that a sustainable contribution to Scotland’s

overall economic prosperity can be made.

Participation of children, young people & families

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The Commission for Childcare Reform launched an online survey to gather the views of parents

and their views on childcare. This survey was designed to be inclusive, with clear language and

a completion time of around five minutes. This has gathered hundreds of responses from

parents who do and don’t use formal childcare.

In addition to this the Commission has also hosted a series of local conversations across the

country in which parents have been invited to share their experiences and ambitions for

childcare in Scotland. These have been inclusive facilitating the presence of their children, and

when age appropriate gathering their views on out of school care.

The commission has had over 1,300 responses.

What aspects of this case study reflect the Recommendation? What aspects of

the Recommendation are missing from implementation?

Recommendation 2.2 Access To Affordable Quality Services – Reduce Inequality At A

Young Age By Investing In Early Childhood Education And Care

A main focus of this pillar is investing in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), as a

social investment to address inequality, ensuring affordability and adaptable provision. As

complimentary to the role of the family they contribute to the social and personal development of

the child to give the child a good start in life.

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Northern Ireland: Participation

The Involvement of Children & Young People with Disabilities in Regional

Planning with the Children &Young People’s Strategic Partnershipcx

Legislative/Policy Framework – Context/Description

Children and young people with disabilities are largely invisible in many strategic policy

initiatives. They tend to fall between disability services and children’s services and therefore

their unique and specific circumstances and needs as children with disabilities are often

overlooked. This can result in children with disabilities and their families becoming invisible

when key decisions are made about establishing the need for, planning and delivering

services, including public services.

Description – Practice

The Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) was established in

2011 to co-ordinate the planning, commissioning and delivery of services for children, young

people and their families in NI. The CYPSP oversees a number of NI sub-groups established

to take forward integrated planning on a NI-wide basis, including a sub-group on Children and

Young People with Disabilities. The CYPSP is part of the Children’s Services Planning

process (The Children (1995 Order) (Amendment) (Children’s Services Planning) Order

1998).

“The focus of this sub-group is children and young people who have a physical, sensory or learning disability or prolonged illness or condition which, in interaction with various barriers, and without the provision of adequate support services, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others and hinder their optimal potential for personal development and social inclusion.”

The CYPSP established at the outset that the incorporation of children’s rights into integrated

planning was required and in it supported its planning groups to develop plans in a way that

promoted children’s rights. The CYPSP plan stated “the partnership is committed to ensuring

that children and young people participate as active partners at all stages and levels of our

planning process.” Statutory agencies have specific duties to promote the welfare of children

and young people with disabilities, through a number of different pieces of legislation. It is

universally agreed that there is a great need for better coordination of supports and services

for children and young people with disabilities and their families, but that this has yet to be

achieved in NI.cxi A commitment to actively engaging with children, young people, families and

communities is central to the work of the partnership. The CYPSP’s first strategic plan is

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accompanied by a strategy for engaging with children and young people.

A range of agencies across the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, government

departments and local government bodies have come together in order to ensure the delivery

of better outcomes for children and young people, and the realisation of their rights.

The Participation Network was established in 2007 to:

“Increase the effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Public Sector in engaging children

and young people directly in decision making.”

Since then, the Participation Network, a project of Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI), has

supported Government Departments, local Government and Public bodies to engage with

children and young people, through the provision of training, consultancy and signposting

services.

The Participation network supported the CYPSP in the development of a Participation

Strategy and has been working alongside a range of groups within the partnership to facilitate

effective engagement with children and young people.

Linkage policy and practice

The Children and Young People with Disabilities Group (CYPD) and the Transitions of

Children and Young People with Disabilities to Adulthood Group (TCYPDA) are among

a range of Regional Sub-groups of the CYPSP. Multi-agency sub-groups, often thematically

based, are charged with taking forward integrated planning on a NI-wide (rather than an area

defined) basis. The work of the two groups is distinctive. The CYPD group is concerned with

all aspects of disability for children from birth onwards, the TCYPA is focused on issues

pertaining to the transition from children’s adult disability services, from age 14 upwards.

There are overlapping areas of interest and the two groups work collaboratively on these.

The Disabled Children and Young People’s Participation Project (DCYPP) was established by

Barnardo’s in 2002. The Project was funded from the outset through the Children’s Services

Planning process. The project facilitates the involvement of children and young people with a

wide range of learning, physical, sensory impairments, medical conditions, and autism to be

involved in high level strategic planning enabling them to have their say in service

developments that impact on their lives.

The DCYPP was asked to facilitate engagements with children and young people that would

help support the development of action plans for the Regional sub-groups. From the outset

the manager of the DCYPPP felt that if the children and young people’s group was to be

effective it needed to be representative both geographically and in relation to a range of

disabilities.

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The work took place over two meetings during a six month period.

What’s good about it?

The meetings were facilitated by the DCYPPP manager and two other staff members, one of

whom has a disability. During these meetings a number of the young people were

accompanied by agency workers who provided one to one support during the workshops.

The methodology involved a mixture of fun activities/ icebreakers, task-based activities and

small group discussions. The facilitators were aware that young people’s attention span could

be quite short, so the variety of the activity helped ensure that there was a balance between,

as one worker put it: “interest and boredom to not exhaust them but to get a lot out of them.”

One task involved identifying what supports the young people had in their lives. Each young

person completed a relationship map individually – the information from this work was later

presented to the TCYPD and CYPD sub-groups allowing the professionals to learn what

supports were available to young people and where the gaps were.

The key output from the workshops was a colourful, illustrated path – summarising the young

people’s priority issues.

The first activity centred on their dream scenario. The participants were encouraged to

fantasise about what their lives might be like in an ideal world. This allowed them to generate

a range of ideas. From this the group prioritised 8 specific issues that they felt needed to be

addressed. This material was shared with the CYPSP sub groups who began to address the

issues in drafting their action plans.

At the beginning of the meeting of the young people, the group looked at what needed to be

done to address their specific issues. They developed a list of concrete objectives that they

felt could be achieved realistically in two years. The group completed the path by identifying

agencies, professionals and family members who could help make this happen, by working

together.

What are the challenges?

Some challenges were identified during the course of the work. Professionals who have little

experience of direct engagement with children and young people can initially prove to be

resistant to the idea.

Some members of the CYPSP sub-groups found it difficult to hear, what they perceived to be,

109

criticisms of their services and responded with professional defensiveness – taking challenge

as complaint.

It can be extremely difficult for agencies with limited resources to send staff off for a day to

accompany a young person to a meeting. The agency staff were also responsible for

preparing the young people for the meetings.

Each of the agencies made a considerable investment in supporting their young people to be

involved in the work. Their contribution ensured the success of the engagement – it could

not have happened without their support. In taking the work forward it is imperative

that their efforts are adequately resourced.

Ensuring continuity of membership of the young people’s group also proved to be a challenge

over the course of the work. There were generally about ten young people involved in the

group but it was not always the same ten young people. Young people aged and moved out

of the group or their lives moved on, eg, going to University. This had an impact on continuity

– time to be spent at each meeting brining new people up to speed.

Emerging messages & lessons learnt

What’s the future? Recommendations?

While the sub-group plans were of interest to the children and young people’s group, the

primary focus was on the plan relating to Transition (TCPDA). The group met to get feedback

on how their work had been received by the sub-groups and to see for themselves how far

their views had been incorporated into the draft plans.

As with all CYPSP plans, the work was set out under the six high level outcomes established

in Northern Ireland’s Ten Year Strategy for Children and Young People.cxii

The outcomes are that children and young people are:

• Healthy

• Enjoying learning and achieving

• Living in safety and with stability

• Experiencing economic and environmental wellbeing

• Contributing positively to community and society

• Living in a society which respects their rights

The children and young people identified the following specific issues that they felt needed to

be addressed:

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Person-centred planning

The children and young people were very clear that they were first and foremost people – and

had a right to be at the centre of all decisions being made about their lives.

A regional Transition service

In working together the children had learned that some areas had better services than others.

They wanted to see consistency across NI to ensure that everyone had access to the same

high quality support.

Support from Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) after moving to adult services

The children and young people felt that they should be able to continue to get support from

AHPs (eg, physiotherapists, social workers, speech and language therapists) when they

moved to adult services. As they put it “Our disability doesn’t disappear – why should the

services?”

Daytime opportunities

The children and young people wanted to see greater availability of activities and things to do

during the day. As well as recreational activities they included education and work

experience.

Children with complex care needs

It was felt to be important that young people with complex care needs should have continued

access to the care provided by community nursing services. They should also be able to avail

themselves of specialist equipment if needed and receive assistance with further learning and

employment.

Health and well-being

The group highlighted the issue of mental health. They felt that, at times, young people with

disabilities can experience poor mental health services. For example, if they are not

encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential, if they have limited opportunities for

social contact or if they feel they are a burden to their families. They felt they should be able

to access appropriate support to deal with such issues.

Education

Young people want professionals to have a more “can do” attitude. They want worthwhile

education courses that can lead to employment. They do not want to do the same courses

over and over just to have something to do. They want a positive outcome from the courses

they take.

Multi-agency approach

The children and young people identified the range of agencies and people who can help

support them. They want to see these working together to help young people achieve their

goals.

111

In relation to what might be realistic to achieve during the two-year life of the plan the young

people selected the following outcomes.

• A regional approach to transition in place

• A multi-agency approach operating

• A person-centred plan in place for every young person

• Professionals to have a more relaxed and “can do” attitude to young people and to

engage them in a meaningful way

• Young people to be aware of their rights – to be heard and make decisions about their

lives

• Professionals to actively seek and appreciate children and young people’s views

• The young people and their workers felt that the Transitions plan clearly reflected the young people’s views of their needs, their experience and their ideas

The plan contained the following actions:

Children and young people’s views of

what was realistic to achieve in two years

Actions from the transition plan

A regional approach to transition in place Develop an integrated commissioning

statement, which will ensure equal

opportunities through the transition process

across the region

A multi-agency approach operating Develop a collaborative multi-agency

approach to individual assessment to best

benefit the young person through transition

stage from 14+

A person-centred plan in place for every

young person

Develop a good practice model for

integrated plans – to ensure that every

young person has access to support from 14

years old.

Ensure a person centred approach through

self-directed support including individualised

budgets and direct payments

Professionals to have a more relaxed and

“can do” attitude to young people and to

engage them in a meaningful way

Training for Teachers, Community Nurses,

Social Workers and other relevant

professionals to challenge their attitudes to

disability and expand their skills in

supporting children with disabilities and their

families. The aim of this training is to aid the

112

young person to develop to their fullest

potential and adapt a can-do attitude to life,

aiding independence.

Training for service providers and policy

makers on how to communicate effectively

with adolescents with disabilities in order to

help them to identify their needs and wishes

and aid participation

Young people to be aware of their rights – to

be heard and make decisions about their

lives

Children and young people with disabilities

receive rights training based on the Human

Rights Act, the UNCRC and the UNCRPD,

including advocacy training

Professional to actively seek and appreciate

children and young people’s views

Human rights, UNCRC, UNCRPD and

disability awareness training for all staff

working with young people and their

professional bodies.

Agree collaborative training programme for

all agencies that is designed to be delivered

by young people with disabilities.

There is a model of good practice here in terms of engaging with young people which should

be replicated across other planning groups.

Funding allocations and sources

The Health and Social Care Board in NI is funded through Children’s Services Planning.

1. The Disabled Children and Young People’s Participation Project specifically to enable

children and young people with disabilities participate in multi-agency planning process.

2.

3. Participation network to develop the CYPSP participation strategy and to support the

engagement process.

4.

Involvement of stakeholders

The organisations specifically participating in and supporting the regional children and young

people’s group include:

113

• Autism Initiatives – Western Health and Social Care Trust

• The Cedar Foundation – Western Health and Social Care Trust

• Mencap – Northern Health and Social Care Trust

• The Northern HSC Trust

• 6th Sense (The DCYPPP Advocacy project) Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Liaison with decision makers

As the work produced by the children and young people was presented, on a number of

occasions to both the CYSP sub-groups by the DCYPPP staff who facilitated the workshops

and who are both members of the sub-groups.

The Chairs of the sub-groups incorporated the young people’s ideas in the production of their

draft action plans. The plans were then widely circulated for public consultation.

Participation of children, young people & families

The children and young people worked in small groups with each focussing on two of the

outcomes and the accompanying actions. The task was to generate feedback for the sub-

groups but also to devise questions for a forthcoming meeting they would have with the sub-

group Chairs.

The meeting between the sub-group Chairs and the children and young people was facilitated

by the DCYPPP staff and provided an opportunity for the children and young people to give

their views directly to the Chairs of the sub-groups the lead commissioners from children and

adult disability services. It was an opportunity to hold the decision makers to account, get

clarification around how the action plan would be taken forward and to identify how the

children and young people’s group would be involved in supporting the implementation of the

plan.

Despite the challenges, the work was extremely successful. The engagement made a huge

contribution to improving the outcomes for children and young people with disabilities across

NI.

A number of factors contributed to the effectiveness of the engagement:

• Children and young people were willing to engage in the process

Many young people have become cynical about giving their views and sharing experiences

because they do not hear how their input has been incorporated into plans (if indeed they

have). These young people have had to overcome a considerable range of barriers in relation

114

to communication, mobility and accessibility in order to take part. That they do so, and with

such enthusiasm, is testament to their personal determination and their commitment to make

things better for other children

The role played by the DCYPPP was of critical importance The project has a great deal of experience in advocacy work and supporting young people with disabilities to articulate their own concerns. They have a track record in supporting engagements that deliver concrete outcomes and knew what supports needed to be in place and had expertise in developing accessible materials. They were able to build trusting relationships with the young participants and brought exceptional communication skills to the task in hand

What aspects of this case study reflect the Recommendation? What aspects of

the Recommendation are missing from implementation?

Recommendation 2.3 Children’s Right to Participate – put in place mechanisms that

promote children’s participation in decision making that affects their lives

“Member States are encouraged to build on existing mechanisms to involve children

in service delivery and to consult them on policy planning, as well as to encourage

professionals working with and for children to involve them.”cxiii

From the outset it was determined that engagement needed to be real and meaningful. The

DCYPPP leadership ensured that the messages from young people were taken on board and

acted upon. In championing this work and bringing it to fruition in the regional plans, they

have clearly demonstrated that a willingness to take risks and embrace challenge, a

commitment to investing time and actively listening, matched to an enthusiasm for making a

difference to children’s lives results in clear, realistic, deliverable plans. Most importantly,

those plans are likely to address the real needs of children and young people with disabilities.

Underpinning all of this work and providing an essential imprimatur, is the fact that the

CYPSP has the engagement of children and young people at the centre of its strategic plan.

This senior level commitment to putting children and young people at the heart of the

planning process is key to ensuring that plans are robust and ultimately effective in improving

the lives of children and young people in NI.

In accounting for the success of this engagement process it may be instructive to view the

exercise through the prism of the ASK FIRST standards. The ASK FIRST principles are the

NI standards for children and young people’s participation in public decision making. The

standards were developed by the Participation Network to assist public authorities to

establish effective direct engagement with children and young people. The standards set out

the various elements, which together, ensure that the involvement of children and young

people in public decision making is both meaningful for them, and effective for the public

115

authority with whom they are engaged. They are:

Standard 1: Appropriate methods Standard 2: Support

Standard 3: Knowledge Standard 4: Feedback

Standard 5: Inclusion Standard 6: Respect

Standard 7: Senior people Standard 8: Timing

Appropriate methods

The Disabled Children and Young People’s Participation Project (DCYPPP) have a great deal

of experience in working with young people with a wide range of disabilities. Their expertise

was critical in designing methodologies that were accessible, would interest the participants

and facilitate them to actively contribute. The Path methodology developed by the project

proved to be particularly effective.

Support

All of the young people engaged in the process were supported by staff from participating

agencies. The support ranged from preparation for the workshops, opportunities to think

through their ideas in advance, and transport to the venue through to having someone to talk

to when the work, often deeply personal in nature, impacted emotionally. The fact that the

young people were supported by staff who they already had a relationship with was very

important in overcoming initial reservations about the work.

Knowledge

The DCYPPP brought a considerable knowledge base of what works in participation practice.

They produced a range of accessible materials to ensure that the young people understood

the purpose of the engagement. Explanations of the CYPSP structure and the part the

children and young people could play in the decision-making process were reiterated at each

meeting.

Feedback

Children and young people had on-going feedback during the process through the liaison role

played by the DCYPPP manager and worker, who attended meetings of both the sub-groups.

As the draft plan evolved it was clear how their ideas were being translated into specific

actions. They had a workshop to prepare questions in advance of a meeting designed to hold

the sub-group chairs to account. When the plans were completed the senior staff who chaired

the planning groups had a series of meetings with the young people.

Inclusion

The focus of the engagement was children and young people with disabilities. Children and

young people with disabilities are not a homogenous group so it was important to ensure the

inclusion of those with a range of disabilities. The project succeeded in including those with

physical and learning disabilities, autism, life-limiting conditions and complex needs.

116

Respect

Children and young people decide the nature and extent of their involvement, including the

option not to participate. An important part of the respect process was the decision by the

commissioners to feed back directly to the young people about what they had done with their

views.

Senior people

Both chairs of the sub groups met directly with the children and young people to tell them how

their views had been taken on board and to answer questions. They also offered clarification

of the next steps and explored with the children and young people how they could be involved

in implementing the plan, through working on developing passports and designing/ delivering

training.

Timing

The engagement took place at the start of the planning process when the views of the

children and young people could have the most impact.

117

Conclusion

The previous sections have sought to present the key legislation, strategies and poverty

programmes in place in the UK and the devolved nations. The multi-dimensional and cross-

cutting nature of child poverty, the breadth of the agenda and the complex political and power

sharing arrangements across the UK demands that a wide range of solutions need to be in

place at a national, local and community level. It is unfeasible for there to be one law, strategy

or approach across the entire UK or indeed within each separate country.

An overview of the wide ranging strategies and programmes outlined in this report does enable

us to have some insight into how far the EC Recommendation on Investing in Children guidance

for Member States is being utilised and put into practice within each nation and across the UK

as a whole. The reader can be somewhat confident that the overarching principles and aims of

the EC Recommendation are being put into effect in the UK, even if explicit reference to either

the Europe 2020 framework or the EC Recommendation are notably absent in almost all

strategic documents and political dialogue around poverty eradication (aside from programmes

which are directly resourced through European structural and investment funds). It is also safe

to say that awareness and knowledge of the EC Recommendation is low and there is still some

way to go before we see clear evidence of its full adoption and complete implementation.

The rhetoric of all four governing nations, delivered in subtly different ways, is that tackling child

poverty, promoting child well-being and providing state support for those most vulnerable and

disadvantaged are political priorities. The approaches taken and resources allocated to address

the above challenges do differ, and is often determined by the specific population or

geographical challenges presented in different regions, the powers at the disposal of

governments or the values of, and choices made by the particular governing party.cxiv There are

also clear disparities between the approaches taken by the devolved nations and the UK

Government in respect of adopting child rights frameworks as has been exposed by successive

NGO reports to the UN.

UK Alliance Recommendation

The UK Alliance members will continue to call for the UK and devolved Governments to fully

implement the EC Recommendation through their respective communication and engagement

channels with political leads. There continues to be an urgent need to invest in, and safeguard

existing services, including non-statutory provision, that promote children’s rights, prevents child

poverty and delivers better well-being outcomes for all our children and young people. In the

present climate of austerity and budget cuts, we must all ensure that we protect those valuable

services for which children, young people and their families rely on and place a greater

emphasis on preventative services. Not investing in children now will undoubtedly see far

greater challenges presented to society for generations to come.

118

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http://timewisefoundatin.org.uk/our-work/research accessed on 4/11/14 xci

Eurochild – Overall Assessment Of The European Commission Recommendation On “Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage” & Suggestions For Implementation At National Level, March 2013 p.3 xcii

Analysing the impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms in Wales – Stage 3 Analysis; Welsh Government; July 2013 xciii

Tackling Poverty Action Plan, 2012-2016 – Welsh Government xciv

Child poverty strategy for Wales: baseline indicators, Welsh Government: Number 15/2013 xcv

ibid xcvi

ibid xcvii

Unemployment Briefing – February 2012, National Assembly for Wales xcviii

Welfare in Wales series: Welfare statistics, National Assembly for Wales (2011) xcix

Alien (2011) ‘Disability Poverty in Wales’, Leonard Cheshire Disability c Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Wales, Wales Social Observatory (2005)

ci Understanding and Tackling Worklessness Volume 1: Worklessness, Employment and Enterprise: Patterns and

Change Evidence from the New Deal for Communities Programme 2009 Key points from Executive Summary Christina Beatty, Richard Crisp, Mike Foden, Paul Lawless and Ian Wilson. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University cii

Effective Interventions to tackle Worklessness – Review of Evidence (2005) ERS Generator Studios, Newcastle, University of Northumbria and Durham Business School: looked at the experience of 19 projects in the North of England and in Scotland. ciii

Disadvantaged young people seeking work – a job in itself? Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2012 by Rebecca Tunstall, Ruth Lupton, Anne Green, Simon Watmough and Katie Bates - London School of Economics, University of

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York and Warwick University. This describes the difficulty of job searching for young people seeking low-skilled work, examining three contrasting local labour market areas in England and Wales in 2010–11 civ

Youth Contract (Internal Research Study by DWP, 2013) cv

A workless household is one that contains at least one person aged 16 to 64 where no-one aged 16 or over is in work so they are unemployed (but have actively looked for work in the last 4 weeks and are ready to start work in the next 2 weeks) or economically inactive (not in work and not looking for work). cvi

Eurochild – Overall Assessment Of The European Commission Recommendation On “Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage” & Suggestions For Implementation At National Level, March 2013 p.3. cvii

Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland, the Scottish Government, March 2011 cviii

ibid cix

Child poverty in Scotland: taking the next steps; Stephen Sinclair and John H. McKendrick, Scottish Poverty Information Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Joseph Rowntree Foundation - May 2009 cx

Asking First: Engagements between children and young people and decision makers – The Involvement of Children and Young People with Disabilities in Regional Planning with the CYPSP. Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership/Participation Network, Paula Keenan, October, 2013 cxi

Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership accessed on 3/11/14 at http://www.cypsp.org/children-disabilites.htm cxii

“Our children and young people – our pledge: A ten-year Strategy for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland 2006-2016” OFMDFM cxiii

Eurochild – Overall Assessment Of The European Commission Recommendation On “Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage” & Suggestions For Implementation At National Level, March 2013 cxiv

A review of devolved approaches to child poverty – Jim McCormick, October 2013; Joseph Rowntree Foundation

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