Communities First www.communitiesfirst.org.uk
Communities First The Early Years (0-7) / Y blynyddoedd cynnar Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Access to community dental services
Better promotion of oral health through community The national plan, ‘Designed to Smile – A based services and education settings. This will be National Child Oral Health Improvement supported by Sustainable nursery and school Programme’ based tooth brushing programmes are a key priority of WAG’s ‘Designed to smile’ A national oral health improvement programme’ are a key priority. Effective programmes will need to involve health and local authority partnerships and be accepted as an integral part of health promoting activity in nursery and school settings.
Benefit Take-up Most disadvantaged families are not taking up their full benefit and tax credit entitlements. Only 44% of children in severe poverty are in families that report claiming the child tax credit. There is a lack of knowledge among many on low incomes of their entitlements to support.
Review the quality/ accessibility of information and benefits (particularly in work benefits) available via early years settings. Consider undertaking co-ordinated benefit take up work within early years settings.
Benefit Take-up Consider undertaking specialist benefit take-up Families with a disabled member are at a work with this group. high risk of experiencing poverty.
Promoting Tax Credits and help towards childcare costs provides a simple, easy to use online toolkit to help your local authority raise awareness about help for paying for childcare. http://www.surestart.gov.uk/_doc/ P0001075.doc workshop 3b planning take up projects involving parents
Communities First The Early Years (0-7) / Y blynyddoedd cynnar Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Affordable childcare
Develop sustainability support mechanisms for childcare providers based within areas of high deprivation (e.g. encouraging other family support services to utilise existing provision).
http://www.cwlwm.org.uk/ Ready Steady go
Affordable childcare
Develop robust business support (assistance with business planning etc) for child care providers.
Ready Steady Go: Supporting business development in the childcare sector: Contact: bethanp@clybiauplantcymru.org http://www.ndna.org.uk/ Developing rural childcare toolkit
Working with parents Research indicates that many lone parents are reluctant to make use of formal childcare due to trust issues. This hampers their ability to engage in employment and training opportunities.
Consider innovative approaches and improved partnerships with key stakeholders such as Communities First partnerships and frontline staff to promote childcare as an option for lone parents. Outreach work and awareness raising in the local community has been proven to ensure that parents and children participate and reluctant parents are encouraged to take up such provision.
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/242114 Practitioner guide to interagency working
Communities First The Early Years (0-7) / Y blynyddoedd cynnar Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Vocational Skills The opportunities to work with parents accessing early years provision on improving skills for work are not always maximised.
Review the links between early years provision, vocational training, skills development and access to employment.
Education Costs Parents living on low incomes in Wales are struggling to meet increasing and diverse "hidden" costs of sending their children to school.
Utilise the Children in Wales: good practice guide for schools (training available)
Tackling Child Poverty in Wales - A Good Practice Guide for Schools Or Contact anita.myfanwy@childreninwales.org.uk
Benefit Take-up Most disadvantaged families are not taking up their full benefit and tax credit entitlements. Only 44% of children in severe poverty are in families that report claiming the child tax credit. There is a lack of knowledge among many on low incomes of their entitlements to support.
Review the quality/ accessibility of information and benefits (particularly in work benefits) available via early years settings.
Citizens Advice
Consider undertaking co-ordinated benefit take up work within early years settings.
Promoting Tax Credits and help towards childcare costs provides a simple, easy to use online toolkit to help your local authority raise awareness about help for paying for childcare Sure Start
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Income Poverty
Current Challenges Travelling to learn/work Transport is a significant barrier to accessing learning/ employment and training. Learners from less well-off backgrounds are further disadvantaged if they are not funded to travel to work placements. Sustainable Procurement In 2005 it was estimated that 35% of the ÂŁ4 billion spent each year by the public sector in Wales was won by indigenous business supporting some 70,000 jobs. Every 1% increase to this figure should relate to an increase of some 2,000 jobs.
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Review local policy and guidance and develop travel plan to ensure that learners and workers in disadvantaged areas are able to access learning opportunities in the most efficient way possible. Developing a Transport impact assessment maybe a useful evaluative tool.
Sustrans travel planning WAG Funding Advice
Develop a common partnership approach to sustainable procurement that ensures opportunities to support the local economy and skills development of young people are secured.
Buy Wales http:// www.forumforthefuture.org. uk/node/1413 http://www.s-p-i-n.co.uk/ toolkit.asp#Socio-Economic
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Income Poverty
Current Challenges Working with others Schools alone are unable to tackle and overcome the effects of child poverty on education. Effective schools working in deprived areas develop creative methods of working with others.
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Develop creative methods for the recruitment and retention of staff. Consider recruiting from the local community and ex pupils for all staff positions.
Consider doing more outreach work, including out of Working with Parents The impact of parental involvement and support on hours support and working with vulnerable families. children’s education has been widely acknowledged. Parental engagement in deprived areas is often lower than in other areas.
"not too hard to reach: developing a tool to reach the most disadvantaged families" Teaching Expertise article
Communities First Health Freedom from Abuse and Exploitation / Iechyd, a rhyddid rhag cam-drin a Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Engaging socially excluded families in health related community based activities. (Understanding the impacts of poverty on families.)
The WLGA’s Excellence Wales programme is focusing on the theme of ‘Social Inclusion’ for 2008-09 looking at how to mitigate the effects of child poverty and maximise the powers of local government to enhance inclusion. A copy of the four sub themes and the requirements of each is available from www.wlga.gov,uk The Social Care Institute for Excellence have recently published ‘Poverty, Parenting and Social Exclusion’ an e- learning resource to help people working in social care to understand the links between poverty, parenting and social exclusion.
Where To Go? In 2004 the NPHS published Deprivation and Health to highlight the relationship between small area deprivation and health in Wales, using a large number of health indicators. The report shows that, in nearly all instances, people living in the most deprived areas have worse health and health indicators than those in the most affluent areas. The NPHS also published a series of 22 summary reports, one for each LHB, showing how the relationship between health and socio-economic deprivation is likely to be operating at the local level. These can be accessed from: Deprivation and Health: LHB Summary Reports (2006)
Communities First Health Freedom from Abuse and Exploitation / Iechyd, a rhyddid rhag cam-drin a Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Access to community healthcare services
Access to services is wider than the financial ability to pay for services. Using the needs assessment that underpins the HSCWB strategy and CYP plan, community based healthcare services provided by partnerships must be adequately targeted and delivered in areas of highest need to enhance participation, with consideration given to travel links and proximity to universal settings such as schools
Health Poverty Index NSF Standards on access to services
Access to safe modes of transport to reduce incidence of RTC’s in deprived wards.
A review of safe routes to school schemes could be used to extend 20mph zones across Council areas where there is a high density of children and young people.
NPHS Deprivation and the health of Young People report
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Engaging children, young people and their Maximise use of community settings e.g. families in arts, culture and leisure when there integrated children’s centres or community are significant financial barriers. schools to provide subsidised activities. Access extracurricular provision through programmes such as Dragon Sport and 5x60, in which teachers and volunteers provide activity sessions free of charge or at minimal cost. Provide staffed play areas - funding available from Big Lottery fund
Where To Go? The Community Builders Handbook Arts Council Wales fund community arts and dance organisations across Wales who aim to engage children from deprived communities. Sports Council for Wales employ Dragon Sport Coordinators based in local authorities across Wales. The Coordinators work with schools and community clubs to provide opportunities for 7-11 year olds http://www.dragonsport.co.uk 5x60 officers are funded through the Sports Council for Wales to provide extracurricular sport sessions for secondary school pupils.
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Retaining participation levels when costs for uniforms, equipment or subs become too high
Explore partnership working with the private sector and/ Promoting private sector engagement in sport for or charities to part fund activities and equipment. development partnerships Develop a community co operative model in which facilities and equipment are shared. http://www.sports-councilwales.org.uk/grantsApplications can be made for up to ÂŁ1000 of funding/grant-schemes/ Community Chest grant from the Sports Council for community-chest Wales to buy sporting equipment to start new clubs or to expand existing clubs. Clubs in deprived communities may also be able to use these funds to purchase uniform for their teams.
Minimising the costs of participation for families with more than one child.
Sports Council - Wales Saturday morning school pilots are being developed by the Welsh Sports Council to provide low cost or free grants additional services in an environment accessible to local families. Increase opportunities for partnership working specifically between CYPPs, Communities First and local arts providers (community arts organisations).
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
The need to support and promote activities within communities rather than introducing activities through external initiatives.
Hand in Hand- Arts based Building local interest and capacity ensures that services are more sustainable because they attract a criti- Activities and Regeneration cal mass of people, are easily accessible and relate to (ACW) the locality. Community capacity can be built by procuring funds to provide subsidised costs and underwrite of activities.
Developing an accurate picture of participation, financial barriers and related outcomes.
Develop a more robust monitoring and evaluation model to reflect the actual number of people engaging in relevant services and measure the impact made.
Unpacking Participation
Communities First Participation and Decision Making / Cymryd rhan yn y broses benderfynu Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Participation in Community Regeneration Utilise the Save the “Make it happen” community reChildren’s participation in Communities First benefits generation CD Rom the community and the children and young people involved.
Email Save the children
Lack of Awareness There is limited awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Useful supporting websites on the UNCRC – list some here. Save the Children Wales UNCRC Monitoring Group and Funky Dragon information on website on UNCRC for children and young people. http://www.sccyp.org.uk/ participation/resources.php
Raise awareness of children and young people’s right to participate under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Welsh Assembly Government policy e.g. Extending Entitlements.
Communities First Participation and Decision Making / Cymryd rhan yn y broses benderfynu Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Being Worse Off Children and young people experiencing poverty should not be worse off as a result of their participation.
Fully review the individual costs of participation and ensure that up front costs are minimised.
Camden documents
Lack of money Monetary issues can often act as a barrier to attending participation activity.
Develop good practice in relation to the reward, remuneration and recognition of Children and young people’s participation, ensuring that it takes into account the complexities of the welfare benefits system.
Good practice Guide www.participationworkersw ales.org.uk
Communities First A Safe Home and Community / Cartrefi a chymunedau diogel Income Poverty
Current Challenges Economic inactivity In 2005-6 men and women living in social housing in Wales had a lower rate of economic activity and higher unemployment than those living in other tenures and of economic inactivity.
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Explore ways of working in partnership to DWP Report on Social Housing and Worklessness join up employment and housing solutions. Review housing related procurement processes and investigate the potential for social clauses and employment skills development. Link housing options advice with employment advice
Communities First Income Maximisation / Employment / Heb fod dan anfantais o achos tlodi Income Poverty
Current Challenges Operating without a bank account can lead to significant costs leading to poor families having to pay a poverty premium.
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Consider developing a multi agency approach (credit unions, voluntary sector, housing, health) to addressing financial inclusion for families and consider innovative approaches using the internet as a means of delivering accessibility to competitive rates/products.
http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/toolkit.shtml http://www.nowletstalkmoney.com/gb/en/ default.html http://www.basic-skills.co.uk/ ouractivities/financialliteracy/ http://www.pfeg.org/ http://www.learnaboutmoney.org/ index.php http:// www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/
Unemployment and worklessness in families are major factors in child poverty. Paid work is seen by the government as a route out of poverty, however the ability to achieve higher quality and sustainable jobs is also important.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation : Local iniDevelop in partnership a cohesive local approach to reducing tiatives to help workless people find and worklessness. That co-ordinates keep paid work local resource, understanding, data and expertise. Consider the use of outreach services and IT solutions to assist in reducing Worklessness.
Communities First Income Maximisation / Employment / Heb fod dan anfantais o achos tlodi Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
The nature and degree of partnership working between Job Centre Plus and the local councils varies across Wales. To date only a small percentage of Council’s have signed up to the Job Centre Plus Local Employment Partnerships initiative (which aims to bring together Government and large employers to help 250,000 disadvantaged people into jobs within three years).
Consider the appropriateness of committing Local Employment Partnerships the Council to the Job Centre Plus’s Local Employment Initiative (the following public sector bodies have signed up to this Scheme Somerset County Council, Coventry City Council, Glasgow City Council, Middlesbrough City Council, NHS Wales, North Glamorgan NHS Trust, West Lothian Council, Birmingham City Council). Review HR policies to ensure that recruitment practices are inclusive and do not disadvantage vulnerable groups.
In Work Poverty occurs due to low pay. In 2006 the Public sector accounts for 23% of all those in low pay in Wales. It should be noted that these are workers who are employed directly by the public sector and does not include staff, for example engaged in cleaning, who are employed by contractors working for the public sector.
http://www.guidance-research.org/ Review HR processes (such as staff development) to ensure good practice with EG/LLL/lll2ABSD/ low paid workers by: targeting low-skilled workers and the low-paid for training and further education to support their progression to better-quality and better-paid jobs fostering family-friendly employment practices and supporting women returnees;
Communities First Income Maximisation / Employment / Heb fod dan anfantais o achos tlodi Income Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Sustainable Procurement practices adopted by Councils and other public bodies can be utilised to support the local economy and worklessness.
Review sustainable procurement practices and explore potential to support the social aspect of sustainable procurement e.g. social contracts etc.
https://www.buy4wales.co.uk/ UsefulResources/valuewalesp.html
Research indicates that benefit take-up is an issue within Wales Official figures show 44% of couples with children are paying out much more than they need to in council tax. HMRC state that in 20052006, 60,000 families did not claim their entitlement to Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit which amounted to ÂŁ80m of unclaimed Tax credits (central estimates)
Consider the feasibility of undertaking in work benefit-take up take up activities with working families on low incomes. Such activity should be multiagency involving experts from the voluntary sector.
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/ publications/publication-display.do? id=22235 http://www.entitledto.co.uk/ default.aspx
Communities First Income Maximisation / Employment / Heb fod dan anfantais o achos tlodi Income Poverty
Current Challenges There is currently no obligation on councils to take responsibility for promoting improved take-up of welfare benefits. Despite this, there is a growing expectation from Central Government that benefit checks and help to claim benefits should be integrated within council key services.
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Consider the feasibility of providing holistic benefit checks for vulnerable families within key frontline services in partnership with the voluntary sector and encourage the take up of WTC/CTC and DLA (especially for children) and Attendance Allowance.
The unclaimed millions: dla and cancer patients CPAG: Out of Reach: benefits for disabled children Citizens advice: Tax credit take-up resource pack
Knowledge of the Carers Premium among front line staff and vulnerable families is limited. Benefits maximisation for families with a disabled/sick person is a key issue as they are at a high risk group.
Consider awareness raising among key staff working with families with a disabled person.
CPAG: Out of Reach: benefits for disabled children Carer’s UK http://www.carersuk.org/Information
Communities First The Early Years (0-7) / Y blynyddoedd cynnar Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Assessment of Childcare Sufficiency
In responding to the childcare sufficiency assessment consider the gaps surrounding provision for families most at risk of experiencing poverty such as large families, families with a disabled child.
Local approaches to ensuring childcare for black and minority ethnic families daycare trust Resources for local authorities MCA
Breastfeeding
Consider reviewing the level of provision and support available to disadvantaged mothers.
http://www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/en/ docs/FINAL_Breastfeeding_Guide.pdf
Despite considerable efforts to encourage breast feeding in the UK, rates have remained static for the past 20 years with a strong disparity between social classes and ethnic groups Food Poverty The inequalities in what families eat – depending on their socioeconomic group, where they live in Wales, and their ethnic background – have not been recognised.
Think about establishing a group to work through http://www.heartforum.org.uk/ downloads/Nut_TkitAll.pdf the nutrition and food poverty toolkit.
Communities First The Early Years (0-7) / Y blynyddoedd cynnar Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Reaching Out Outreach work remains a particular challenge for early years programmes, specifically with regards to improving services for fathers, the parents of children with disabilities, and for ethnic minorities in areas with smaller minority populations
Consider innovative approaches to outreach for early years provision such as investing in Children’s Information Service Outreach.
Toolkit for Reaching Priority and Excluded Families
Positive Behaviour Promoting positive behaviour within early years settings can be particularly challenging in deprived areas.
Utilise the Behaviour 4 Learning website which aims to ensure that teacher educators and trainees are provided with high quality relevant resources that enable trainers and trainees engage with the principles of behaviour for learning to improve the management of classroom behaviour, enable achievement and foster the emotional wellbeing of learners.
http://www.behaviour4learning.ac.uk/ index.aspx?menuId=10126
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Basic Skills Lack of basic skills limit the ability of pupils to partake in educational and skills based activities. This limits employment opportunities
Basic-skills-Wales: post_16 resource Work with the Basic Skills Cymru to develop a robust approach to developing Basic skills attainment at post 16.
School Exclusions
Prevent vulnerable children missing out by adopting approaches that minimise the potential for school exclusions.
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/ findings/socialpolicy/961.asp http://www.teachers.tv/video/2542
Learning Coaches
Undertake Learning Coach training on child poverty.
Learning Coaches (Wales)
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges Curriculum and Teaching Extended Schools and out of school activities programmes that provide effective and complementary educational support to vulnerable children play a significant part in reducing the gaps in educational attainment.
What Can Be Done? Priorities community schooling in schools with high populations of pupils entitled to free school meals.
Where To Go? Literacytrust.org.uk/socialinclusion nfer extended schools
Curriculum and Teaching Further develop pupil centred approaches that Schools that are ‘learning organisations’ and assesses what would it take to achieve good prioritise classroom experiences and learning outcomes for each individual child. rather than teaching have been found to be successful in reducing the gaps in educational attainment caused by poverty
The Extra mile : How schools succeed in deprived areas
Curriculum and Teaching Tailor the curriculum specifically to the needs of Schools that are ‘learning organisations’ and the pupils and consider flexible approaches to prioritise classroom experiences and learning teaching methods. rather than teaching have been found to be successful in reducing the gaps in educational attainment caused by poverty.
14-19 Learning Peacehaven Community School
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
School Rewards
Develop in partnership a flexible pastoral and youth support framework
dfes goodpractice WAG: A whole school approach to behaviour and attendance
Basic Skills Low levels of basic skills in work hamper the ability of employees to progress and perpetuates in work poverty.
Prioritise basic skills within your own organisations and encourage all partners to sign up to "Basic skills employer pledge". Complete and implement the action plan.
Basic-skills-Wales: employer_pledge
Operating within an anti discriminatory framework Teacher labelling and stereotyping on the grounds of socio economic status can adversely affect the academic performance of pupils.
Ensure staff are socially attuned and learn to interact with pupils in non-patronising, non judgemental ways.
Training and Staff Development on Inclusion- a checklist for schools Inclusive education: knowing what we mean (E848_1) http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/ teaching/poverty/2/
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Basic Skills Lack of basic skills limit the ability of pupils to partake in educational and skills based activities.
Basic Skills Agency Work with the Basic Skills Cymru to develop a robust approach to developing Basic skills attainment at secondary level.
Supporting Educational Attainment
Develop effective Children and young people partnership monitoring arrangements for educational attainment specifically targeting underachievement.
Contact Partnership Support Unit for available resources. Contact Charlotte Drury PSU Manager (029) 20468616
Working with Parents Parental engagement in supporting learning has been found to be a key factor in increasing the attainment of vulnerable pupils.
Consider using the Scottish toolkit parents as partners in learning toolkit to enhance current work.
teachernet. workingwithparents parents as partnersinlearning toolkit
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Communities First Communities First now has a responsibility to address Child Poverty.
Consider good practice in partnerships between schools and regeneration projects that address child poverty, skills and educational attainment of the most vulnerable in society.
Where To Go? http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/ findings/housing/983.asp homeoffice.gov.uk activecommunities
Community Schooling Explicitly target Community Schooling provision Extended schooling and out-of-hours activities at the most disadvantaged communities/young are particularly important to disadvantaged people. pupils: they do not enjoy the range and richness of out-of-school learning available to their more advantaged peers.
Community Focussed Schools: Making it happen a toolkit
Smooth Transitions Develop a partnership approach to the reduction In Wales, the proportion of young people not of NEETs focusing on early intervention. engaged in education, employment or training (NEET) aged 16-18 is at a relatively high level – at around 10-12% or 12,000 young people for nearly a decade.
WAG Consultation paper on NEETs http:// www.bild.org.uk/03books_autism.htm http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/ children/docs/neet-toolkit.pdf
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Smooth transitions
Develop robust methods that track those at risk of becoming a NEET, deal swiftly with dropout and develop efficient coordinated youth support services.
TOOLKIT ALIGNING PROVISION Developing provision to meet PSA Targets for Attainment of Level 2 at 19 and Reducing the proportion of Young People who are not in education, employment or training (NEET)
Outreach
Develop coordinated and targeted approached to detached youth work and outreach.
Targeting_toolkit
Information advice and Guidance
Focus advice and guidance services for those at risk of disengagement.
The effectiveness of the Careers Wales Companies in supporting young people in making a successful transition from education to employment
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Raising Aspirations In many areas in Wales that are experiencing poverty there is a “perceived poverty of ambition�
extending_entitlement Support and further develop a range of informal education provision that helps raise aspirations, confidence, self esteem and motivation.
Homework Policies Children from more advantaged backgrounds enjoy considerable out of school support in overcoming their problems that their disadvantaged peers do not receive. The latter are almost totally dependent on out-of-school homework clubs if they are to access such support.
Develop guidance on homework policies that take account of the difficult situation faced by children experiencing poverty and the support that can be made available to them.
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/ management/atoz/h/homework/ Homework Policies
Communities First Education and Learning Opportunities / Addysg Service Poverty
Current Challenges Working with others
What Can Be Done? Consider bringing in role models to show people from their own background that can be successful.
Curriculum and Teaching Provide cultural opportunities that pupils Cultural opportunities provide many benefits which would otherwise not have access to (sport, can increase childhood resilience. Those who grow art and other activities) up in poverty have fewer recreational, social and cultural opportunities.
Where To Go? http://www.infed.org/biblio/ role_model_education.htm http://www.teachers.tv/video/244
Enhancing pupil learning on museum visits (TL_MUSEUMS)
Communities First Health Freedom from Abuse and Exploitation / Iechyd, a rhyddid rhag cam-drin a Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Access to information and support on key areas of public health such as: Nutrition, Maternal & Neo natal health, Breastfeeding, Immunisation, Sexual Health,Physical Activity, Obesity Understanding the impacts of poverty on families
Ensuring that targeted information is accessible to excluded groups such as families living in poverty is essential. In terms of health related behaviours partnerships and local government services such as environmental health and housing have a key role to play in delivering responsive and useful information in a suitable format on subjects relevant to public health including nutrition, breastfeeding, immunisations, healthy and hygienic environments etc An evaluation of HSCWB & CYP targets would support a strengthened approach to joined up working targeting limited resources around priority areas determined to have a poverty related impact on health and wellbeing, pooling budgets and resources.
WLGA Nutrition & food poverty toolkit D developing a local nutrition and food poverty strategy Health Challenge Wales have produced a leaflet and poster entitled the small steps to a healthier you Kettering healthy lifestyles info sheet Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey Western Health Action Zone (Northern Ireland) supports a diversity of projects under the Family and Poverty theme Food poverty and health toolkit Nutrition and Health toolkit Breastfeeding strategy (Wales) Sports Council for Wales
Communities First Health Freedom from Abuse and Exploitation / Iechyd, a rhyddid rhag cam-drin a Service Poverty
Current Challenges Access to family planning services
What Can Be Done? Poverty and deprivation, poor educational achievement and low expectations have all been identified as key factors contributing to high rates of teenage pregnancy Poverty is a key risk factor for teenage pregnancy. Girls whose families are in social class V (unskilled manual) are ten times more likely to become teenage mothers than girls from professional backgrounds. They are also far less likely to have an abortion if they do become pregnant. Providing well targeted family planning and sexual education programmes are essential and linking this provision to the education curricula i.e. via P.S.E. would support the mainstreaming of some family planning and sexual health advice.
Where To Go? Brook information sheet Planned Teenage Pregnancy- JRF perspectives on teenage pregnancy and community based support mechanisms SCIE research briefing
Communities First Health Freedom from Abuse and Exploitation / Iechyd, a rhyddid rhag cam-drin a Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Access to substance misuse services
Poverty and neighbourhood deprivation increase children’s vulnerability to illicit drug use and looked-after children have been identified as particularly at risk. Working with the community safety partnership a review of the existing approach to reducing substance misuse and supporting families could ensure better aligned targets and outcomes across the authority as a corporate centre.
Access to a healthy and balanced diet
There are a number of mechanisms to promote the benefits of a healthy diet alongside information on how local authorities can support the development of community food co-operatives such as an easy start up guide and access to funding.
Where To Go?
Health Challenge Wales Food and Fitness Action Plan: Welsh community food co operatives Food Access Network Newcastle Community Food Initiative Access to affordable food in rural areas- Community interventions Accessing affordable food-Policy link Report
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Adequately targeted services and evaluation of outcomes focused on enhancing the participation and engagement of children from deprived or hard to reach communities.
Local authorities are not required to collect information that indicate the number of children from deprived wards who are accessing cultural and leisure services. This continues to undermine targeted planning and provision. A local pilot initiative to collect data and improve targeting would be a step forward.
Lack of joined up local indicators that link access and participation
In the absence of Key Performance Indicators, local Indicators could be developed to enhance access for children in deprived wards, using the Free Swimming and other similar initiatives as benchmarks.
Where To Go? Sport Action Zones Arts and Public Engagement : Patterns. Processes and levers for Change Arts Council Wales databases offer details of community arts organisations which operate across Wales
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Service Poverty
Current Challenges There are very few audits of available services mapped against deprivation indicators. This makes planning activities very difficult. Funding for play services is rarely reviewed continuing on the basis of historical information. An audit of services and funding streams would align current resources to children’s play needs
What Can Be Done? In all local authorities there is sustained investment in cultural venues. This in turn needs linking up with local community groups, school curricula and youth services to increase access and opportunity e.g. school visits to museums, hiring of mini buses via transport grants and organising walking buses. Sustainable community provision linked in with local priorities e.g. reclaiming unused land to create new play spaces by working with the environmental services and planning departments. Greater use and development of play impact assessment to support the need for increased provision. linking the wider community with educational and environmental agendas.
Where To Go? www.playwales.org.uk Play Impact Assessments Bridging the Gap –from policy to implementation working together to combat poverty (Swansea, Glasgow & Newham)
Communities First Participation and Decision Making / Cymryd rhan yn y broses benderfynu Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Limited local knowledge There is limited research on the local barriers to participation caused by child poverty
Undertake participatory approaches to explore the barriers to participation of hard to reach children and young people / children and young people living in poverty in particular.
Download the good practice guide on ‘Ensuring Inclusion’ from www.participationworkerswales.org.uk Contact organisations with expertise in reaching hard to reach groups e.g. Black Voluntary Sector Network
Processes Improving the process of children and young people’s participation and the quality of their experience overall remains a key issue for practitioners.
Use the National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards as a guide. There are seven standards: information, it’s your choice, no discrimination, respect, you get something out of it, feedback and improving how we work. Keeping to these Standards will mean upholding what children and young people have identified as the core components of participation.
Download the National Participation Standards document and the Self Assessment Pack from the website www.participationworkerswales.org.uk which shows how to measure and evidence against the Standards to improve good practice.
Communities First Participation and Decision Making / Cymryd rhan yn y broses benderfynu Service Poverty
Current Challenges Lack of Resources There are limited practical resources for facilitating the participation of vulnerable children and young people with sensitive issues such as child poverty.
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Use resources available e.g. Dynamix ‘Spice It Up’ pack for games and activities. Draw on good practice from other areas / organisations
Sign up as a member to the participation ebriefings for the Participation Workers’ Network for Wales and get examples of good practice from across Wales. Download good practice guides on children and young people’s participation from www.participationworkerswales.org.uk. Liaise with local participation workers / youth forum workers who have a remit for the participation of children and young people locally. Liaise with local school councils. Liaise with Funky Dragon, the Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales, which has a national remit for children and young people’s participation.
Communities First A Safe Home and Community / Cartrefi a chymunedau diogel Service Poverty
Current Challenges Homelessness
What Can Be Done? Ensure that Youth Workers, Careers Wales staff and other officers dealing with unemployed young people are trained in homelessness issues
Where To Go? http://www.homelesspages.org.uk/ index.asp
Home Safety Develop robust information provision and proAccidents within the home are a major health jects regarding the prevention of accidents with problem throughout Wales and are associated vulnerable families. with a range of factors including poor housing conditions and poverty.
http://www.rospa.com/homesafety/ wales/whsc/links.htm
Child Pedestrian Injuries Child Pedestrian Injuries are strongly related to with deprivation.
department for transport t roadsafety research
Explore methods of improving road safety in disadvantaged areas. Via the NSF arrangements within key action 2.38.
Communities First Income Maximisation / Employment / Heb fod dan anfantais o achos tlodi Service Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Registered social landlords and local authorities in Wales were owed over £34 million by their tenants at 31 March 2003. Total Council Tax arrears at April 2007 stand at £71 million. Action to recover this debt requires sensitivity.
Consider developing fair debt collection Office of Fair Trading.16 Organisations practices working in partnership with debt advice providers ( e.g. Send out debt advice referral forms with reminder letters and liability orders etc.) and developing a common all Wales methodology for calculating financial statements
Living in social housing is a key risk factor associated with child poverty and worklessness
TESCO Stockport Regeneration PartConsider the potential for housing services to work with tenants to address worklessness. For nership example Sheffield Council, housing services and the local Jobcentre Plus (JCP) are joined-up and in some cases even co-located and in other local authorities planning, regeneration and Section 106 agreements have been utilised to address issues of worklessness and skills.
Repossessions are on the increasing. The Cost of re-housing someone is estimated to be £2000.
Consider establishing ‘Invest to save schemes’ to support for preventing repossessions via mortgage rescue schemes.
Richmondshire Mortgage Rescue Scheme Shelter: Preventing court action Adviceguide: Credit and debt fact sheets
Communities First The Early Years (0-7) / Y blynyddoedd cynnar Participation Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Children’s Information Services Develop a range of materials to support the Poor communication with parents about the promotion of early years provision to parents range of services available limits participation. who are at risk of experiencing poverty.
Where To Go? http://www.surestart.gov.uk/_doc/ P0002522.pdf
At risk Groups Lone Parents, the disabled and some ethnic minority families are at risk of child poverty.
Ensure that steps are taken to research the local Listening to lone parents about Childneeds of lone parents and other groups at risk of care daycare trust child poverty. Listening to parents of disabled children about childcare daycare trust
Fathers Fathers’ involvement in the earliest months of a child’s life may be critical to later outcomes.
Utilise the information provided and review practice.
http://www.surestart.gov.uk/_doc/ P0002547.pdf
Communities First Health Freedom from Abuse and Exploitation / Iechyd, a rhyddid rhag cam-drin a Participation Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Engaging local people in learning about nu- Cymru Cooks trition Cymru Cooks supports the development of cookery clubs, as an out of school hours learning activity. Clubs can now register on the Cymru Cook website either by downloading an online form or a word document.
Where To Go? Cymru Cook website
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Participation Poverty
Current Challenges Lack of local capacity
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
A number of councils work in partnership with The role of sport in regenerating communities communities first partnerships, the arts council, sports councils and other voluntary sector providers to bid for funding and enhance local community capacity, specifically in the arts and cultural pursuits. Such collaboration ensures community needs are met whilst increasing facilities, access and engagement. The sports council, working with local authorities, has developed a programme called 5 x 60 aimed at increasing access to physical activity and sports. Sixth formers from across Wales have been trained to deliver support to younger children, enhancing both their skills and values and ensuring increased participation. Local grants are available from the Sports Council for Wales to support small enterprise organisations in their provision of local sporting opportunities. Grants are also available to a wide range of organisations to support the development of capacity.
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Participation Poverty
Current Challenges Maintaining engagement over a period of time
What Can Be Done? Creative and innovative methods can be used to respond to community needs, enhance interest and ensure the development of new skills.
Where To Go? Yale Centre for Digital story telling at Yale College Wrexham, is now working with Communities First areas to deliver new and exciting experience and skills to the public.
Communities First Play Sport, Leisure and Culture / Chwarae, campau, hamdden a'r pethe Participation Poverty
Current Challenges The need for local services to encourage greater participation.
What Can Be Done? There will be enhanced participation if service provision is worthwhile, fun and gives opportunity to gain new skills or an award (e.g. Millennium volunteers Grant scheme) Development of intergenerational projects enhances skills and provides access to services e.g. cinema night or cultural trips. Some local authority areas have sports’ councils who provide a voice for local clubs. The umbrella body for these is the Welsh Association of Local Sport Councils. The Libraries for Life scheme launched by WAG should encourage greater engagement with and use of local library facilities
Where To Go? Communities First Network- Billy Brown Creative Partnerships Arts Council Wales strategies for promoting participation and funding opportunities. WAG Statement 2005 Welsh Association of Local Sport Councils Libraries for Life
Communities First A Safe Home and Community / Cartrefi a chymunedau diogel Participation Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Where To Go?
Play Research over recent years has repeatedly highlighted children’s declining presence in the outdoor world that was traditionally their playground. Possible causes are traffic, fear of crime, negative attitudes to children in public and planning policies that take little account of their needs.
One of the main reasons children give for not playing outdoors more is that they and their parents are afraid for their safety. Fear of strangers, traffic and bullying by other children combine to keep children in their own homes. Good play provision protects children through reducing unacceptable levels of danger, while allowing them the opportunity to challenge themselves and use their initiative
Child's Play: Facilitating play on housing estates Open Space and Children's Play Areas Checklist
Communities First Income Maximisation / Employment / Heb fod dan anfantais o achos tlodi Participation Poverty
Current Challenges
What Can Be Done?
Charged for services such as leisure, culture and transport can often limit participation of children and young people in families with financial difficulties.
Review charging practice and policy in relation to fairer access to services
Families and young experiencing poverty often face difficulties accessing financial products and internet deals such as basic bank accounts.
Basic Bank accounts Toolkit E.g. Carmarthen LA and Carmarthen CAB have worked to ensure that Local Housing Allowance claimants have access to bank accounts
Where To Go?
Basic Bank Account Toolkit for Housing Benefit claims is designed to guide other Local Authorities through the process of setting up the same kind of service we have with one bank and to address any questions