FAMILY MATTERS FEBRUARY 6-12, 2014 | SPECIAL FEATURE i PAGE 29-30-31-32
Welfare Reform under fire Charities rally around Britain’s poorest families hit by benefit cuts
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ne hundred organisations have joined a growing campaign to give a voice to the millions of people supported by benefits at some point in
their lives. Locality became the 100th member of the Who Benefits? campaign, which launched in October last year, with YouGov polling showing widespread support for benefits as a safety net for those in need. 81 per cent polled agreed that ‘benefits are an important safety net to support people when they need help’, while 64 per cent agree that ‘we all benefit as a society when support from benefits is available for those that need it’. The Who Benefits? campaign now includes a broad coalition of charities, professional networks and community groups such as RNIB, The National Autistic Society, Oxfam, the Stroke Association, Carers
UK, Working Families and the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Benefits essential to millions Together, these groups represent millions of people who have relied on support from benefits because of ill health, caring for a loved one, losing their job or just struggling with low wages and the high cost of living. Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families, explained why they are backing the Who Benefits campaign, she said: We know from callers to our helpline that there are times when working parents and carers need some support from benefits. It is this support, often short term,
which enables them to balance work and caring responsibilities and still make work pay.’ The campaign was brought together by charities The Children’s Society, Crisis, Gingerbread, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mind. It was launched to bring the voices of the millions of people who have been supported by benefits at some point in their lives to a debate often dominated by extreme or negative examples and stereotypes. The campaign is calling on politicians and the public to do more to understand the lives of people supported by benefits and focus on real reasons that people are struggling such as low wages, a rising cost of living and the housing crisis. Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: Continued to page 31
30 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2014
Family Matters
ADERTISEMENT
Jason’s waiting for his ‘growing-‐up family’ – could that be you? Islington Children’s Social Care worker Rhiannon speaks to us about finding a family for Jason By Hazelann Williams
MEET JASON, he is three-‐years-‐ old, happy and very bright and is looking for a new family to adopt him. Jason has been in care for over a year and has been with a foster family since. Supervising his care is Jason’s social worker, Rhiannon, who is responsible for making sure he is well looked af-‐ ter and ensuring that he has the same opportunities as any other child of his age. During a recent conversation with Family Matters, Rhiannon, chatted about Jason and his story so far. “He came to us because there were concerns around neglect,” recalls Rhiannon. “He wasn’t getting the care a young child needed and it was seriously affecting on his health and he wasn’t developing and growing as a child his age should. He was hitting out and was unable to express himself; he didn’t have consistent boundaries or proper parenting. If he was upset, he didn’t know that he was able to trust an adult and talk to them, but since being with his foster family, all of that settled very quickly, now he’s a lot more open with his emotions and he doesn’t hit out anymore.” In the months that Jason stayed with his foster carers (while a judge decided if he should go back to his birth family or if he should be adopted), Jason changed from a serious toddler into a happy little boy. “When I first met him he had a serious face,” said Rhiannon. “He was a bit wary of me and he was really reserved but now he’s very chatty and has lots of smiles. He is a very bright boy, he managed the change and he seemed to have an understanding of why he’s not with his mother anymore. “He knows that he’s with his fos-‐ ter carer waiting for his ‘growing-‐ up family’, I have and his foster carers have explained that he won’t be staying with them for-‐ ever and that we are looking for a family for him where he can stay
until he grows up. Losing a family is tough on all involved, there is often a lot of emotion and it can be especially hard for the young child involved -‐ Rhiannon confirmed this is the hardest part of her job. “You are working with families who are losing their children, it’s really sad and it brings up a lot of difficult feelings for the family. There can also be conflict and it’s difficult managing that alongside the needs of the child, which is what I’m there for.” “Jason has managed to stay at the same nursery, which has been good for him to have familiar people around him.,They said they have noticed a mas-‐ sive difference in Jason since he went into foster care; he’s smiling more, more sociable and they have been glowing about him. Jason loves nursery, he’s really looking forward to starting school next year, and if he misses a day at nursery he gets a bit annoyed. He is excelling in every area of development and learning, if any-‐ thing he is top of the class, rather than struggling.” “Everybody who meets him adores him, I’m not saying that because I’m his social worker, everyone says it, we all adore him. He is very bright and capa-‐ ble and he can achieve anything he wants to, he just needs an adoptive family so he can achieve all the potential he has.” For a young child like Jason it can take between six months to a year to be adopted, but as a child gets older it becomes more and more difficult to find them a family. Rhiannon however is quite confident that whoever meets Jason will see what an amazing child he is. “Jason doesn’t have a complex history, so it will be quite straight forward when an adopter comes along. I think Jason is a very spe-‐ cial little boy, he’s very friendly, very chatty, and he’s really good at building. He does really intricate tower blocks and he is really good at drawing. I saw him at Christmas and he got a new keyboard, so he was playing
Jason building a tall tower and smiling
tunes on it and showing me his new books.” Once an adoptive family is found and Jason is adopted, Rhian-‐ non will no longer be involved in Jason’s life, which she says is a good thing.
“It means he has a normal life and doesn’t have to have social work involvement, that’s good news. He has done really well with his carers but he needs a new family who can give him the stability he needs. We desper-‐
ately need more adopters in gen-‐ eral, I would say adopting is the most important thing you could do with your life and you can change a child’s life forever and I think that would be immensely rewarding.”
Family Matters
FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2014 THE VOICE | 31
Continued from page 29 “All of us will care for or need care from loved ones at some point in our lives. Following a diagnosis of dementia, treatment for cancer or the birth of a disabled child – every family may need support from the benefits system, as they cope with the financial impact of having to cut working hours or give up work to care and the extra costs of ill-health and disability. The benefits system isn’t there for a small part of society – it is vital for all of us.” Tom Madders, Head of Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, added: “Benefits are a lifeline and not a luxury for thousands of disabled people and their families across the UK. We frequently hear from people with autism who are worried about what the future might hold if they didn’t have the support of benefits.” ‘Without benefits many people with autism and those who care for them would be left isolated and adrift from society. Campaigns like this are vital in raising awareness of the pressures that people living with disability are currently under and we hope that by working together we can draw attention to the human
faces behind the benefits debate.’ Over half of the Jobcentres in the country are now running a tougher new regime for jobseekers, as the roll out of the Claimant Commitment continues ahead of schedule. Jobseekers at over 360 Jobcentres across Great Britain are using the new Commitment, which sets out clear actions for individuals in order to get their benefit. All new claimants to Jobseekers Allowance have to agree to the Claimant Commitment and clearly set out what they will do to get back into work. If claimants do not meet the requirements set out in the commitment, without good reason, they could lose their benefit Joanna Holmes, Chair of Locality, said: “Locality is delighted to be the 100th member of the Who Benefits? campaign. A decent benefits system is a hallmark of a decent society and we believe it is really important that the voices of those living on benefits are heard – and that people understand the real help that benefits provide to individuals, families and communities.”
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Advice Column by BG Lawyers LLP Domestic Abuse t Divorce t Private Children Law t Public Children Law Matrimonial Finances t Personal Injury t Employment Law. Are you a victim of domestic abuse? Domestic abuse can range from physical abuse to mental abuse. We can help you get an injunction to put a stop to it. An injunction is a court order that prohibits an abuser from using or threatening violence against you, harassing, pestering or intimidating you and in some cases contacting you altogether. If the order is breached, the police can arrest the abuser immediately. If you are living or have lived with the abuser we may be able to prevent them from returning to your home or even have them removed. Do you need formal arrangements in relation to your child? If you are not the main carer of your child and you feel it would be in their best interests for them to live with you on a permanent basis, you can apply to the court for a residence order. However it is always best to consider the physical and emotional needs of your child before doing so. Alternatively, if you are happy with the living arrangements of your child but would like to safeguard your right to him/her, you may want to obtain a contact order. It is always pleasant when parents can come to arrangements themselves when it comes
to time spent with their children. However if the resident parent is being uncooperative we can assist you in issuing an application to the court to request that you are provided with contact of your children. Has your child been removed from your care? Long-term child protection measures have to be referred to the Court under what are termed Care Proceedings. A Social Services Department can ask the Court to make a Care Order (including a short term “Interim” Care Order) if the Court is satisfied that the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm and that the harm or its likelihood is as a result of the care the child is receiving (or if the child is beyond parental control). We are members of the Law Society Children Panel Advanced. In our role as legal advisors to you as parents, we will attend every important meeting with you, represent you at any hearings, guide you through what can be a traumatic process. Has your marriage broken down and are finances in question? We can guide you through the various stages of a divorce up until it is completed by receiving that Decree Absolute. You do not
usually have to attend court and proceedings at the least can take from 4-6 months. However a divorce can be complicated and can last for more than 12 months. It can be a daunting exercise when considering all your financial assets. However we can assist you through the process. There are a number of provisions that you can consider applying for. Initially we will always try and reach a financial settlement on your behalf with the other side outside of court, as this is the most cost effective and fastest resolution. Of course it is not always possible to reach an agreement and at times matters end up at Court. We can offer specialist guidance so you know where you stand. We offer legal aid work. Legal Aid is always available in care proceedings and proceedings that involve domestic abuse. Legal Aid is public funding that covers the costs of your case, subject to the Legal Aid Agency’s financial assessment of you. It may turn out that you may not have to pay a penny for your proceedings.
- For any issue that we can cover, you can always call us on: 0207 531 7420 to schedule an initial meeting with us. The first 15 minutes will be considered a free consultation
Family Matters
32 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2014
Parenting, one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet ed herself to our development so that each of us became independent, responsible adults. I am a thorough believer that it takes a whole village to raise a child. I had a whole wealth of male role models who stepped into the breach left by my father. I had a priest, youth workers, teachers and an older brother who all guided me in to the man I am today. Typically black teenage boys raised by single teen mums are expected to fall at a number of hurdles before reaching adulthood, namely: crime, gang culture, school exclusion, prison, mental institutions, absentee fatherhood and long term unemployment.
David Lammy MP with children in Tottenham By Jacqueline Asafu-Adjaye, Sponsored Features Editor
R
aised in London by a single mother and one of five children, David Lammy MP, has become one of Britain’s highest achievers, and all at the age of forty-one. Lammy was the first black Briton to study a Masters in Law at the Harvard Law School, and is pals with Obama. At the age of 27 he was elected MP for Tottenham, and has been a Minister of state for a number of high profile Government departments, including the Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property in the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills. But he says perhaps the biggest achievement of all, is being a married father of two sons. Lammy, now an active backbench member has established the all party group on Fatherhood, which he chairs. The group has raised the impor-
tance of black fatherhood in the 21st Century. In The Voice interview David Lammy walks us through his
credible in how the parents of the girl reacted. They were not angry they were not hell-bent on revenge. They were upset,
“My success is by virtue of three things: hard work, a whole lot of luck and the best mother in the business” views on parenting and begins by describing his reaction to listening and meeting parents whose daughter had been a victim of a violent sexual attack and had acid thrown over her body: “I was moved to tears when I heard the parents tell the story of the young girl. Revulsion, disgust, horror and terror go only some of the way to describing the deep seated physical hurt I felt when I heard. “But there is something in-
but calm, and determined to move on as a family.” What are, in your personal view the cause and effect factors causing some black teen boys to participate in violent crimes? DL: There are obviously a myriad of reasons why boys end up in gangs and participate in violent crime. In this ’’bling” culture of the 21st Century, criminality becomes a short cut to symbols of wealth and power
that will otherwise take years of hard work to achieve. These twisted notions of power and respect must be challenged in the home by strong parenting. Without one or more of those parents being there to do that, it is no wonder those boys succumb to the seductive language of gangs and violence. Do you think if absent fathers were given more access rights to see and raise their sons society might see a more positive picture evolving, in regard to youth crime? DL: One of the main drivers of our boys turning to gangs and violence is a lack of male role models. It is important that if there is a biological father willing to assume that role that he should be allowed to do so for the sake of the child. If there is no such person, then it is important that the remaining family strive to fill that vacuum with strong, responsible male role models from the community.
You were reported to say in the New Statesman: ‘Youth violence is not about race’. It’s a powerful observation, share your thinking around this... DL: Whilst it is true that 59 per cent of black Caribbean children are looked after by a lone parent, this readily used statistic ignores the questions that need to be answered for children of all races and social backgrounds: what can we do when there is no father in a young man’s life? And how can society nurture the development and socialisation of young men before a culture of violence robs them of their futures? Why then is it, that in your case society seems to havegot it right? DL: My success is by virtue of three things: hard work, a whole lot of luck and the best mother in the business. She sacrificed herself for our family, working long hours to put food on our table. She dedicat-
To what extent do you feel that these experiences mirror reality? DL: Speak to anyone who has actually grown up in a singleparent family - as I did - and they will tell you that it is the quality of the parenting, not just the number of people around the dinner table, that matters. Sit in an advice surgery and you will soon learn that a destructive father in the home can do more harm than good to a young man’s development. Parenting is more than a numbers game: it’s a question of whether people are equipped for the toughest job they will ever be asked to do. So yes, it is largely an exaggeration, but there will be extra obstacles for those boys to face, and it is on us as the community to provide these boys with the male role models and father figures that will help them through. How much do you worry about your sons falling into gang culture when they grow older? DL: I am confident that our family and friends are strong enough to intervene decisively should we ever suspect that either of our boys are getting involved in activities they shouldn’t be. What modern parenting techniques works in communicating with your young boys? DL: Parenting is ultimately about guiding your children to become independent, responsible young adults. I want my boys to develop integrity, and a strong sense of values. I like to think that I am loving, but I am clear on the boundaries of what is right and wrong.