Appendix 7a

Child Poverty Strategy – Progress Report

Under the Child Poverty Act 2010 local authorities are required to produce an assessment of child poverty in their local area and a strategy setting out how they intend to tackle the issue.This report:

  • Provides an update on Blackpool’s progress so far in meeting the requirements of the Act;
  • Outlines headline child poverty statistics for Blackpool;
  • Identifies priorities for Blackpool in terms of addressing child poverty;
  • Considers other related strategies and how their priorities link to this agenda and;
  • Indicates some potential strategic priorities.

Progress to date

In January 2011 the Child Poverty Needs Assessment was finalised. As required by the Child Poverty Act 2011, this document sets out a detailed analysis of child poverty in Blackpool, enabling the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the issues by presenting them in three distinct building blocks derived from those suggested by the Child Poverty Unit:

  • Financial Support
  • Parental Employment and Skills
  • Life Chances and Place

The evidence uncovered by the Needs Assessment is the foundation for developing the Child Poverty Strategy.

As part of the development of the needs assessment a Child Poverty Practitioners Workshop was held specifically for frontline staff and voluntary sector organisations in regular contact with families. The main purpose was to share early findings with practitioners as well as obtain their views to incorporate into the needs assessment. This is crucial to ensuring that the views of frontline staff are used to shape our approach to child poverty.

Development of a Child Poverty Strategy for Blackpool is underway, although there have been and remain challenges.The shift in central government policy as a result of the formation of the Coalition government in May 2010; and the subsequent implementation of in-year reductions in local government funding, as well as the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2010 have had serious implications for local authority budgets and services.

However, now that the majority of the service redesign and restructure is complete, there is greater clarity to progress with the strategy. Discussions to develop the strategy have been held by the local authority in conjunction with partners from the Primary Care Trust, the Police and the Community and Voluntary Sector. Following the change in political control, a poverty working grouphas been formed to develop the strategy

As part of the Child Poverty Act, local authorities are required to carry out consultation with local families.To carry out this work, we commissioned a locally-based social research company, who organised and held 8 family forums in various children’s centres across Blackpool earlier this year.Attendance at the events was good. The purpose was to gainan insight and understanding of people’s perceptions of child poverty across Blackpool, both in terms of what it means to them, and also what they thought should be done to address it. A similar report was commissioned from Blackpool Young People’s Council, and aspects of the findings of this work will be incorporated into the strategy.

Headline Child Poverty Statistics for Blackpool

The latest child poverty figures were released on 29th September, 2011 and relate to 2009. These show that 29.5% of children live in poverty. Further analysis will be undertaken to update the following figures over the coming weeks.

Based on 2008 figures, 9070 children live in relative poverty[1], equating to 29.3 per cent of children.This ranks Blackpool as the 32nd worst area in the country, within the bottom 25 per cent of authorities and the 4th worst in the North West.

In terms of geographical concentration the distribution of poverty within Blackpool varies significantly.The graph below shows the percentage of children in poverty at ward level in 2008.

  • All wards have some children living in poverty.
  • Bloomfield, Claremont, Brunswick, Park and Clifton wards each have more than 40% of children in poverty overall.
  • Norbreck is the only ward with less than 10% of children in poverty.

Map of Child Poverty

Even within wards, poverty levels vary at small area level.

Bloomfield, Brunswick, Claremont, Clifton, Park, and Talbot wards each contain areas where more than half of all children are in poverty.

The map of poverty shares many similarities with maps for:

  • Child Wellbeing Index 2009
  • Indices of Deprivation 2010
  • Free School Meals Recipients
  • Out-of-work Benefit claimants

Other links have been drawn between child poverty and:

  • Employment
  • Education & Skills
  • Health outcomes
  • Areas with higher Crime levels
  • Areas with high Fuel poverty
  • Teenage pregnancy

(Links are not cause and effect)

Main Benefits Claimed by Households

Of the 9070 children in poverty in Blackpool, around 80 per cent are from households claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support.The other 20 per cent live in households claiming child tax credits, or a combination of child tax credits and working tax credit, with incomes below 60 per cent of the national median income.

Of the estimated 8,000 children in Blackpool living in households claiming benefits not administered by the Local Authority:

  • 1,110 children were in households whose “main benefit” was JSA;
  • 2,120 children were in ESA and Incapacity Benefit households;
  • 4,430 were in Lone Parent households;
  • 340 were in Carer households.

Blackpool has a higher percentage of benefits claimants of all types as a proportion of working age households with children compared to the average figure for Britain as a whole.

The number of JSA claimants has risen since December 2008, however the increase in the number of JSA claimants with children has risen particularly rapidly, partially as a result of the economic downturn but also due to the Lone Parent Obligation which forces parents to move from Income Support to JSA when their eldest dependent turns 10 – this will reduce to 7 years old in October 2010 and 5 years old in 2012.

The large majority of Blackpool JSA claimants have been claiming for less than six months duration: 2,820 (64.3%) for up to six months, 920 (21%) over six months but less than 12 and 645 (14.7%) over twelve months. The proportion on the claimant register for over 12 months for the region is higher at 17.5%, equivalent to the national average – but it should be noted that Blackpool has a high proportion of people of working age in receipt of incapacity benefits in Blackpool (25.3%).

In the consultation with families, long-term unemployment and a lack of employment opportunitieswas identified as a contributory factor to poverty, with the “distance” some people are from work being cited regularly:

  • ‘Yes people lose the incentive to work’;
  • ‘Not enough jobs out there’;
  • ‘You can lose confidence with work if your parents have been out work a long time’;
  • ‘This does have an impact on motivating people into work and getting a work ethic, but there are no big employers in Blackpool, we have a lack of sustainable job opportunities – there is only local Government, they are the biggest employer and they are making cuts now’,
  • ‘Yes for most young people their parents are their role model – they aspire to be like them’

Childcare was also raised several times as a barrier in making the transition from benefits to work:

  • ‘Difficult to get out of benefits – due to high childcare costs– getting a job would have to pay’;
  • ‘Childcare is too much people can’t afford it so stay on benefits’.

The Causes of Child Poverty

One of the main causes of child poverty in Blackpool is the nature of the economy; heavily dependent on tourism of which a key feature is low skilled, seasonal, and generally lower paid work.It is widely recognised that there are links between economic and social deprivation, and many families who live in Blackpool are from economically and socially deprived backgrounds and have a range of complex needs.

  • Low levels of income

Wage levels in Blackpool are substantially lower than average levels for the North West, and the UK as a whole, and there are disparities within this too – gross weekly pay for female full-time workers in Blackpool is over £50 lower per week than for male workers.

The lowest earning 10% of residents earn up to £246 per week - £15 less than the figure for the North West.When considering the 40% of lowest earners, this difference rises to £66 per week.Some analysis of gross household income estimates demonstrate that the income profile of Blackpool is significantly skewed towards lower income households compared to the national picture, with over 38% of households having an income of less than £20,000.

The perceptions of poverty relating to low income gained from the consultation with families is consistent with this data and it was a widely held view that low paid employment is a significant cause of poverty, some of the quotes included:

  • The minimum wage is not enough;
  • Work doesn’t always pay – sometimes you are better off on benefits;
  • The government needs to make the transition to work better for people coming off benefits;
  • Working part time will be better off than working full time as you get topped up with allowances, definitely better than on benefits.
  • Low skill levels

Skill levels in Blackpool are low, but increasing.The percentage of the population with NVQs levels 2 and 4 increased in Blackpool between 2005 and 2009.59% of working age people now hold at least an NVQ level 2 equivalent qualification, slightly improving Blackpool’s ranking against all authorities in England, but still comparing poorly to the regional and national level of 65%.

The levels of people acquiring basic skills, as measured by the numbers achieving entry-level qualifications in literacy and numeracy, are also increasing – with over 1,100 people achieving basic literacy skills and 438 achieving basic numeracy skills in 2008/09.

However, 19% of working age people have no qualifications, 5% higher than the North West average, and the levels of 19 year olds achieving a level 2 qualification remain relatively low compared to North West levels at 69%.

Analysis from SQW suggests that the sectors experiencing the greatest increase in employment across the Fylde Coast are ones requiring higher skills levels, emphasising the importance of continuing to upskill the population and link these skills more effectively to the employers in question. The issues around this are investigated in more detail in the Fylde Coast Employment and Skills Strategy Strategic Framework, which discusses the need to ensure that those with lower level qualifications or none at all are made “ready for work”.

  • Poor health and wellbeing

Poverty and social inequalities in childhood have profound effects on the health of children, and their impact on health is felt through to late adulthood. Three-year-olds in households with incomes below about £10,000 are 2.5 times more likely to suffer chronic illness than children in households with incomes above £52,000. Globally and historically, poverty has been the major determinant of child and adult healthand, even in rich nations such as the UK, it remains a major cause of ill health with huge public health consequences.

Key health statistics

The health of people in Blackpool is generally poorer than the England average; life expectancy for men and women is lower than the England average and health inequalities for children and young people are significantly worse than the England average in a number of areas.

Figures for the first quarter of 2010/11 show that one third of pregnant women in Blackpool were recorded as smokers at the time of delivery - the highest proportion in England and significantly higher than the North West average of 19%.

Blackpool has the ninth highest teenage conception rate in the UK (62.9 per 1,000 females). Historically, Blackpool has had a relatively high teenage pregnancy rate compared to the UK and North West averages.Teenage pregnancy interacts with child poverty in a number of ways, including increasing the likelihood of teenage mothers being NEET and unavailable for work.Teenage pregnancy affects the life chances (and in some cases reflects the life aspirations) of the young mother, meaning that the likelihood of their child being raised in poverty is increased.

In Blackpool a significantly higher proportion of babies are born at low birth weights (under 2500g) than the England average. Because of the small numbers involved when looking at ward-level birth rates, Bloomfield and Park are the only two wards which we can say have significantly higher proportions of children with low birth weights than the national average.

In terms of substance misuse and the impact that this has on children, families and the wider community, this was highlighted as a serious problem by the family consultation and a major factor contributing to poverty and social deprivation.It was largely recognised that there are many families in Blackpool where the parents are addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling.

Issues for Blackpool’s Child Poverty Strategy

The summary data presented above presents a picture of Blackpool with many complex issues and problems that interact in such a way as to cause the high levels of child poverty that are present. Using this together with the wider policy agenda suggests that Blackpool’s Child Poverty Strategy should be ensure the following issues are addressed:

Families with multiple and complex problems

Blackpool has been selected to take part in the government’s Community Based Budget pilot.The aim of the project is to achieve better outcomes for children, young people and families, by realigning services to deliver in a more integrated and effective way. The project will focus on tackling key pathways and factors associated with poverty, such as worklessness, substance misuse and parental mental ill health.The project aims to work with 250 families over three years and services will be delivered through the Children’s Centres.

Worklessness

Over the five years it is estimated some 2,897 clients will be referred to Positive Steps. It is important that the Positive Steps to Work team co-ordinate with related policies and initiatives supporting workless individuals and families, to maximise their impact on one of the main factors around child poverty. This includes:

  • Apprenticeships and other work experience and volunteering opportunities
  • Welfare benefits and the debt service
  • Economic inclusion clauses (referring to current or new initiatives) in any large contracts or procurement strategies.

Teenage pregnancy

NHS Blackpool leads a partnership of organisations aimed at lowering numbers of teenage pregnancies in Blackpool. Teenage Pregnancy and child poverty share the same wider determinants, whilst teenage conceptions also make it more likely that a teenage parent, and their child, will continue to live in poverty. Actions undertaken so far include:

  • Increasing access to quality sexual health services including Long Acting Reversible Contraception,
  • Raising Aspirations courses and 1 to 1 targeted work with young women with multiple risk factors
  • Training to frontline staff to deliver consistent and accurate information to young people

Housing

Poor quality housing is an effect of child poverty – and can exacerbate issues of poverty through households having the inability to adequately heat and repair dwellings. There is also evidence to suggest that pupils who change schools frequently perform less well than those whose school is settled, although pupils changing schools can often be as a result of parental preference rather than an address change.

The Council has initiated a pilot housing intervention programme and private sector landlord licensing scheme aimed to improve the condition of private rented properties in an area of South Beach.

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Mapping

The table below is an attempt to relate the priorities in the national child poverty strategy to the Blackpool Child Poverty Needs Assessment, linking it to existing strategies and actions.

The next stage of the process is for the poverty working group to refine and agree the priorities, then review the detail of the strategies and actions identified to understand where additional activity can best be undertaken, or existing activity refined to ensure it meets poverty priorities.

Key policy and actions from central Government / Potential Blackpool Priority / Child Poverty Needs Assessment – key issue/ supporting evidence / Potential actions, including links to existing strategies
(subject to Cabinet review of strategies) / Cabinet member with responsibility for that area
Focus on the causes of poverty:
Tackling worklessness
- Universal Credit – make work pay
- Plan for Growth
- Skills for Sustainable Growth strategy (see below)
- Work Programme
- Lone parent obligations
- Work Choice programme for people with disabilities
- Co-location of employment support within children’s centres and other services
- Provision for childcare in Universal Credit and exploring ways to encourage employers to operate more flexibly / 1. Remove the barriers to education, employment and training / -High levels of worklessness – around 8,000 children living in workless households – main benefit claimed is JSA followed by ESA and IB.4,000 in Lone Parent households (IS claimants)
-NEET
-Low wage levels – below NW average
-Childcare Sufficiency Assessment / -FC Economic Strategy (Economic Development Company): Strategic Priority 5 – A skilled workforce for today / -Cllr Gary Coleman (Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Urban Development)
-Fylde Coast Employment and Skills Strategy (Economic Development Company)
-Adult Learning Strategy (forthcoming) / -Cllr Ivan Taylor (Cabinet Member for Education)
-Work Programme delivery / -Cllr Gary Coleman (Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Urban Development)
-Blackpool Build Up – training and work experience for young unemployed people
-Positive Steps – intensive support for long-term unemployed addressing the wide-ranging barriers into work
-Business Start Ups –work planned by Economic Development Company
-Pilots with Blackpool Coastal Housing
-Skills for work fund
-Opportunities for closer working with Connexions
-YOT
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
-European Social Fund: an opportunity to intensify some of the support we give to families
-Supporting people throughout the first few months of employment i.e. with transport costs etc
-Advertising jobs for young people with JCP
Tackling debt
- funding to support authorities with transition to new HB rules
- further support for Credit Unions (subject to feasibility study) / 2. Measures to help families in need of short term financial support
-Impact of welfare reforms on HB tenants / -Debt – over 30% owe £4,000-£10,000 / -Financial Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan
-Theme 1 - Banking, savings and affordable credit (Credit Union)
-Theme 2 - Advice (Advice Link Money Advice Team)
-Theme 3 – Financial Capability / -Cllr Simon Blackburn (Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care)
-Blackpool Early Action for Change (BEACh) programme – aimed at improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.Budgets are delegated to frontline lead practitioners to commission goods and services to meet the needs of children, young people and families across the continuum of need as part of the early intervention process.It is intended to prevent the need for referral to more specialised services / -Cllr Amy Cross (Cabinet Member for Younger People)
-Parenting Strategy 2008-13 / -Cllr Blackburn
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
-Further promote the work of the credit union
-Tackling un-reputable companies/ marketing of these companies in the town
Strengthening families
-Early intervention
-Foundation Years / 3. Reshape education, health and family support services around families / -Teenage parents
-Smoking in pregnancy
-Low birth weight
-Infant mortality
-Young carers
-Gaps in childcare provision and barriers to accessing childcare (Childcare Sufficiency Assessment)
-Low breastfeeding rates / -Community Budget pilot– integrated working and holistic support for children, young people and families to address substance misuse, parental mental health and worklessness / -Cllr Cross
-Family Nurse Partnership (partnership with PCT) – national initiative providing intensive support for young, first time mothers aimed at improving outcomes for children
-Community and Voluntary Sectorrole / -Cllr Blackburn
-Breastfeeding
-Health Inequalities Framework / -Health and Wellbeing Board
-Carers Strategy 2010-15
-Fylde Coast Economic Strategy – priority 4 – A skilled workforce for the future – making sure our youngest have the best possible start / -Cllr Coleman
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
-Strategy on child care provision etc
-Supporting children in poverty / -Cllr Taylor
Tackling educational failure/ Social mobility / 4. Raise children and young people’s aspirations from an early age / -Low attainment levels / -Children and Young People’s Plan / -Cllr Taylor
-Vision for Blackpool’s Schools
-Positive Activities for Young People Strategy
-Housing Intervention Strategy
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
-Promotion of support available for training and development for retraining etc
-Map out the help available and continue to improve working relationships
-Understanding effects of local social networks on social mobility and opportunity
Tackling poor health
-Housing and local environment / Priority 3 outlines how the strategy addresses health inequalities. Housing is part of all of the priorities – we could leave it as a cross-cutting priority or pick it out separately / (see priority 3) / -Fylde Coast Investment Plan / -Cllr Gillian Campbell (Cabinet Member for Housing)
-Fylde Coast Economic Strategy – Priority 6: A housing market that drives change
-Transience – pilot project to be determined by transience working group
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
-Mental Health initiatives
-Strengthening community cohesion, bonds and involvement in community life
-Further roll out of community champions
-Redesigned substance misuse service- opportunity to work together to get people back into sustainable employment
N/A / 5.Tackling misconceptions of poverty / Consultation evidence around the stigma of poverty / POTENTIAL ACTION
-Communication campaign to tackle prejudice and galvanise community support. Highlight that poverty impacts on the area as a whole, not just individuals and families.
-Single Equality Scheme
-Equality Analyses
-Fairness Commission process
N/A / 6. Embedding the tackling of poverty as “everyone’s business” / POTENTIAL ACTIONS
-Protect socio economic characteristic as part of the revised Equality Analysis process and encourage partners to do the same
-Align procurement strategy to deliver strategic objectives i.e. promotion of local business etc
-Develop the quality of debt advice and quality assure the services provided

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