[barnardos free docs.]it doesn t happen here full report 8878 1

8/14/2019 [Barnardos Free Docs.]It Doesn t Happen Here Full Report 8878 1

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The reality o child poverty in the UK

Itdoesnthappenhere

By Neera Sharma with a

commentary by Donald Hirsch

A member o the Campaign to End Child Poverty


2/68

Living in reezing

temperatures, mothers

surviving without ood to

eed their children, and

scraping or pennies to buy

warm clothes.

These arent tales rom

Dr Barnardos time.This is 2007.


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Contents

Page

2 Acknowledgements

3 Foreword

4 Executivesummary

8 Sectionone:CommentarybyDonaldHirsch

16 Sectiontwo:Poorchildreninblackandminorityethnicgroups

22 Sectionthree:Poorchildreninworkingamilies

28 Sectionour :Lone-parentamilies

35 Sectionve:Familiesaectedbydisability

41 Sectionsix:Povertyinlargeamilies

46 Sectionseven:Othervulnerablegroups

57 Sectioneight:Conclusion

58 Appendix1:Recommendations

61 Appendix2:Methodologicalnoteonprojections

62 Reerences

63 Notes


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BarnardosisgrateulorthehelpandadviceoDonaldHirsch,LisaHarker,DrPaulDornan,ChildPovertyActionGroup,KateBell,OneParentFamiliesandChristineLenehan,Council

orDisabledChildren.WewouldalsoliketothankMikeBrewerandJamesBrowneromthe

InstituteorFiscalStudiesorupdatingandextendingthenancialmodellingonwhichthis

reportdraws.

ManythankstoJulianWalker,SandraAnderson,PaulCarr,CarolineDay,MegFassam-Wright,

SharonGibson,OwenGill,JaneGlover,SusieHarding,BarbaraHealy,JulieHealy,

DustinHutchinson,KateKetcher,MaryLynn,AndreaMarie,KarenMcInnes,DrTony

Newman,EleanorPeters,NicolaSmithandCherylWhiteatBarnardos.TheeditingwasdonebySylviaPotter.

OurgreatestdebtogratitudeistoalltheamiliesacrosstheUKwhotoldusabouttheir

experiencesobringingupchildrenonalowincome.

Allnamesincasestudieshavebeenchangedtoprotecttheiridentities.Photosareomodels.

PublishedbyBarnardos

TannersLane

Barkingside

Ilord

EssexIG61QG

BarnardosRegisteredCharityNumbers216250andSC037605

Barnardos2007

Allrightsreserved.Nopartothisguide,includingimages,maybereproduced,storedon

anunauthorisedretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyormorbyanymeanswithoutprior

permissionothepublisher.

ISBN978-1-904659-05-1

8878/KK/07

Acknowledgements

Itdoesnthappenhere


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ThisGovernments1999pledgetoendchildpovertyinagenerationwasitsboldest,mostexcitingandpotentiallymostar-reachingsocialgoal.

BarnardoscongratulatestheGovernmentoninvestmentssuchasSureStart

andTaxCreditswhichhavehelpedtolit600,000childrenoutopovertyin

thelasteightyears.Thatwasaremarkableachievement,andatremendousstart.Butprogresshasnowstalled.

3.8millionchildrenintheUKstillliveinpoverty.Inhiscommentary,Donald

HirschshowsthatwithoutadditionalinvestmenttheGovernmentislikelytomissitstarget

ohalvingchildpovertyby2010notbyjustaewthousand,butby900,000.Sowecanexpect

almostamillionmorechildreninpovertyin2010thanweanticipatedin1999.

Andthis,inthethrichestnationintheworld.

Barnardoswitnesseseverydaytheimpactonchildrenandamiliesolivingingrindingpoverty.

Childrenmissingoutonwhatmostwouldconsideressentialsagooddiet,awarmhome,

schooltrips,books,birthdaytreats.Childrensueringbullying,isolationandadeeppovertyo

ambition.Theseeectscanlastalietimechildrengrowingupinpovertyhaveworsehealth,

worseexamresultsand,veryrequently,willendtheiradultlivesstillinpoverty.Achildbornin

the1970swaslesslikelytoescapepovertythanachildborninthe1950s.Childpovertynowcanbealiesentence:thatiswhyinvestmenttoreduceitissovital.

Bringingupchildrenwithoutsucientmoneyiscruellydicultorparentswhoseetheirchildren

goingwithoutsomuchwhichotherchildrentakeorgranted.Thosewespoketoorthisreportspokeclearlyotheiranxiety,rustrationandhopelessness.AsoneoourMums,Heather,says:

Youdontexpectlietogetanybetter,youjuststruggleallthetime.Youthinkthisislie.

Butthingscangetbetter.Andtheymust.TheInstituteorFiscalStudiescalculatesthatanadditional3.8billion,twothirdso1percentothisyearspublicspendingandlessthanhal

the9billionpaidinCitybonuseslastyear,isneededtohalvechildpovertyinadecade.I

Governmentchoosesnottomakethisinvestment,weallsuer.Growinginequalitiesthreatento

underminetheabricosociety.Andallowingcyclesopovertytocontinuewillbringnotjust

moralbuteconomiccostsarecentUSstudyestimatedthatchildrengrowinguppoorcosttheUSeconomy$500billionayear,ornearly4percentoGDP.BarnardosandtheCampaign

toEndChildPovertybelievethereisasimilareconomicimperativetoreducechildpoverty

here.Andthemoralcaseisselevident:arichsocietysuchasoursisshamediitchoosesnotto

maketheinvestmentnecessarytogivepoorchildrenabrighteruture.

ShortlyweshallhaveanewPrimeMinister.GordonBrownsdeterminationtoorgeaairer,

moreinclusivesocietyisnotindoubt.Hehasauniqueopportunity.HisactionsasPrimeMinistercouldmaketheUnitedKingdomabetterplaceorourchildren.

MartinNarey

ChieExecutive,BarnardosandChairoEndChildPoverty

Foreword


6/684 Itdoesnthappenhere

Executivesummary

IntroductionInMarch1999thePrimeMinistermadeahistoricandambitiouspledgetoendchildpovertywithinageneration.Therearenow600,000ewerchildrenlivinginpoverty

thaneightyearsago,orwhomqualityolie

andutureopportunitiesareimproving.Butartoomanychildrenarestillletbehind.Theliveso3.8millionchildrenintheUK

Iin3areblightedbypoverty. 1Child

povertyintheUKisdoublewhatitwasin1979andiswellabovetheEuropeanaverage.Ateraslowbutsteadyallinchildpovertyromthelate1990s,progressnowappearstohavestalledandoncurrentpoliciesthereseemslittleprospectothe

Governmentmeetingitsmilestonetargetohalvingchildpovertyby2010.

Thisreportlooksatthelivesothepoorestchildren,basedoninterviewswithover40

amilieswithwhomBarnardosworksindierentpartsotheUK.Theinterviewsdemonstratetherealityolieorthosemostdeeplymiredinpoverty.Theseincludechildreninblackandminorityethnicamilies,thoseinamiliesstrugglingonlow

wages,loneparentamilies,amiliesaectedbydisabilityandlargeamilies.Thereportalsolooksatothervulnerablegroups,includingchildreninasylum-seekingamilies,

childreninpoorhousingandyoungpeoplelivingindependently.

Thecasestudiesillustratethedailygrindingstrugglethatlow-incomeamiliesaceinprovidingadecentchildhoodor

theirchildren.

Theproblem:inadequateincomesandlowwages

In2005/06acouplewithtwochildrenlivingintheUKspentonaverage642aweek. 2

Theamiliesinterviewedorthisreport

hadincomesarlower,andinmostcaseswellbelowtheGovernmentsownpovertyline.3Forexample,Heather,4aloneparentwiththreechildren,islivingonbenetso210.44aweek, 5or40.56belowtheGovernmentsownpovertyline.6AndJill,7aged17,livesonherownandisputtingherselthroughcollegeon75aweek.

Povertydoesnotonlyaectchildrenwhoseparentsareoutowork.Morethanhalo

poorchildrenintheUKliveinamilieswithatleastoneearner.8Endingchildpovertyrequiresredistributionthroughthetaxandbenetssystemtoprovideanadequatesaetynetandtomakeworkpay.Italsorequireslong-termsolutionstoaddressthecausesopoverty.

DetailsopovertyguresandprojectionscanbeoundinAppendix2.

Keeping the child poverty promise

Byinvestinganextra3.8billion

Keepingitspromisetohalvechildpovertyby2010willrequiretheGovernmenttospendatotalo3.8billionmoreby2010

thancurrentlyplanned.Oncurrentpolicies,thereislittleprospectothe2010

targetbeinghit.

Whatwouldthe3.8billioninvestmentmean?

Withtheadditional3.8billioninvestmenttherecouldbeby2010,(comparedwith2004/05):

n320,000ewerpoorchildreninlone-parentamilies.

n90,000ewerpoorchildrenintwo-parentamilieswhereoneparentworksull-timeandtheotherparentdoesnotwork.

n240,000ewerpoorchildreninamilies

withadisabledadult.

n50,000ewerpoorPakistaniandBangladeshichildren.


7/685Executivesummary

Withouttheadditional3.8billioninvestmenttherecouldbeby2010(comparedwith2004/05):

n70,000morepoorchildrenintwo-parentamilieswhereoneparentworksull-timeandtheotherparentdoesnotwork.

n40,000morePakistaniandBangladeshichildrenlivinginpoverty.

n30,000morepoorchildreninlone-parentamilies.

Inhiscommentaryinthisreport,DonaldHirschremindsusthatthebattletoreducechildpovertyhasreachedacriticaljuncture.Thekeydriversortheallinchildpoverty

todatemoregeneroustaxcreditsand

benetsandwelaretoworkpolicies,willseediminishingreturns.Thisisbothbecause

theamilieslitedoutopovertythusarare

likelytohavebeentheeasiesttohelpandbecausethecurrentsystemorincreasingbenetsandtaxcreditsallowsbenetincomestoallrelativetoaverageearnings.

TomeettheGovermentstargettohalvechildpoverty(denedbeorehousingcosts)

thenumberochildreninpovertyneedsto

allrom3.4millionin1999to1.7millionin2010.Itiscurrently2.8millionandneedstoallbyaurther1.1million.TheInstituteorFiscalStudies(IFS)hasestimatedthatthe

additional1billionspendingontaxcreditsannouncedinthe2007Budgetwillreducechildpovertybyaurther200,000by2010.ThiswillmeantheGovernmentmissingits

targetbysome900,000children.

OnthebasisourtherestimatesbytheIFS,whichtakeaccountochangesinthe2007budget,the2010targetcouldbeachievedbyincreasingthechildelementochildtaxcreditbyaurther11aweekat2007pricesandgivingamiliesanextra20per

weekorthethirdandsubsequentchildrenthroughtheamilyelementothechildtaxcredit.ThiswouldmeantheGovernmentspending3.8billionmorein2010thancurrentlyplanned.

Whatdoesthismeanorindividualgroupsochildren?AurtherbreakdownotheestimatesromtheIFSshowsthe

prospectsorthemostvulnerablechildrenwithandwithouttheextra3.8billionspending(Figure1).

Figure 1: Projections o child poverty risks to 2010

Thersttwobarsoreachgroupshowthatormostgroupsochildrentheriskopovertywillchangerelativelylittlebetween

2004/05and2010underpresentpolicies.Astarkexception,however,ischildrenromPakistaniandBangladeshiamilies,whose

alreadyhighriskopovertyisverylikelytoincrease.ThemostrecentpovertygurespublishedinMarch20079seemtoshow

thatpovertyorthisgroupisrising,andtheIFSprojectionssuggestthatthiswillcontinue,withabouttwo-thirdsinpovertyby2010.

Bygivingwiderhelptoamilies

Byinvestinganadditional3.8billioninbenetsandtaxcreditstheGovernmentcouldmeetthe2010target.Butawider

rangeopolicyresponsesisnecessarytotackletherootcausesochildpovertytoremovebarrierstowork,toensurethatworkpaysandtoensurethatchildreninpovertynowareequippedtoescapetheirparentsateandavoidbringinguptheirownchildreninpoverty.

2004/5 poverty rate

2010 on present policies

2010 with 3.8 billion investment

One

fulltimeearner,

onenotworking

3children

Disabledchild

Indian

Disabledadult

Blackor

black

British

Lone

parent

4children

Pakistani/Bangladeshi

Lone

parentnon-working

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%



Employmentthecasestudiesshowthatmostparentswantedtoworkandsawthisasawayoutopoverty,butexperiencedrealbarrierstogettingajobandstayinginit.Thelackosotskillsand

qualicationskeepsmanyparents,especially

loneparents,outothelabourmarket.However,workisnotaguaranteedrouteoutopovertyandSection3showshowlowwagesandthehighcostsochildcaremeanthatparentslikeWilsonareotennobetteroinworkthanonbenets.

TheGovernmentisrighttoocusonworkasthebestrouteoutopoverty.Butatpresentgettingajobtoootenmeansmovingromworklesspovertyto

workingpoverty.AstherecentreportotheEqualitiesCommission10madeclear,womenandmanyethnicminoritiesstillacestructuraldisadvantageinthelabourmarket.Employersneedtotaketheirresponsibilitiesmoreseriouslytoenableworkingparentstocombineworkwithparentingresponsibilities.Andtoachievethehighskill,highproductivityworkorcenecessaryor

theUKtocompeteintheglobaleconomy,

parentswhohavebeenmostdisengagedromthelabourmarketneedtargetedhelptogetandtoprogressinwork.

ChildcareallourUKgovernmentshavemadeasignicantinvestmentinexpandinghighqualitychildcare,particularly

indisadvantagedcommunities,throughprogrammessuchasSureStartLocal(nowchildrenscentres)andtheNeighbourhoodNurseriesInitiative.Thishasenabledmanypoorerparentstoaccesschildcareandtoreturntowork92percentoparentsusingneighbourhoodnurseriessaidthat

thishelpedthemtowork,with22percentsayingtheycouldnothaveworkedotherwise.Theimpactwasgreateston

disadvantagedgroups,includingloneparentsandthosewithnoorlowqualications.11

SureStartChildrensCentresandNeighbourhoodNurseriesbenetedromstart-upunding,enablingthemtooersubsidisedorevenreeplacestothemostdisadvantagedamilies.Newresearch

raisesdoubtsaboutthesustainabilityosuchprovision,particularlyinpoorercommunities.Asstart-upundingtaperso,nurseriesareincreasinglychargingmarketrates,reducingstanumbersandoeringull-timeplacesinsteadopart-timeones.12

Somemayevenhavetoclose.

Thecasestudiesshowhowthelackoappropriateandaordablechildcarecontinuestobeabarrierorparentswhowanttogobacktowork.Helpwithchildcarecostsisavailablethroughthe

taxcreditsystem13butthehighcostsochildcare,especiallyoramilieswithdisabledchildrenorthosecaringormorethantwochildren,havetheeectoeitherkeeping

amiliesoutothelabourmarketorleavingthemnobetteroinwork.

Poverty in school holidaysorthemajorityochildrenintheUK,schoolholidaysmeanholidaysawayromhomeandexcitingeventsandtrips.Foramilies

onalowincomeliketheonesinterviewedorthisreport,theymeanextrahardship

costsonessentialslikeoodgoupbut

incomedoesnt.Holidaysbecomeatimeosurvival.14Compensatingamiliesorthelossoreeschoolmealsinholidayswouldhelpeasethenancialpressureandenableamiliestoprovidesomesortopositiveexperiencesduringholidays,suchasatrip

tothecinemaoradayout,andbuildonthe

governmentsinitiativetooertwoweeksopart-timeholidayprovisionorchildreneligibleorreeschoolmeals.15

Fuel poverty16a91percentincreaseintheretailpriceogassince2003anda60percentincreaseinelectricitypriceshave

seenadramaticescalationinthenumbersohouseholdslivinginuelpoverty.In2005/06housinguelandpoweraccountedoralmostonethospendingintheUKbyhouseholdsatthebottomotheincomedistributioncomparedtooneourteenthorthoseinthetopth. 17

Itisestimatedthat3.5millionhouseholdsintheUKarelivinginuelpoverty.18,19Thisisexempliedbytheamilieswe


9/687Executivesummary

interviewed,manyowhomwerestrugglingwithhighuelcosts.Theywerepayingmorebecausemanyusedpre-paymentmeters(PPMs)tohelpwithbudgeting.Acrossthemainsuppliers,gasPPMcustomerspay

anaverageo70moreperyearthan

customersondirectdebitandelectricitycustomersanaverageo103moreperyear.SomesuppliershaverecentlycutpricesinresponsetotheallinwholesaleenergypricesbutcustomersusingPPMshavebenetedlessthanothers,ornotatall.20Thepoorestarebeingpenalisedortakingprudentstepstomanagetheirmoneysothattheyareabletopayortheir

gasandelectricityastheyuseit.

IallourUKgovernmentsaretoeradicateuelpovertyorvulnerablegroupsby2010andoreveryoneby2016theymustworkwithenergysupplierstoensurethatall

customersareonthecheapesttarisandnotpenalisedbecauseotheirmethodopayment.

Debtmanyotheamiliesinterviewedwereindebt,totheSocialFund,doorstep

lendersorriendsandamily.ManyotheseloansweretocoverthecostsoChristmas,birthdaysandessentialhouseholdgoods.Lenders,includingsomereputableHighStreetnames,arechargingbetween160percentand800percentinterestayearonloans,trappingamiliesinaviciouscycle

odebt.21TheGovernmentmustgiveprioritytoendingthenancialexclusionolow-incomeamilies.Thisincludesaradical

reviewotheSocialFund,whichisailingtomeetcurrentlevelsodemand:withreormitcouldpromotethenancialinclusionopooramilies.Banksalsoneed

toplaytheirpart.

The way forward

BarnardosisaskingtheGovernmenttokeepitspromisetomillionsochildrentoendchildpovertywithinageneration.WecallontheWestminstergovernment,andwhereappropriate,thedevolvedgovernmentsoNorthernIreland,ScotlandandWales,todo

theollowing:

nInvest3.8billiontomeetthepromisetohalvechildpovertyby201022andinutureincreasebenetsandtaxcreditsinlinewithearningstostoptheincomesothepoorestamiliesallingurtherbehind.

nEstablishaUKcommissiononendingchildpoverty,chairedbythePrimeMinister

ortheChancellor,whichwoulddeliveraroadmapsettingouttheinvestmentandpoliciesneededtohitthe2020target.

nAimallgovernmentundingandprogrammesatbenetingthepoorestchildrenthemost.23

nExtendaccesstohighqualitychildcarebyensuringadequateundingtosustainchildcareprovisionindisadvantagedcommunities.Relianceonthemarketalonewillnotdeliverorourpoorestamilies.

nTackletheadditionalhardshipinschoolholidaysbycompensatingamilieswhosechildrengetreeschoolmealsorthelossotheseduringtheschoolholidays;24andworkingwithlocalauthoritiestoensurethataordableandage-appropriateholidayactivitiesandchildcareareavailableorallchildren.

nTackleuelpovertybyworkingwiththeprivatesectortomakesurethatallcustomers

areonthecheapesttarisorutilitiesandarenotpenaliseditheycannottake

advantageopaymentschemessuchasdirectdebit.

ForaullsetorecommendationsseeAppendix1.



Sectionone

CommentarybyDonaldHirsch25

Aboldambitionandtheindividuallivesthatliebehindit

TheGovernmentstargetoendingchildpovertyinagenerationisitsmostambitioussocialgoal.EightyearsaterthePrimeMinistermadethispledge,thenumberochildrenlivinginamilieswithlowincomes

hasallensubstantially.However,thereremainsalongwaytogo,andthelatestevidenceseemstoshowthatchildpovertyhasnowstoppedalling.Analysisbythe

JosephRowntreeFoundationshowsthatcontinuedprogresswillbetough,requiringbothasignicantamountoextrapublicredistributionandalarge

improvementintheopportunityorparentstosupporttheirownamiliesbygettingdecentlypaidjobs.26

Onethingthatisclearromthisanalysisisthatasolutionbasedsimplyonamechanisticredistributionoresourcestoamilieswhomthegovernmentcalculates

tobepoor,thoughessential,isnotenoughonitsown.Along-term,aordablestrategyneedstoemployarangeomeasures

tohelpimproveamilieslivesandtheopportunitiesopentothem.Access

totraining,qualications,transportand

childcareorexamplecaninfuenceaccesstojobsthatinturncanhelplitamiliesoutopoverty.

Inordertounderstandboththenatureothehardshipthatpovertyiscausingandthenatureothesolutionsneededtotackleit,weneedtounderstandtheexperiences

oamiliesacingdierentkindsodiculty.Thisreportmakesacontributiontothatunderstanding,bylookingatchildrenin

arangeocircumstances.Itconsidersorexamplewhatitisliketobringupachildwithdisabilitiesonalowincome;whatextrastressesareacedbyloneparents;whathasbeentheexperienceopovertyochildrenromdierentethnicbackgrounds;howiteelstogrowupinpoorhousingorwithuncertainimmigrationstatus.

Suchcategoriesotenoverlap,anditis

impossibletodeneachildsexperiencessimplybywhichgrouptheybelongin:everyonessituationisunique.Nevertheless,itisuseultoconsidertheoverallproleoindividualssharingcertaincharacteristics

thatincreasetheriskoacingpovertyandrelatedhardships,alongsideexamplesodicultiesacedbyindividualamilies.Attheendoeachchapterproling

groupsinthisway,thisreportlooksatwhatkindsosolutionswouldhelpamilieswithineachgroup,includingtheparticularamiliesdescribed.

Thus,bymeetingtheRobertsamily(Section5),wewitnessthepressuresonparentswhohavetolookaterdisabled

children.Inthiscase,thosepressureshavehadadevastatingimpactontheamilyslie,includinglossojobandhome.Inconsideringsolutions,weseehow

thistragedymighthavebeenavertedthroughearlyinterventiontogivenecessarysupport.

Butnotallotheamilieswemeetinthepagesthatollowhavecatastrophiclives.Theeverydaypressuresexperiencedby

aloneparentsuchasHeather(Section4),whohasneverbeenabletotakeherchildrenonholidayandhassueredromdepression,refectthesituation


11/689CommentarybyDonaldHirsch

othousandsoamiliesthroughoutthecountry,orwhomlackoincomecontributestosteady,persistenthardship.Likemanyloneparents,shehasmadeunsuccessuleortstore-enterthelabour

market.Shemighthavebenetedrom

greatersupport.

Gettingintoemploymentisnot,however,thewholestory.Justoverhalochildrenonlowincomeshaveatleastoneparentwhoworks,andlowpayremainsaseriousproblem.InSection3wehearhow

Wilson,asinglewidowerbringinguptwoyoungchildren,worksull-time,butontheminimumwage,andisplaguedbydebtsandhighchildcarecosts,andcannotaordto

buythethingshischildrenneed.

Thisreportalsotellsstoriesshowinghowhavingalargeamily,livinginpoorhousingorbeinganasylumseekercanaectachildsexperienceopoverty.Itrelatesparticularexperiencesoamiliesromminorityethnicgroupsandalsobriefyconsiderstheconsequencesochildpovertyoryoungadults.

Tosetthesceneorthisdiscussion,theremainderothiscommentarygivesabrieoverviewochildpovertyintheUK,o

eortssoartotackleitandowhatmoreneedstobedone.

Whydo3.8millionchildrenintheUKlivebelowthepovertyline?

PovertyintheUnitedKingdomisconventionallydenedashavinga

householdincomebelow60percentothemedian;thisistosomeextentanarbitrary

indicatorothecomplexphenomenonopoverty,butisuseulbecauseitallowsus

tomonitorhowtheincidenceorelativelylowincomeischanging,intotalandorspecicgroups.Arelativeincomemeasureencapsulatesthewidelysharedviewthatnobodyshouldhaveastandardoliving

thatallstooarbelowthecontemporary

norm,andbyimplicationthateveryoneinsocietyshouldshareintheruitsosteadily

growingprosperity.

In2005/06,2.8millionchildrenwereinpovertyonthismeasure,beorehousingcostsaretakenintoaccount.But3.8millionwereinpovertywhenlookingathowmuchincometheiramilieshadletater

deductinghousingcosts(aterhousing

costsorAHC).27Theaterhousingcostsmeasuregivesabetterpictureothenetdisposableincomethathelpsdetermineeverydaystandardsoliving,andisthemeasureprimarilyusedinthisreport.

Thelevelochildpovertyhascomedowninrecentyears,with600,000ewerchildreninpovertyonbothmeasuresthanwhen

thegovernmentannounceditstargetoendingchildpovertyinearly1999.Yetitis

stilldoublewhatitwasin1979andremainsabovetheEuropeanaverage,andtherecentreductioninpovertyappearsnowtohavecometoahalt(seebelow).Somecountries,particularlytheNordiccountries,havechildpovertyrateswellunderhalthoseotheUK.Threeactorsinparticularunderpinourhighchildpovertylevels:

nTherelativelylargenumberochildrenlivingwithloneparents,whoareless

likelytoworkthaninmostcountries.HalochildreninpovertyintheUKlivewithloneparents.

nWageinequalitiesintheUKthatwidenedgreatlyinthe1980sandremainhigh.LowpayintheUKcontributestopoverty:justoverhalochildreninpovertyhaveparentswhowork.

nRelativelylowlevelsonancialsupport

orchildrenandorout-o-workamilies.Targetedimprovementsinrecentyears

havenotyetsucceededincontainingchildpovertytothesameextentasgovernmentinterventioninsomeothercountries.Forexample,asshowninFigure2,childpovertymeasuredbeoregovernmentredistributioninSwedenissimilartotheUK.However,sinceSwedensbenetssystemismuchmoregenerous,ewerchildrenthanin

theUKendupinpovertyoncethesegovernmenttransershavebeentaken

intoaccount.



WhatdoesitmeantoachildtobeinpovertyintheUK?

ChildreninpovertyintheUKlackmanythings.Mostobviously,theiramilieslackincome.Thechildrenthemselveslackaccess

tovariousmaterialthingsandactivitiesthattheirriendstakeorgranted.Perhapsmostimportantly,manychildreninpovertylackdignityandhope.

Theincomethresholdthatdenespoverty

variesaccordingtoamilytype.Forexample,aloneparentwithtwochildrenaged5and14wouldneed223aweekaterhousingcoststogetabovethepovertyline;acouplewithchildrenthesameagewouldrequire301(in2005/06).

NochildintheUKcantaordtoeat.Butmanyhaveseriouslydepleteddiets

andmanysuermaterialdeprivation.Forexample,about200,000childrenhaveparentswhocannotaordtobuy

meatorsheveryotherday,andabout150,000whocannotaordtobuythemawaterproocoat.Manymoreareunabletoparticipateinthosethingsthattheirriendstakeorgranted.Abouttwoinveloneparentsareunabletotaketheirchildrenonoutingsorbuythemgitsto

taketoparties.

28

Mostimportantly,manychildrengrowuppersistentlypoor,havingtogowithout

thingsthatothersaroundthemhave.Whileorsome,povertyisatransitoryexperience,ormostothosewhoarepooratanyone

time,itissomethingtheyareusedto.Overtwo-thirdsothoseclassiedaspooratanyonetimehavebeeninpovertyoratleast

threeothepastouryears.

Whereandorwhomarethe

risksgreatest?ChildpovertyisnotevenlydistributedacrosstheUnitedKingdom.Beingamemberoaparticulargroup,orlivinginaparticulararea,aectstheriskthatachildwillbepoor.

Beinginaloneparentamily,havingnoparentwhoworks,beinginalargeamilyandbeingincertainethnicgroupsall

increasetherisk.Atageographicallevel,therelativeriskdoesnotvaryoverallbymuchintheourconstituentpartsotheUK:dierencesin

theheadlineguresorEngland,Scotland,WalesandNorthernIrelandaresmall.Amorenotableeaturewhencomparing

thesetotalsisthattheyhavecomedownmorerapidlyinWalesandScotlandthaninEngland.InWales,thechildpovertyrisk

hasgonerombeinggreaterthantheUKaveragetoaboutthesame,andin Scotlandrombeingaroundaverageto

slightlybelow.29

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Slovenia

Norw

ay

Denm

ark

Finlan

d

Sweden

Cyprus

Luxemb

ourg

Hungary

CzechR

epublic

Austr

ia

Belgi

umFr

ance

Netherlan

dsLa

tvia

Spain

Estonia

Germ

any

Lithu

ania

Irelan

d

Greece

Polan

d

Unite

dKi

ngdo

mItaly

Portu

gal

SlovakR

epublic

Turkey

Child poverty rate before transfers Child poverty rate after transfers

Figure 2: Child poverty rates beore and ater cash benefts circa 2003

Source: Eurostat



WithinEnglishregions,thereareconsiderablevariations.InLondon,achildisnearlytwiceaslikelytobeinpovertyasintherestotheSouthEast.Andtherelativerisksareargreaterwhenlooking

atparticularlocalauthoritiesandespecially

wardsandneighbourhoods.30

Figure 3: Children at risk o poverty

Figure3showsarangeoactorstodo

withplaceandamilycharacteristicsthatcausetheriskochildpovertytobeaboveaverage.Obviously,whenmorethanoneothesearecombined,theeectsareevengreater.Thegraphshowsthatnothavingaworkingparentremainsthemostimportantpredictorochildpoverty,andclearlyin

neighbourhoodswherelargenumbersoamiliesspendlongperiodsonout-o-workbenets,therisksareparticularlyacute.

Whathasbroughtchildpovertydown?

Thechildpovertyrateellslowlybutsteadilyromthelate1990suntilrecently(seeFigure4).Suchalongcontinuousallinchildpovertyhasnotpreviouslybeenwitnessedinthenearlyhalacenturysince

therelevantdataonincomedistributionhavebeencollected, 31andgovernment

policieshavecontributedtothistrend.

Thetwokeydriversothisallhavebeenareductionothenumberochildrenin

amilieswithoutwork,andanincreaseinthelevelsotaxcreditsorpeopleonlowincomes,insideandoutsidework.

Muchemphasishasbeenputontheimpactowelaretoworkpolicies.Thesehavemadeacontribution,andinparticular,theriseinthechanceoaloneparenthavinga

job,rom45percentto56percentunderthepresentLabouradministration,isanunprecedentedshit.However,theallinthenumberoamilieswithoutworkaccountedoronlyasmallproportionothereductioninpovertybetween1998/99and2004/05

ononeestimateoronlyonechildinsixwhoescapedpoverty.32Manyamilieswhohaveenteredworkstruggleonlowwages

orworkrelativelyewhours,andsohavenotinactescapedpoverty.

Figure 4: Child poverty (millions, ater housing costs)

Amuchbiggeractorhasbeentheimpactotaxcredits,whichhavesignicantlyreducedthechanceoachildwithaworkingparentbeingpoor,andmodestly

reducedthechancethatachildwithanon-workingparentispoor.Thestrongesteectisontheprobabilityoachildwithaloneparentwhoworksparttimebeingbelow

thepovertyline:thisellrom45percentto27percentinthe19982004period.33

Aver

age

North

EastEn

gland

Lond

on

Disable

dad

ult*

Four

orm

orec

hildr

enin

family

Lone

paren

t

Black

orb

lackB

ritish

Inner

Lond

on

Pakis

tani/B

anglade

shi

Nobo

dyworkin

ginh

ouseho

ld

30% 32%41%

42% 47%50%

51% 52%

67%

77%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Chanceofhavingbelow6

0%

mediani

ncomeafterhousingcosts

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

4.3 4.2

4.44.3

4.1 4.03.9

3.73.6

3.8

2004 5 target



Centralgovernmentpoliciesplayacrucial

role,bothbysettingthestructureowelare

toworkmeasuresandindetermining

theamountoredistributionthattakes

placethroughthetaxcreditandbenets

system.However,policiesandpracticesat

alllevelsogovernmentcanplayapart.Jobprospectsdependonthestrengtholocal

economies,onopportunitiesortransport

andchildcarethatenableparentstowork,

onactioninlocalcommunitiesandinthe

longtermoneducationandqualications.

Devolvedadministrations,regionalbodies

andlocalgovernmentallhaveaparttoplay

inthesepolicies.

Itisbeyondthescopeothisreportto

enumeratealltheactionsthatneedtocometogethertocreatebetter-unctioning

communitiesthatcancontributetoending

childpoverty.However,twophenomena

illustratethedegreetowhichitisnotjusta

taskortheWestminstergovernment.

First,itisnotablethatinScotland,Walesand

NorthernIrelandtherehavebeenelements

oadistinctiveapproachtotacklingchild

poverty.ScotlandsprogrammeorClosing

theOpportunityGaptakesasix-pronged

approachtoreducingchildpovertythatis

heavilyweightedtowardsprevention.In

particular,thisprogrammeaimstosupport

sustainedemploymentorat-riskgroups,

astrategynowbeingtakenupelsewhere

intheUK.InWales,therelativelyrapid

allinchildpovertyappearstocoincide

withtheadventotheWelshAssembly,

whichhasaimedtotargetparticular

communities,suchastheValleys,whereworklessnesshasbeenmostconcentrated,

thustakingamoregeographicallyocused

approach.InNorthernIreland,therehas

beenaparticularemphasisonreducing

worklessnessratesoverall,whicharemuch

higherthanintherestotheUKbuthave

beenallingmorequickly.34

Asecondpointtonoteistheimportance

olocalconditionsinaectingbarriersto

work.Theseareparticularlyimportant

inLondon,wheredicultiesinnding

aordablechildcareandhighrents(which

aectreturnstoworkduetotheloss

ohousingbenet)havecontributed

considerablytohighlevelsochildpoverty

whichuniquelyamongEnglishregions

haveailedtocomedowninrecentyears.

Localauthoritiesneedtoworkcloselywith

partnersinthepublicandprivatesectorstoimprovetheinrastructurethat

infuencesopportunitiesorparentsto

work,andthefexibilityorparentsto

balancetheireconomicprioritieswith

domesticresponsibilities.

Whatmoreneedstobedone?

Thebattletoreducechildpovertyhas

reachedacriticaljuncture.Itbecame

apparentin2006thatunderpresentpolicies,thesteadyallinthechild

povertyrateseeninrecentyearsislikely

tocometoanend.35Thisanalysishas

beencorroboratedbyafatteninginthe

downwardtrend,evidentinFigure4,

previouspage.Theapparentsmallrisein

thechildpovertytotalinthedatareleased

inMarch2007wasdisappointing.However,

therisewasnotstatisticallysignicant,36and

asingleyearsdatashouldbeinterpretedwithcaution.Buttheguresareconsistent

withthehypothesisthat,sincethelastbig

hikeintaxcreditsin2003,thedownward

trendinchildpovertyhasnotcontinued.

Afatteningoutochildpovertyatthe

presentlevelwouldleaveabouttwiceas

manychildreninpovertyastherewere

agenerationago,atalevelthatiswidely

consideredunacceptable.

Behindtheseprojectionsareseveral

harshrealities:

nWestillhaveasystemorincreasing

benetsandtaxcreditswhichallowsthe

incomesopeopledependingonthem

toallrelativetoaverageearnings.More

generousupratings,whichareneeded

inthelongtermtotacklepoverty

eectively,implyconsiderableextracosts

totheExchequercomparedwithcurrentplans.Putanotherway,itheregular

upratingmethodcontinuestogivezero



realgrowthincertainbenets,poverty

targetswillbecomeprogressivelyharder

tohitasmedianincomesriseinreal

terms.Thepoorestamilieswillallurther

andurtherbehindtheafuentmajority.

nContinuedprogressingettingmore

peopleintojobs,inparticularlone

parents,canhaveapositiveimpact,but

progressonthisrontwillnotberapid.

Inthemediumterm,onanoptimistic

scenario,thewelaretoworkeecton

childpovertywillbarelybeenoughto

osettheeectonotupratingbenets

andtaxcreditsasastasthegrowth

inaverageearnings,reerredtoabove.

Moreover,astrategyobringingmore

peopleintothelabourmarketwillonlybesustainablewithintensiveinvestment

inhelpingthosewhoneedsupport.As

hasbeensuggestedbytherecentFreud

review,37thiswillbehardtoreconcile

withcurrentcutsintheDWPbudget.

nInthelongterm,itwillonlybepossible

toreducechildpovertyatanacceptable

publiccostiincreasesinbenets/

taxcreditsthroughredistributiono

incomearecombinedwithimproved

opportunitiesinworkortheworsto.

Thismeansnotjustmorepeoplegetting

jobs,butanimprovementinearningsthat

helpsreduceworkingpovertywithout

excessivedependenceontaxcredits.

Partothisdependsonemployers

takingashareoresponsibilitybyending

povertywages.Tosomeextent,the

taxcreditregimeallowsemployersto

paystapoorly,intheknowledgethatthegovernmentwillsupplementtheir

employeeswages.

nButitalsorequiresthenextgeneration

oparentstogetbetterqualications,and

hencedependsonimprovedoutcomes

romtheeducationsystem.Itisalso

desirabletoreducethenumbero

peopleacingveryhigheectivemarginal

taxratesastheylosetaxcreditsand

benetswhenincomerises,apotential

disincentivetoprogressinginworkand

earningmore.

Thisshowstheneedoramixopolicy

responsestocombatpoverty.Inthe

mediumterm,itimpliesmoreredistribution

andbetter-resourcedwelaretowork

programmes.Inthelongerterm,itraises

widerissuesabouttheactorsthat

infuenceopportunitiesromonegenerationtothenext,mostparticularly

howtoovercomesevereinequalitiesin

outcomesineducationorchildrenrom

dierentsocialbackgrounds.

Thesectionsinthisreportconsider

particularwaysinwhichdierent

groupsochildrencanbehelpedinthe

nearuture.Toputtheseincontext,itis

worthconsideringwhatthetrendislikely

tobeordisadvantagedgroupsunderpresentprojections.

Whataretheimmediateprospectsordierentgroupsochildren?

TheJosephRowntreeFoundations(JRF)

assessmentouturetrendsinchild

poverty38estimatedin2006thatitwould

benecessarytospendabout4 5billion

moreonbenetsandtaxcreditsthan

underpresentplansby2010tomeetthe

targetohalvingchildpovertyromits

1998/99level.39Eventakingintoaccount

extraresourcesputintotaxcreditsinthe

2007Budget,around4billionwillstill

beneeded(seeBoxAoverlea).These

estimatesassumethatthegovernmentgets

mostothewaytomeetingits2010target

oincreasingtheloneparentemploymentrateto70percent.Specically,theyassume

a67.5percentemploymentrateorlone

parents.Thiswouldrequireariseo11

percentagepointsbetween2006and2010,

ornearlythreepercentagepointsayear.

Thisisthreetimesasastastherateo

increaseoverthepast14years,andthe

assumptionsmadeintheJRFsmodelling

arethusalreadyveryoptimisticaboutthe

successowelaretoworkpolicies.



BOX A:

The 2007 Budget and the

2010 child poverty target

In2007,theChancellorannounceda

numberomeasurestotacklechildpoverty.Themostsignicantwasa

riseo3aweekabovethenormal

increasinginlinewithearningsothe

childelementothechildtaxcredit,

whichgoestoamiliesonlowincomes.

Thiswillcost1billionby2009.

TheInstituteorFiscalStudies(IFS)

conrmstheChancellorsestimate

thatthischangeinthe2007Budget

willreducechildpovertybyabout200,000.40Specically,theIFSprojected

in2006thatchildpovertyinGreat

Britain41wouldallonlymarginally,rom

2.7millionin2004/05to2.65million

in2010/11(usingthegovernments

preerredpovertymeasure).42Based

ontheBudgetincrease,itnowprojects

amoresubstantialall,to2.47million.

Butthiswouldstillbealongwayabovethetargeto1.6millionin2010,hal

owhatitwaswhenthetargeto

endingchildpovertywasannounced.

Fortheextra900,000childrentobe

takenoutopoverty,asimilarpackage

tothatoriginallysuggestedbythe

JosephRowntreeFoundationwouldbe

needed.Forexample,thetargetcould

beachievedbyincreasingthechild

elementochildtaxcreditbyaurther

11aweekin2007prices,andgiving

amiliesanextra20perweekor

thirdandsubsequentchildrenthrough

theamilyelementothechildtax

credit.Thiswouldcost3.8billion,hal

abillionlessthantheearlierestimate.

Itheextra20waschannelled

throughchildbenetorthethird

andsubsequentchildrentohelplarge

amilies,thiswouldcost4.2billion,

comparedto4.7billioninthe

earlierprojections.

Evenwithsuchoptimism,theJRFargued

in2006thatwithoutextrainvestment,the

allinchildpovertyislikelytocease.43This

analysiswasconrmedbythe2005/06

povertygures,publishedinMarch2007,

whichshowednourtherallinpoverty

butratherthesmall,thoughstatisticallyinsignicant,risereerredtoabove.44As

setoutinBoxA,theincreaseintaxcredits

announcedinthe2007Budgetshould

startmovingchildpovertydownwards

again,butnowherenearenoughtomeet

the2010target.Thiswillrequireatleast

about3.8billionmoretobeallocatedto

similarmeasures.

Whatdoesthismeanorindividualgroups?Onthebasisourtherestimatessupplied

bytheInstituteorFiscalStudies,Figure5a

looksattheprospectsorchildrenwith

variouscharacteristics,withandwithoutthe

extraspendingpackagesuggestedbythe

Rowntreereport.Itshouldbeemphasised

thattheseestimatesarebasedonprojecting

risksorindividualsbasedonexisting

characteristicsandbehaviours,andmustbe

takenasindicatorsowhatmightbe,notasrmpredictions.

Figure 5a: Projections o child poverty risks to 2010

2004/5 poverty rate

2010 on present policies

2010 with 3.8 billion investment

One

fulltimeearner,

onenotworking

3children

Disabledchild

Indian

Disabledadult

Blackor

black

British

Lone

parent

4children

Pakistani/Bangladeshi

Lone

parentnon-working

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%



ThersttwobarsoreachgroupinFigure

5ashowthatormostgroupsochildren,

theriskopovertywillchangerelatively

littlebetween2004/05and2010under

presentpolicies:theprojected8.5percent

alloverall,rom2,700,000to2,470,000,

willnotproduceasignicantchangeorallgroups:orsome,theriskopovertywill

stayaboutthesame.Astarkexception,

however,ischildreninPakistaniand

Bangladeshiamilies,whosealreadyhighrisk

opovertyissettoincreaseurther,rom

57percentto65percent.Indeed,this

riseisalreadyshowninthemostrecent

povertygurespublishedinMarch2007.45

PakistaniandBangladeshiamilieshavea

lowemploymentrate,haveonaverage

morechildrenthanamiliesoverallandare

severelyaectedbytheailuretouprate

benetsinlinewithearnings.

Figure5aalsoshowsthat,byspending

atotalo3.8billionayearmorethan

presentlyplanned,theprospectso

vulnerablegroupscouldbeimproved

greatlyby2010.Thisamountstoanincrease

equivalenttolessthan1percentopublicspending(or0.3percentocurrentGDP).

Toputthesechangesincontext,Figure5b

looksatthreeexamplesogroups

ochildrenintermsotheirchanging

prospectsovertherstdecadeo

governmenttargets.Allcouldseeanendto

theimprovementotheirortunesunder

presentpolicies,evenaterthe2007Budget.

Forchildrenoloneparents,thiswouldnot

involvegivingupmostothegainsseentodate.Inparticular,thebenetohaving

moreloneparentsinworkwouldpersist.

However,orachildoasingle-earner

couple,abouthalothe(relativelysmall)

reductioninpovertyrisksince1998/99

wouldbelostunderthisscenario.

ThisleavestheGovernmentwithavery

seriouschallenge.Whetherornotit

meetsitsdemandingtargets,canitatleastmaintainthemomentumintacklingchild

povertythatithasachievedinrecent

years?Todoso,itwillneedtotakesome

bigdecisions,aswellasmanysmallerones.

Thebigdecisionsinvolvecomingupwith

substantialextraresources,continuingand

expandingtheincreasesmadeinthe2007

Budget.Themanysmalleractionsinvolve

addressingtheparticularproblemsothegroupsdescribedinthisreport,and

takingthemeasuresnecessarytoaddress

theirneeds.Thestoriesoindividual

hardship,rustrationandlossodignity

thatarerelatedonthepagesbelow

reminduswhyarenewedcommitment

totacklingpovertyisnotjustadesirable

policymovebutadutyorallousinarich,

enlightenedsociety.

Figure 5b: A reversal o ortunes? Poverty risks o

selected groups, 1998 2010

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

1998/9 2004/5 2010 onpresent trends

Non-working lone parents

All lone parents

Single earner couple


18/68


19/6817Poorchildreninblackandminorityethnicgroups

Casestudy152,53

Anna Barnardos Tuar Ceatha Project, Belfast

AnnaisrommainlandChinaandhas

twosmalldaughtersaged5and9.Theamilyreceivedtaxcreditsasher

husbandworkedpart-time.WhenAnna

andherhusbandseparatedtherewasa

mix-uponherincomesupportandtax

creditsandsheispayingback2,000

romherweeklybeneto180.75,

whichincludesdisabilitylivingallowance.

AnnahaslimitedEnglishandreally

struggleswiththelettersregardingher

benets.Shespends60aweekon

oodandhasverylittleletoverorany

extras.Sheisunabletotakeherchildren

toanyactivitiesoronoutings.Theamily

isisolatedromamilyandriends.

AnnausedtoworkinaChinesetake-

awaybuthasnotworkedsinceherrst

childwasborn,asshehasnochildcare.

Asherchildrenarenowatschoolshe

wouldliketoworkinthemorningsbut

thebarrierstothisareherpoorhealth

andlimitedEnglish.Sheis,however,

attendingalocalChinesecommunity

group,wheresheisgettinghelpwith

herEnglish.

Annasaysthatanumberothings

couldmakeadierenceorherand

herdaughters,orwhomshehashighaspirations.Shewouldlikeparenting

educationtoimproveherparentingskills:

I dont know how to help them to learn

I know the amily unit here is not in a

healthy way.

Annawouldalsolikehelpandadvice

abouthernances:helpinndingajob

shecoulddointhemornings;adviceon

discountedtravelandaordableactivities

suchasswimmingandater-schoolclubs.

Anna is one o the Chinese and

Vietnamese amilies with young

children who use Barnardos Tuar

Ceatha (Rainbow) service in Belast.

Sta who themselves come rom the

Chinese community and are trusted

by the amilies, are able to guide

them through the maze o health,

education, benefts and employment

services. They also provide help and

riendly advice i amilies, who may

be isolated and without the support

o relatives, ace difculties looking

ater their children.



Casestudy252,53

Leah Barnardos Priory Family Centre, Barnsley, Yorkshire

Leahisaloneparentwithone

daughterEmily,whois14monthsold.Leahisomixedraceandherdaughter

hasawhiteather.Sheisarecovered

drugaddict:

There was a lot o drugs around in the

area when I was growing up. I took it

to make mysel eel better because Id

been abused by a amily riend and I was

bullied all the time at school about race

its mostly white around here. I wouldntlike my daughter to go through the same

as me.

Leahdoesnotworkherprevious

drugaddictionhasresultedinherlosing

allcondencebutshewouldliketo

workwhenEmilygoestoschool.Due

tothepreviousabuseshecannot

trustanyonebuthermumtotakecare

oEmily.Leahlivesonbenetso119.28a

weekthepovertylineis14554and

sheborrowsromhermumandstep

dad.Leahdescribestheimpactoliving

onalowincome:

We only have a basic living. I cant aord

to do anything else. We dont struggle

or ood because my mum helps us out.

I dont ever save any money there is

nothing let to save. I wish I could.

Emily misses out on lots o things. I cant

take her swimming or to playgroups or

any activity as they will have to be paid

or and I cant aord it. I cant take her

out to parks and things like that as there

are people doing drugs around here and

dont want to get caught up with them.Leahwouldliketobeabletoattend

socialactivitiesorherandher

childbutgenerallycannotaordthem.

Shesays:

Priory is the only place around where I

can go and be like the other mums. We

dont have to pay to come here only or

drinks i we have some spare money.

ForLeahtheutureorherselandher

daughterlooksarromhopeul:

I see our uture as being bleak really.

I dont look orward because theres

nothing to look orward to. We cant aord

anything to change. Everything we get is

only because someone else buys it or us.

I dont think Emily will achieve what the

other kids will because I cant aordcollege or university. Even i I do work,

what I bring in still wont pay or that.

Leah and Emily both attend

Barnardos Priory Family Centre in

Barnsley. Mothers and athers say

its a riendly place where they are

not judged when they speak to sta

about their problems. Leah can take

time or hersel, knowing that Emily

is happy at the nursery. This way

she can begin to improve her own

sel-confdence, and start to plan

ahead or hersel and her daughter.


21/68

I cant take her out to parks and things

like that as there are people doing

drugs around here and dont want toget caught up with them.



TowardstheGovernments2010and2020povertytargets

Keeping the 2010 promise to halve

child poverty by giving families an

adequate incomeOnpresentpolicies,by2010thereare

projectedtobe:

n40,000morePakistaniandBangladeshi

childreninpovertythantherewerein

2004/05.

n10,000moreblackorblackBritishchildren

inpovertythantherewerein2004/05.

Withthe3.8billioninvestment,by2010

therewouldbe:

n50,000ewerchildreninPakistaniand

Bangladeshiamiliesinpovertycompared

with2004/05

n40,000ewerchildreninblackorblack

Britishamiliesinpovertycomparedwith

2004/05

n20,000ewerchildreninIndianamiliesin

povertycomparedwith2004/05.

Keeping the 2020 promise to end

child poverty by investing in

supporting families

Arangeoothermeasureswillalsobe

neededtohelpimprovetheprospectso

thesegroups.Thesearesetoutbelow.

Employment

Onpresentpolicies,thegapbetweentheemploymentrateothewhiteandethnic

minoritypopulationwilltakeuntil2105

toclose.Iwearetoaddresspersistent

disadvantageandlitethnicminority

childrenoutopoverty,wemustmake

narrowingthisgapquicklyapriority.55

Harker56cautionsagainstdismissingthe

employmentgapduetoculturaldierences

whenthereisclearevidenceothe

signicantbarriersthatethnicminoritygroupsaceinenteringandprogressingin

work.Furthermore,thereisevidencethat

contrarytostereotype,manyeconomically

inactivewomenoPakistaniandBangladeshi

originwouldliketowork.57

TheGovernmenthasestablishedthe

EthnicMinorityEmploymentTaskForceto

addressthemainactorsinethnicminority

employmentdisadvantage.Otherinitiatives

suchasFairCities,PartnersOutreachand

thenewCityPilotsaimtoclosetheethnic

minorityemploymentgap.

Pilotprojectssuchasthosedescribedabove

canhavesomepositiveimpactatalocal

level,butitisveryunlikelythatthesewill

besucienttotacklestructuralbarriersto

employment.Toachievethisall

mainstreamprogrammes,suchasthe

NewDealsandPathwaystoWork,wouldbenetromincreasedinvestmentinskills

development.Theymustalsobebetter

attunedtotheneedsoethnicminority

amilies.Only1.3percentoparticipants

ontheNewDealorDisabledPeopleare

PakistaniorBangladeshi.58

Earlyyearschildcareandeducation

TheGovernmentschildcareagenda,

withtheestablishmentoSureStartChildrensCentresinEngland,andrelated

programmesinScotland,Walesand

NorthernIreland,recognisetheimportance

oearlyyearsprovision.

Thereisevidencethatdisadvantaged

childrenbenetsignicantlyromgood

qualitypre-schoolexperiences,especially

wherethispromotesbetterintellectual

andsocialdevelopment.59Yetchildren

romsomeethnicminoritygroupsarenotaccessingchildcareprovisionorexample

around75percentoAsianchildrenhave

notaccessedanyormoormalchildcarein

thelastyear,comparedtoonly54percent

owhitechildren.60

Earlyyearsandchildcareprogrammes

mustextendtheirreachtoethnicminority

amiliestoencouragethemtotakeup

nurseryplacesandwherenecessary

provideeectivetargetedsupportto

ensurethatearlydisadvantagedoesnot

resultinlong-termunderachievment.


23/6821Poorchildreninblackandminorityethnicgroups

The way forward

Employmenttheethnicminority

employmentpenaltymustbeendedto

encourageandenablemoreparentstoenterthelabourmarketinjobsthatpaydecentwages.

TheDWPmusturgentlyreviewwhy

welaretoworkprogrammesare

ailingmanyblackandethnicminority

parentsandpublishanactionplan

toaddressthis.ThisshouldincludeameasurabletargetorJobcentrePlus

statoincreaseparticipationintheNew

Deals.Itshouldalsosetouthowtheskilllevelsoparentsromblackandethnic

minoritycommunitieswillbeimproved

sothattheycanearnadecentwageorexamplebyinvestinginlocaladult

learningprogrammes,usinginitiatives

suchasthenewCityPilots.

Early years and childcaretackling

earlydisadvantagewillbekeyinbreaking

thecycleopoverty.Thereisevidence

thatdisadvantagedchildrenbenet

signicantlyromgoodqualityearlyyears

andchildcareprovision,butchildrenrom

someethnicminoritygroupsarestillnot

accessingthis.

TheDESmustworkmorepro-activelywithearlyyearsandchildcareproviders

toenablethemtoextendtheirreach

toethnicminorityamiliesandwhere

necessaryprovidetargetedsupport

includingreeorsubsidisedplacesor

pooreramilies.

Educational under-achievement

closingtheachievementgapbetween

whitepupilsandtheirethnicminority

(particularlyPakistaniandArican-Caribbean)classmateswillbecrucialin

breakingthecycleopoverty.

TheDESmustpromotethepersonalised

learningagendasothatitsupportschildrenromblackandminorityethnic

groupsintheirlearning.Theagenda

shouldalsobeusedtoreducethehigher

exclusionratesosomeBMEgroups

pupilsbyinterveningearly,identiying

problems,andsupportingpupilsandteachers.

Educationalunderachievement

Theachievementgapbetween16-year-

oldwhitepupilsandtheirPakistaniandArican-Caribbeanclassmateshasroughly

doubledsincethe1980s.61Insomeurban

authorities,AricanCaribbeanpupilsare

nowenteringcompulsoryschoolingasthe

highestachievinggroupbasedonbaseline

assessmentsbutleavingasthegroupleast

likelytogainvehighGCSEs.62

Theexplanationsoreducationalunderperormancearecomplexand

includetheconcentrationocertain

ethnicminoritygroupsindeprivedareas.63

Negativestereotypesaboutblackpupilsas

threateningarecommonandblackpupilsarethreetimesmorelikelytobeexcludedromschool.64Ethnicminoritychildren

continuetosuerracialabusedespite

attemptsbyschoolstotackleracistbullying.

InoneLondonborough,29percento

childrenhadbeenraciallyinsulted.65

Anumberoinitiativeshavebeen

introducedtohelpethnicminoritypupils

toovercomethebarrierstheyaceineducation.Inparticularthegovernments

AimingHighinitiativehasshownsome

successbothinraisingtheattainmento

AricanCaribbeanpupilsandensuringthat

raceequalityisrmlyontheagenda.TheTeachingandLearning2020ReviewGroup

hasmadeanumberorecommendations

onnewormsoassessmentand

personalisedlearningwhichtheDESis

considering.Suchinitiatives,iadequately

undedandaccessibletoallchildren,couldhaveapositiveimpactontheeducationo

ethnicminoritychildren.

Morebroadly,continuedeortsareneeded

toreducetheexclusionratesoArican-

Caribbeanpupilsandtotackleracismand

bullyinginschools.



The facts

nOverhaloallpoorchildren(52percent)liveinamilieswherethereisanadult

inwork.67

nTaxcreditsnowhelpmorethanamillionchildreninworkinghouseholdsouto

poverty,butthenumberneedingsuchhelphasrisensteadily. 68

nTheincidenceolowpayhasincreasedoverthelast25years,despitethe

introductionothenationalminimumwage.69

n Inaroundoneinthreecases,gainingajobmeanssimplymovingrombeingpoorandoutoworktobeingpoorandinwork.Formanypeople,lowpayisnotatemporaryexperience:low-paidworkerstendtostayinlow-paidand

insecurejobs.70

Sectionthree

Poorchildreninworkingamilies

TheGovernmentsmainstrategyortacklingchildpovertyisto

increaseparentalemployment.Butmorethanhalopoorchildren

liveinamilieswherethereisanadultinwork.Sogettingparentsintoworkcannotbethewholesolutiontochildpovertytheocusmust

changetoensuringthatworkpays.

Thiswillmeanallemployerspayinganadequatewagesome

aredoingthisthroughpayingalivingwage. 66Equallycrucialisthat

employersinvestintheirworkorcesothattheyacquiretheskills

neededorahigh-skill,high-productivityeconomy.Thegovernment

musttakeresponsibilityorensuringthatemployersplaytheirpartinpayingadecentminimumwagesothattaxcreditsdonotbecomea

wayosubsidisingpovertywages.


25/6823Poorchildreninworkingamilies

Casestudy171

Becky Barnardos Compass Partnership, Wrexham, Wales

Beckyisa24-year-oldsinglemother

witha2-year-oldsonshereceivesno

moneyromherchildsather.Sheworks

20hoursaweekinasupermarket

andispaid5.35anhour/87aweek

nethertotalincomeincludingchild

benetsandtaxcreditsis271aweek.

Childcarecosts100aweek,rentand

counciltax64aweek.Theremainder

oherweeklyincomegoesonutilities,

oodandnappies.Shehasnomoney

letorclothes,holidays,socialisingortosaveormajorexpenditure,suchas

replacingthewashingmachineorridge.

Livingonalowincomeimpactsonwhat

shecandowithherson:

He had two invites to go to parties in the

Whacky Warehouse and the Jolly Jungle

and he couldnt go because I couldnt

aord a present or his riend.

Beckywouldliketoworkmorehours

butisworriedthatisheincreases

herhoursthismayimpactonher

entitlementtotaxcreditsinthe

ollowingyear,makingherworseo.

Shesaysthathermumwasinthe

samesituationasherwhenshewas

growingup:

She was working ull-time and having to

leave me with my Nan, and in the end

it wasnt worth it or her to go to work.

Because she keeps having a go at me

now because Im doing the same as what

shes done.

Barnardos Compass Service inWrexham, North Wales, is there to

help young parents such as Becky

who are bringing up their children

on low incomes. It provides practical

advice on nutrition, on how to claim

benefts and on budgeting, as well

as emotional support rom parents

groups and the service workers.

As a single parent, Becky has many

demands on her time and no spare

money or treats. Compass helps

her to have opportunities to have

trips out and un days with her son.


26/68



Wilsonisasingleatherandhastwo

sonsaged11and6.Hehadnochoicebuttostopworkthreeyearsagoto

careorhiswie,whodiedlastyear,but

heisnowbackinull-timework.Heis

ontheminimumwage,earning5.35an

hour/180aweeknet.Histotalincome

withchildbenetsandtaxcreditsis

535aweek.Hisbiggestoutgoingis

onchildcare,whichis160aweekin

termtimeand300aweekinschool

holidaysanaverageo195aweek.

Healsopays20aweekinarestotake

hischildrentochildcare.Withhisother

outgoingssuchasrentandcounciltax

(75aweek),heisletwith197or

ood,clothesandpayingohis1,100

debt(incurredwhenhehadtopayor

hiswiesuneral).

ChildcareisabigissueorWilson:

In the area there are no child minders

registered to take children to their junior

school and at the moment Im asking a

neighbour to do it they have to get up

early in the morning, and out o the house

at 5.45 in the morning which towards the

end o a week does tell on them.

Wilsoneelsthathischildrenssecurity

andaspirationshavebeenlimitedbyhissituation:

Seeing things that beneft them, like a

computer would be benefcial, butyoure on a low income you cant aord

a computer.

Healsoeelsthatsingleathersget

littlesupport:

Because there isnt anything or single

athers out there I would imagine that

there are a lot o single athers out there

living in poverty as we are speaking now

not knowing who to contact or whatever orwhat to do.72

Casestudy271

Wilson Barnardos Community House Project, the Midlands

The Community House, in

Barnardos Midlands region, has

developed a number o activities

with volunteer athers like Wilson.Lone athers are ar less likely to

be in employment than athers in

couple amilies, and Wilson fnds

that the support group Dads R Us

and events like the Saturday brunch

or athers and holiday activities or

children, have helped him and his

children during a difcult period o

their lives.



TowardstheGovernments2010and2020targets



adequate incomeOnpresentpolicies,by2010thereare

projectedtobeover70,000morechildren

insingle-incomeworkingamiliesinpoverty

thantherewerein2004/05.Withthe3.8

billioninvestment,by2010therewouldbe

90,000ewerchildrenintheseamiliesin

povertycomparedto2004/05.

Keeping the 2020 promise to

end child poverty investing in

supporting families

Aswellasinvestingthe3.8billion,

measuresareneededtotacklethecauses

opovertyinworkingamilies:

Tacklingin-workpoverty

Itisclearthatlowearningsarecontributing

tothehighlevelsochildpoverty.Ithe

povertytargetsaretobereachedthenin-

workpovertymustbetackled.Palmeretal.

argueveryorceullythatthemaindriving

orcebehindtheallinchildpovertyhas

beenduetoreormssuchastaxcredits

ratherthantheshitintowork.73They

state:Inourviewitisaailuretorecognize

theextentoin-workpovertythatisthe

undamentalthreattothechildpoverty

strategy.Dialogueisneededbetweenthegovernmentandemployersonthelevelo

thenationalminimumwageandemployees

responsibilitiestoamiliesontraining,jobs

thatoerprogressionandfexibleworking.

Jobsthatoerprogression

EvidenceromtheUSAaswellastheUKs

EmploymentZoneevaluationshowthat

goodjobmatchingiscentraltohelpingindividualsstayinjobs.Althoughjobentry

ratestendtobelower,withmorecareover

matchingindividualstosuitablejobs,more

childrenarelikelytobelitedoutopoverty

perentryintowork.

ThetargetsorJobcentrePlusstaneedto

becomearmoreattunedtogettingparents

intoqualityjobsthatoerprogressioninwork:thishasbeenrecognisedbytheDWP,

whichproposestointroduceaNewDeal

orFamilies.Thiswillgiveparentingahigh

priorityespeciallyintermsoworkthat

isfexibleandndingsuitablechildcare

orparents.74Aswellastheexisting

successmeasureothenumberojob

placements,progresswillalsobemeasured

bythesustainabilityojobsoeredand

progression.Thisiswelcome,buttobeeective,itneedstoberolledoutmore

widely,asthereiscommitmentonlytoa

pilotprojectinLondon.

Moreemphasisisalsoneededonjob

sustainabilityandthemonitoringand

measuringostartingpay,jobretention

andprogresswithinjobs.Thiswillprevent

vulnerablegroupssimplycyclinginand

outowork.ThoughonlyearlyndingsareavailableromtheEmploymentRetention

andAdvancementdemonstrationpilot 75

(ERA)createdtoexplorestrategiesor

improvingsustainabilityandprogression

withinwork,thesupportandadvice

elementsothislookpromising.These

pilotsdeliveredmorepersonaladviser

supportandapaymentorstayinginwork

oraparticularlengthotime.ERAraised

earningsonbalanceacrosstheboard

primarilybecauseitencouragedmore

parentstoworkull-timeratherthanpart-

time.TheDWPshouldallocateadequate

undingtoenablethesepilotstoberolled

outtoclientsonallNewDealprogrammes.

Familiesrelyingononeearner

Familiesshouldmakethechoicethatis

rightorthemonwhetherbothparentswork.However,thereisevidenceora

cleardemandorhelpwithenteringwork



aroundoneinveworklesspartnersin

single-earnercouplesinpovertyarelooking

orworkandintendtolookorworkin

theuture.76TheDWPiscurrently

examininghowsecondearnerscanbe

encouragedintothelabourmarketas

wellaswhethertolegislatetorequirethe

partnersoparentsclaimingjobseekers

allowancetoattendsix-monthlywork-

ocusedinterviews.77

Aneectivepolicyorencouragingsecond

earnersintoworkwillneedtoaddress

boththebarrierstoemploymentsuchas

aordablechildcareandthebarriersin

employmentsuchaslowpayandlack

oprogression.

The way forward

Tackling in-work povertyhalo

allpoorchildrenliveinamilieswhere

thereisanadultinwork.Thechild

povertytargetscannotbemetunless

tacklingin-workpovertybecomesa

keyGovernmentpriority.nTheGovernmentmustworkwith

employerstoensurethattheytake

seriouslytheirresponsibilitiesor

payingadecentwage,ensuring

thatjobsoerprogressionthrough

in-worktraining,andamilyriendly

workingconditions.

nJobcentrePlustopreventthecycling

ovulnerablegroupsinandoutoworkthroughbetterjobmatching

andgettingparentsintojobsthatare

asustainablerouteoutopoverty.

ThiswillrequireGovernmentto

allocatesucientundingsothatall

NewDealprogrammescanoer

morepersonaladvisersupport

andinitiativesorstayinginwork

asinthesuccessulEmployment

andRetentionandAdvancementdemonstrationpilotwhichhave

shownsomeearlypromisingresults.



The facts

nElevenpercentoone-parentamiliesliveongrossweeklyincomeso100aweek

orlessandorty-onepercentliveongrossweeklyincomeso200aweekorless.80Asinglepensionerhasapensionguaranteeo119.05aweek.

n Itisestimatedthatreducingbyhalthenumberochildreninlone-parentamilies

inpovertywouldrequirealone-parentemploymentrateo86percent.81Yetloneparentsacesomeotheweakestincentivestoworkandtoearnmore,becausemanywouldbesubjecttowithdrawaloataxcreditormeans-testedbenetastheir

earningsrise:overtwo-thirdsoworkingloneparentsaceaneectivemarginaltax

rateinexcesso50percent.82

nChildmaintenancepaymentscanbealadderoutopovertyandintoworkorloneparents(byactingasawagesupplement)itheyareregularandnotosetby

allsinbenet.83

nLoneparentsaremorelikelythanotheradultsotheiragetohavelowqualications,

tobeclaimingsicknessanddisabilitybenets,tohaveachildunder5andtolivein

socialhousing.84

Sectionour

Lone-parentamiliesTheriskopovertyorchildreninlone-parentamiliesishigh:in

lone-parenthouseholds,50percentochildrenarelivingbelowthe

povertylinecomparedwith23percentochildrenintwo-parent

amilies.78TheUKhasthesecondhighestchildpovertyrateorlone

parentsintheEU,79primarilyduetothehighratesoworklessnessin

theUKamongloneparents.


31/6829Lone-parentamilies

Heatherisasingleparentwiththree

childrenlivingonincomesupport.Shereceivesnomaintenancepayments.

Herincomerombenetsis210.44a

week40.56belowtheGovernments

povertyline.86Sheisconstantlyin

debt,andparticularlystrugglesinholiday

timetopayorsocialactivitiesand

schooluniorms.

Its when they all need the same clothes

at the same time, especially school uniorm thats what I fnd really difcult the

children have never been on holiday it

was a case o do I take them on holiday

or a week or pay the bills?

Shehassueredromdepression

becauseonancialpressureshe

begantrainingasateachingassistantbut

oundshecouldnotcope;althoughshe

volunteersatBarnardos,sheeelsunabletoreturntowork.

Heatherhasbeentoseeapersonal

adviserundertheNewDealorLone

Parentschildcarecostsareananxiety

andsheeelsthatshewillbeworseo

inwork.Shealsoeelsthatthereareno

jobsthatoerthefexibilitythatwould

enablehertocareorherchildren.

They are trying to make the workorce

more flexible or working mothers and this,

and that and the other but at the end o

the day when you go back to work they

want someone reliable, they dont want

someone coming in and saying sorry Ive

got to go because Ive had a phone call

and my childs ill at school.

ForHeather,concernsoverchildcare

costsandworkfexibilityare

symptomaticohergeneralearo

returningtoworkateralongperiodobeingaull-timeparent.

You dont expect lie to get any better,

you just struggle all the time, you think

this is lie.

Casestudy185

Heather Barnardos Ely Family Centre, Cardiff

Barnardos Ely Family Centre in

Cardi provides a range o services.

When Heathers children wereyounger she used the parent and

toddler group. Now, the ater-school

club, holiday activities and amily

outings provide support to

Heather in caring or her children

and sta oer skilled advice, or

example on parenting or welare

beneft entitlements.



Casestudy285

Michelle Barnardos Hive Project, Sunderland, North East

Michellehasourchildrenaged18,14,

11and4.Shehadrecentlyletherjobasayouthworkerbecauseherhours

werecutrom16to7.Thismeant

shecouldntclaimworkingtaxcredit

andlostotherbenetssuchashousing

benetandreeschoolmealsorher

children.ItnolongerpaidMichelleto

stayinwork.AsMichelleexplains,there

arenotmanyopportunitiesoryouth

workinthearea:

Hours, not enough hours. Some

times they start o with six or seven

depending on the unding they might be

able to give you a couple more hours here.

I the unding runs out you have no job.

Michelleschildrenwereproudotheir

mumwhensheworked:

Cos sometimes at school what does your

mam do? And he was saying oh my mamworks. My mams a youth worker you know.

Nowthestigmaoclaimingreeschool

mealsismakingliedicult:Adam, he wont have ree meals, wont

go in the ree meal queue, its like a card

and people will say oh you are a Nashy i

you have got this type o ticket. So I give

him money. Nash, the Nash, its slang

or benefts.

The Hive is a Barnardos community

development project in Sunderland.It gives single parents like Michelle

the opportunity to increase their

skills and confdence through

volunteering, and taking courses

which help them to get back into

work as their children become

older. The Hive also runs courses

on nutrition and has an allotment so

that parents can provide low-cost,

healthy meals or their children.



TowardstheGovernments2010and2020povertytargets



adequate income

Onpresentpolicies,by2010thereare

projectedtobeabout30,000more

childreninlone-parentamiliesinpoverty

thantherewerein2004/05.Withthe3.8

billioninvestment,by2010therewouldbe

320,000ewerchildrenintheseamiliesin

povertycomparedto2004/05.

Keeping the 2020 promise to

end child poverty by investing in

supporting families

Incometransersthroughthebenetsand

taxsystemarecrucialortacklingpoverty

orchildreninlone-parentamilies.Butother

stepsarenecessary,includingmeasures

totacklesocialexclusion;eortstomake

employmentsustainable,fexibleandbetter

paid;moresupportwithchildcare;and

ensuringthatchildmaintenancegetstothe

amilieswhoneedit.

Initiativestotacklesocialexclusion

Addressingthesocialisolation,lacko

condenceandotenpoorphysicaland

mentalhealththatmanyloneparents

experiencemustbegivenahighpriority. 87

My sel-esteem and my confdence havegrown and changed Ive got uture plans

where I never had any because I used to think

I was stuck with the children. Coming here Ive

realised I can do things even with the children.

I have done my introduction to youth work

and my youth portolio.

I the Government put more money into

places like this more ree training, training

with a creche.(Rachel,withtwochildrenaged4and13

BarnardosHiveProject, 88NorthEast.

Rachelisstartingauniversitycoursein

Septemberacrecheisprovidedat

theuniversity,whichwasanimportant

considerationorher.)

Localservicesprovidedbythestatutory

orvoluntarysectorcanplayakeyroleintacklingsocialisolationandexclusion.This

willincreasethelikelihoodoloneparents

seekingtrainingoremploymentandwill

improvethequalityolieorthemand

theirchildren.Supportpackagesareneeded,

andpartnershipworkingbetweenagencies

suchasJobcentrePlussta,childrens

centres,localauthoritiesandthevoluntary

andcommunitysectorineverylocalitytodirectloneparentstoappropriateservices.

TheGovernmentshouldencourage

schoolstoremovetherisksobullying

andstigmatisationorchildrengettingree

schoolmealsbyintroducingsystemslike

cashlesssmartcards.Therecanbeno

excuseorseparatequeuesorticketsor

childrenclaimingreeschoolmeals.

Employment

TheGovernmenthasatargetoreaching

anemploymentrateo70percent

(currently56.5percent)orloneparents

by2010.Thiswouldlitaurther200,000

childrenoutopoverty.Itisestimatedthata

65percentemploymentrateisachievable

oncurrentwelaretoworkpolicies.89

However,reachingthe70percenttargetwillrequiretheimplementationoa

packageopolicymeasures;the

Harkerreviewproposedsuchapackage.90

TheGovernmenthasrecentlypublished

itsresponse:91

nRollingouttheNewDealPlusorLone

Parents(NDLP).Itisestimatedthatithe

NewDealPlusorLoneParentsincluded

allloneparentsandnotjustthepresent10percentoloneparentsonincome

support,thelone-parentemployment



ratecouldriseby23percent,taking

upto40,000childrenoutopoverty. 92

TheGovernmentsresponsehasbeen

toextendtheNDLPtoMarch2011and

toincludeallloneparentsinLondon;93

thiswillonlygopartothewaytowards

achievingtheestimatedimpacton

childpoverty.

nMeasurestoimprovejobretention94

willbekeyintacklingpoverty:thecase

studiesshowthedicultiesostayingin

trainingorwork.Inanyoneyearabout

oneintenloneparentsleavework,

makingtheirexitratesmorethandouble

therateothosewhoarenotloneparents.A20percentreductioninlone-

parentexitratescouldlit44,000children

outopoverty.95

TheJobcentrePlustargetmeasuresthe

numberojobplacements.Thishasbeen

widenedtogiveparentalemployment

apriorityandtorewardsustained

employmentandprogression. 96However,

theGovernmenthasnotgivendetailsohowthiswillbedone:orexample,

employerengagementwillbekeyto

ensuringthatthejobsonoerare

fexibleandmeettheparentingneedso

loneparents.

Thereareotherissuestoaddressilone

parentsaretobesupportedtowork:

HelpwithtransitiontoworkToqualiyorworkingtaxcredit,including

helpwithchildcarecosts,aparentmust

workoraminimumo16hoursaweek.

Thisruleisabarriertoworkandfexibility

onthisisneededespeciallyorpeople

enteringworkatertraining,voluntary

work,alongperiodoutothelabour

marketororthoselikeMichellewhose

hourswerereduced.

Manyloneparentsstrugglenanciallywith

thetransitiontowork,especiallyasthey

mayhavetopaychildcarecostsup-ront.

TheDWPhasmadeeortstoaddressthis

throughthein-workcreditorloneparents

ontheNDLP,whichprovidesanextra

40perweekorloneparentsmoving

intoworkinortherstyear,covering

40percentoloneparents.Thiswillnow

beextendeduntilJune2008andtherate

payableinLondonwillbeincreasedto60

perweek.97Thisiswelcome,butcoverage

mustbeextendedtoincludealllone

parents,astheexistingsystemmeansthat

onlythoseloneparentslivinginthepilot

areascanbenet.

Anotherinitiativewhichcouldpotentially

motivateparentstomakethetransitionto

workistheintroductionothe20work-

relatedactivitypremiumorloneparentso

olderchildrenonincomesupportpreparing

orareturntowork.Thiswasproposedin

theWelareReormGreenPaperbutthere

arenoplansbytheDWPtoimplementit. 98

TheGovernmentisurgedtoreconsiderthis

asitcouldbenetthoseparentswhohave

beenoutoworkorsometimeandneed

helpwithpre-worktraining.

Parentsneedasmoothertransitionrom

benetstoworkandtheDWPmust

considerhowthiscanbedone:

The Government could make changes to

the system so that income wasnt initiallydeducted rom benefts and this would give

amilies time to adjust fnancially to returning

to work.

(Alisonwiththreeyoungchildren,

SouthWest).

Tacklingin-workpoverty

Noteverymoveintoworkisamoveout

opoverty14percentochildrenoloneparentswhoworkull-timeand30

percentwhoworkpart-time99stilllivein



poverty.Improvingtheskillsoloneparents

throughoeringbothpre-worktraining

andensuringthattheygetintoasuitable

jobwhichoersprogressionintheuture

iskeytoensuringthatworkdoesindeed

pay.Agreaterchallengeistoaddressthe

genderpaygaponthecurrentrateo

changeitwilltakeuntil2085toclosethis.100

Governmentpolicyneedstobemuchmore

attunedtoworkingwithemployerstotake

theirresponsibilitiesmoreseriously.

Childcare

Improvementsinthesupplyandaordability

ochildcareaswellasmorefexibleworking

opportunitiesareessentialithelone-

parentemploymentrateistobeincreased.

Thetypicalcostoachildcareplaceora

childundertwois152aweekinEngland

and131inWales.Thiscomparesto

averageearningso447aweek.Thecosts

haveincreasedbyalmost6percentrom

lastyear.101Almostallparentsinthecase

studiesorthisreportstatedthatchildcare

costswereabarriertowork.

Childmaintenance

Only22.8percentolone-parentamilies

arereceivingmaintenancepayments:

inthesecasesmaintenanceismakinga

dierence,reducingchildpovertyratesby

asmuchas13.9percentinlone-parent

amilies.102TheDWPestimatesthatchild

maintenancepaymentscurrentlylitatotalo100,000childrenoutopoverty.

However,childmaintenancecouldplaya

muchbiggerrole:itdelivers25percent

oAustriaschildpovertyreduction,24

percentoSwitzerlands,18percento

Swedensandonly2.9percentintheUK. 103

Mostparentswithcareonbenetsare

onlyallowedtokeep10oanychildmaintenancethatthenon-residentparent

paysanyamountabovethisisdeducted

rombenets.TheWhitePaperonthe

ChildSupportAgency104proposesthatrom

2008/09allparentswillreceivethechild

maintenancedisregardo10,beneting

anadditional55,000children,withahigher

disregardbeingconsideredater2010.105

Thesechangeswillcomeintoeecttoolate

tohaveanyimpactonthe2010target.The

proposalputorwardbySirDavidHenshaw

wastopermitacompletedisregardonany

childmaintenancepaidtoparentslivingon

benets;estimatedtocost230million,

thismeasurecouldlitbetween80,000and

90,000childrenoutopoverty,contributing

signicantlytothechildpovertygoal.106

Theparentsinterviewedorthisreport

expressedrustrationandangeratthe

lackomaintenance.Forexample,Angela

isawarethatherhusbandstillpays

maintenanceorthechildren,althoughshe

doesntreceivethisassheisonbenets:

His money goes to the secretary o state

I have been told.

(AngelasingleparentwithourchildrenBarnardosFITAservice,London).

Butworkisnottheonlysolution

The2010and2020targetscannotbemet

byincreasesinemploymentalone.Work

ormanyotheseamilieswillnotbean

optionbecausetheirchildrenaretooyoung,

orbecausesomeoneintheamilyhaspoor

healthorisdisabled.Anequalemphasismustbeplacedonensuringthatlone

parentshaveanadequateincomewhenout

owork.



The way forward

Employmentloneparentsace

seriousdisadvantageinthelabour

marketwhichwillhinderthe

Governmentsaimoa70percent

employmentrateorloneparentsby

2010.Achievingthiswillrequirearange

opolicymeasures,including:

nHelpwiththetransitiontoworkby

providingaweeklypaymento40

(60inLondon)ortherstyear

toallloneparentswhostartwork.

Thiswouldbeanextensionothe

NewDealPluspilotschemecurrently

covering45percentoloneparents.nJobcentrePlustohavemeasurable

targetstoreducethehighexitrateso

loneparentsenteringworkortraining

byprovidingpersonalisedsupport

toallloneparentsenteringworkso

thatissues,suchaschildcareorlacko

trainingandprogressioninwork,can

beaddressed.

n

Relaxtherulerequiringapersontoworkaminimumo16hoursaweek

toqualiyorworkingtaxcredits.

Initiatives to tackle social exclusion

encouragingloneparentsintotraining

andintojobscannotbeachievedon

itsown.Betterco-ordinationisneeded

betweenlocalstatutoryandvoluntary

agenciestoaddressthesocialisolation,

lackocondenceandotenpoor

physicalandmentalhealthomany

loneparents.

Child maintenancecurrently

parentswithcarewhoareonbenets

onthenewschemeareonlyallowedto

keep10oanychildmaintenancepaid

bythenon-residentparent,parentsontheoldschemedontevengetthat.The

Governmentshouldincreasetheamount

thatparentscankeeptheHenshaw

reportestimatedthatiloneparents

weretokeeptheullamountochild

maintenancepaidbytheabsentparent

withoutitaectingtheirbenets(a

completedisregard)thiscouldtakeupto

900,000childrenoutopoverty.


37/6835

The facts

n Improvementsbythegovernmentinthetaxandbenetsystemsince1999havehelpedtolitthemostseverelydisabledchildrenoutopoverty. 107In2005/06,30percentodisabledchildrenwerelivinginpovertyaterhousingcosts,thesameasorall

children.108However,amilieswithdisabledchildrenarestilldisproportionatelylikelytomissout109asthereadditionalcostsincaringoradisabledchilditcoststhree

timesasmuchtobringupadisabledchildasitdoesanon-disabledchild.110Benetincreaseshavenotbeenbasedontheseextracosts.

nTheprogressmadeinlitingdisabledchildrenoutopovertyhasnotbeenreplicatedoramilieswithadisabledadult.In2005/06,theriskoachildlivinginpovertywas42percentaterhousingcosts,wheretherewasatleastonedisabledadultand27percentwherenooneintheamilywasdisabled.111

nOneinthreechildreninpovertybetween700,000and850,000112hasaparent

withasel-reporteddisabilityoralongstandinghealthcondition.nFamilieswithdisabledchildrenare50percentmorelikelytobeindebtand50per

centlesslikelytobeabletoaordholidays,newclothes,schooloutingsortreatsortheirchildren.113

n Just16percentomotherswithdisabledchildrenwork,comparedwith61percent

omotherswithnon-disabledchildren.114

TheGovernmentestimatesthatthereare770,000disabledchildrenintheUK,7percentoallchildren,andthatdisabledchildrenareagrowingandsignicantgroup. 115Between1975and2002therewasanincreaseo62percentinthenumbero

disabledchildren.116

Sectionve

Familiesaectedbydisability

Familieswhoareaectedbyadisabilitywhetheroaparentora

childareatagreaterthanaverageriskopersistentpoverty.The

additionalcostsodisabilitypushmanyamiliesintopoverty.Parentsinsuchamiliesarelesslikelytowork,andthereisagreaterlikelihood

thatthosewhodoworkarelowpaid.



RachelandBenhavethreechildrenaged13,10and8.Thetwoyounger

childrenareautisticwithseverelearning

disabilities.Bengaveuphisjobwhentheir

secondchildwasdiagnosedsevenyears

agoasthechildrenneeded24-hourcare:

I had a really good job me. I was earning

500/600 a week, good pay. Good bonus,

really good pension scheme and I just had

to give it all up. I had been there 21 years.

Theamilyhomewasrepossessedand

theyhadtomoveintoacouncilhouse

andaretotallyreliantonbenets.

Dailylieisastruggleduemainlytothe

extracostsotheirchildrensdisabilities.

Theamilyreceives383.75aweek

inbenets,includingdisabilitybenets,

sotechnicallytheyareabovethe

Governmentspovertylineo345

118

butthisdoesnottakeaccounto

theextracostsodisability.Theamily

needsalargehousebecauseoneothe

childrendoesnotsleepproperlyand

disturbseveryone,butthismakesheating

costsveryhigh:thehousehas13or14

radiators.Theoodbillisalsohigh,as

oneothechildrenhascoeliacdisease

andoneotheparentsisalsodiabetic;

thisrequentlymeanshavingtopreparedierentmealsordierentamily

members,whichincreasesthecost.

Theysaythattheonlyreasonthey

getbyisbecauseothechildrens

disabilitylivingallowance(DLA).Theydo

notgooutasaamilyasshortbreaks

areexpensive:

We were oered 29 (through direct

payments) to get someone to look aterBarbara or 6 hours, no ones going to do

that we couldnt aord that.BenandRachelwouldlikemoremoney

sothattheycanpayorcare:

I know o a child who went into respite

care or one week and it cost 900.

Theysaythattheyeellikeprisonersin

theirownhome.

Althoughtheamilyhasmanagedtostay

together(themovetoalargerhouse

helped),thestressisclear,asRachel

pointsout:

We were constantly arguing all the time.

Youre tired; youre on top o each other,

shouting at each other. Theres defnitely

no way we would be together now i we

hadnt moved.

ForBentheutureisnothopeul:

Ive not got a house to pass down tothe children because wed have had a

mortgage and that would have been paid

o and Id have had a great pension. Im

43 now and say I dont get back to work:

what happens to me and my wie then?

Ive not got anything. I probably wont have

any skills to go back to work; Ill probably

be too old.

Casestudy1117

The Roberts family Barnardos Salford Families Project,

Salford, North West

BarnardosSalordFamiliesProjectsupportsamilieslikethe

Robertsbyoeringacomprehensive

serviceordisabledchildrenand

youngpeopleandtheirparents.

Familiesareprovidedwithadvice

onthebenetstowhichtheyare

entitled.Playschemesandshort

breakcarearealsoavailable,which

helpamiliescontinuetocopeinstressulcircumstances.


39/6837Familiesaectedbydisability

Casestudy2117

Fiona Barnardos Community Links Project, Wales

Fionaisasingleparentwithtwo

children,adaughteraged7andJoshua,whois5andisontheautisticspectrum.

Fionaiscurrentlytakingayouthand

communityworktrainingcoursein

ordertobec

[barnardos free docs.]it doesn t happen here full report 8878 1

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