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Oxfordshire Children & Young People’s Trust:

Child Poverty Needs Assessment

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Contents

1. Summary of Key Findings 4 2. Introduction 6

2.1 Why do a needs assessment? 2.2 The process and governance 2.3 Definitions of child poverty 2.4 At risk groups

3. Local Context: Facts and Figures 11 4. What does Child Poverty Look Like in Oxfordshire? 12

4.1 Geography 4.2 Age breakdown

5. Employment and Skills 13

5.1 Job availability and economic activity 5.2 Knowledge based economy 5.3 Large public sector but under threat 5.4 Lower skilled opportunities fewer and falling 5.5 Location of jobs 5.6 Skills levels and qualifications 5.7 Skills gap 5.8 Unemployment 5.9 Who is hardest hit? 5.10 Young people not in education, employment or training 5.11 Barriers to employment 5.12 Summary statement of needs

6. Financial Support 19

6.1 Benefits 6.2 Other forms of financial support 6.3 Debt: making matters worse 6.4 Benefit dependency 6.5 Summary statement of needs

7. Family and Life Chances 22

7.1 Maternal health and effect on babies 7.2 Importance of the early years

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7.3 Parenting and the home environment 7.4 Childcare and early education 7.5 Achievement gaps widen as children get older 7.6 Summary statement of needs

8. Place and Delivery 30

8.1 Housing: a worsening problem 8.2 Fuel poverty 8.3 Homelessness 8.4 Quality of the environment 8.5 Living in a rural environment: implications for child poverty 8.6 Summary statement of needs

Appendix One 35 Summary of Children and Young People’s Involvement Network (ChYPIN) intergenerational workshop on child poverty, 12th April 2011 Appendix Two Maps Appendix Three 36 References

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1. Summary of Key Findings

In Oxfordshire there are 15,660 children in poverty, or 11.7% of all children in the area

(NI 116, 2008). This is about half the national average and puts the county in the lowest

25% of local authorities in England.

However, within the county there are wide variations. 23.2% of children in Oxford City, or

5,800 are living in poverty compared to 7.4% or 1,650 in West Oxfordshire. Ten wards in

Oxford City, one in Banbury and one in Abingdon are within the top 25% most

disadvantaged nationally (NI 116, 2008).

Oxfordshire is the most rural county in the South East. Child poverty does not tend to show

up in rural data as numbers are small. However, when all the small numbers are added

together, the rural share (of children in poverty) is 23% or 3,345 children (Oxfordshire

Rural Community Council 2011).

The experience of growing up in poverty in a rural area may be worse than in an urban

area due to poor access to services that can help.

Some children are more at risk of being in poverty than others. Of the 15,660 children in

poverty in Oxfordshire, 73% or 11,432 are in lone parent families (NI 116, 2008).

Employment is a key route out of poverty. In Oxfordshire the economy has remained

relatively strong in spite of the recession & there are jobs with prospects for those with the

right skills and qualifications (although the impact of public sector job losses has yet to be

felt).

However, in a competitive job market with high numbers of people with degrees; parents

and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or areas face major barriers including

low self confidence & low aspirations, lack of basic skills, qualifications and experience,

difficulty finding and affording childcare and problems with transport.

Benefit dependency may then become the norm and children growing up in these families

are in danger of repeating the vicious circle which keeps them in poverty.

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Education is the key to gaining a job with prospects. Oxford is a world renowned centre of

learning and place of academic excellence. However, the picture is very different for those

groups of young people growing up poverty. In 2010 only 22% of those growing up in

poverty (defined as eligible for Free School Meals) achieved 5 or more GCSEs A* - C

including English and Maths (DfE 2010).

Poor educational attainment amongst children living in the areas of deprivation, and from

‘at risk’ groups (including looked after children, children of teenage mothers, children from

some ethnic groups) starts very young, gets worse and often leads to Not being in

Education, Employment or Training (NEET) at age 16 with poor prospects for the future.

Where you live in the county and what your family background is also determines how

healthy you are. For example, smoking in pregnancy, which is linked to low birth weight

(an indicator of future health problems) is over three times more likely amongst teenage

mothers than mothers aged over 20 (Oxfordshire PCT 2010). Poor health is a barrier to

employment and may also affect parenting capacity.

Having a stable, good quality home to live in is a basic necessity and pre-requisite to

enable children to learn, thrive and achieve. In Oxfordshire there is a major shortage of

affordable housing. At worst this results in homelessness – there are currently over 200

children living in temporary accommodation in Oxford City (Oxford City Council 2011),

whose health and educational achievement is at serious risk.

In summary, children growing up in Oxfordshire face very different outcomes according to

who they are (family background) & where they live. There are many initiatives already in

place to improve the life chances of children growing up in poverty and narrow the gap but

more is needed, if all children in Oxfordshire are to have a bright future.

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2. Introduction Growing up in poverty has a significant impact on children and young people both during

their childhood and beyond. Research shows that children who grow up in poverty have a

greater risk of having poor health, low educational attainment and failing to reach their full

potential. Currently 22% of children in the UK are living in poverty. This equates to 2.8

million children (NI116, 2008). The Government has renewed its commitment to ending

child poverty by 2020 and the Child Poverty Act 2010 requires action to be taken both at a

national and local level.

It is clear that the coalition government’s approach to child poverty is much broader than

the traditional approach of moving families above an arbitrary income level. The ambition

is to create the environment, incentives and skills for people to be able to create a better

life for their families. This is supported through the new Localism Bill (Department for

Communities and Local Government, 2010) and the drive towards “Community Budgets”

that will be rolled out nationally by 2014/14. Additionally the direction of travel outlined in

the Public Health White Paper (DoH, 2010) and the NHS White Paper (2010) reinforce the

message that abolishing child poverty is a cross-departmental priority for government.

Last year the government published the report of the Independent Review on Poverty and

Life Chances (Field 2010). The recommendations from this report, together with the report

on the cost effectiveness of and evidence base for early intervention programmes (Allen

2011), formed the basis of a government consultation on tackling Child Poverty (DfE, DWP

and HM Treasury, 2011).

In April the government published the national Child Poverty Strategy (DfE and DWP

2011). This Child Poverty Needs Assessment is the first step towards a local Child Poverty

Strategy for Oxfordshire. In line with best practice endorsed by the national Child Poverty

Unit this is not a completely comprehensive document – rather, it aims to use local

information to identify what is unique and different about Oxfordshire and to guide

decision-makers in where the priorities for action should be.

2.1 Why do a Needs Assessment? Child Poverty is not necessarily an issue that people immediately associate with an

affluent county like Oxfordshire. However, 15,660 children aged 0-16 are currently living in

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poverty, which is 11.7% of the population (NI116, 2008). Perhaps even more surprising, it

is estimated that there are 10,000 children, or 9% living in severe poverty (New Policy

Institute,2011) and when we look more closely at some smaller areas and particular

groups, the numbers are far higher.

The Child Poverty Needs Assessment is an opportunity to highlight what child poverty

looks like in Oxfordshire, to identify who is in poverty, where they live, why they are in

poverty, examples of local good practice in relation to child poverty and evidence about

what more we could be doing to lift people out of poverty.

Tackling child poverty will help to improve children’s lives today and it will also enhance

their life chances in the longer term, enabling them to make the most of their talents,

achieve their full potential in life and pass on the benefits to their children. It is an issue

that is already at the heart of our local Children’s and Young People’s Plan, The

Oxfordshire 20:30 Strategy and Oxfordshire County Council’s Corporate Plan. Narrowing

the gap for our most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and breaking the cycle of

deprivation remain key priorities for the Council and NHS alike.

It is also a highly cost effective approach. Child poverty is expensive both in terms of direct

costs to services during and after childhood and in costs to the economy when children

grow up. Some estimates put the costs at £25 billion a year (Improvement and

Development Agency (IDeA) 2010).

The Child Poverty Act 2010 requires local authorities to co-ordinate a needs assessment

and to develop a joint strategy with partners to tackle child poverty in their area.

Partnership involvement is essential as the causes and consequences of child poverty cut

across many different sectors.

2.2 The Process and Governance The Oxfordshire Children and Young People’s Trust is responsible for overseeing the

needs assessment and developing the strategy. A small group of data experts has

gathered together key data and information, using the suggested framework of the four

building blocks from the IDeA’s national toolkit as outlined below:

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Employment

and Life Skills

Family and Life Chances

Financial Support

Place and Delivery

At risk groups

In Oxfordshire, the child poverty needs assessment is not just about gathering facts and

figures but an opportunity to draw on the knowledge and experience of local practitioners

and children, young people and their families. To achieve this four consultation workshops

took place in March and April which attracted a wide range of people and organisations.

This included three workshops held in the North, City and South of the County bringing

together more than 100 frontline professionals. Their input is integrated throughout this

report.

In April, 40 children and their parents and carers came together at an inter-generational

workshop to discuss child poverty. Additionally Oxfordshire Young Enablers (OYE!) ran a

satellite workshop session with young disabled people. A summary of their discussions

about what keeps people living in poverty and what can be done to lift people out of

poverty is included as Appendix 1. This very early engagement with partners, frontline

workers and people who live in Oxfordshire has enabled a more complete and in depth

picture of child poverty to be assembled as well as getting ‘buy in’ and engagement for the

future implementation of the strategy.

2.3 Definitions of Child Poverty At its most basic level, child poverty means growing up in a household with 60% less than

average income. Improving family income through maximising the benefits they may be

entitled to and helping parents into reasonably paid employment is one of the key ways to

lift families out of poverty. However, tackling income poverty and material deprivation is

only one element of addressing the problem. Poverty is not just about a lack of money or

‘doing without’. It is also about the range of experiences in childhood that can be ‘life

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limiting’ and impact negatively on a child’s life chances and their potential to succeed in

later life.

“It is family background, parental education, good parenting and the opportunities

for learning and development….. that together matter more to children than money”

(Field 2010)

Or as one young person put it at the local workshop

“Poverty…it’s what’s in your life not what’s in your bank account.”

The needs assessment therefore looks at a broad range of factors that contribute to child

poverty to highlight who is affected and where they live, to ensure that the problem is

tackled holistically.

2.4 At Risk Groups We know that there are certain groups who are at greater risk of child poverty and

particular attention has been paid to highlighting their needs throughout this assessment.

Lone parents

There are 1.1 million children in lone parent families nationally living in relative poverty,

just over a third of this group. In Oxfordshire of the 15,660 children living in poverty, 73%

or 11,432 are in lone parent families (NI116, 2008)

Families with children or parents who are disabled The proportion of children in relative poverty is significantly higher in families where at

least one member is disabled (29%) than families where no one is disabled (DfE, DWP

2011). There are 450 children with disabilities registered within Oxfordshire (Framework-I,

April 2011)

Black and minority ethnic families (including Gypsy and Traveller families) Children in these families are almost twice as likely to live in relative poverty as children

from white families (DfE, DWP 2011). In Oxford City out of the 14,827 children in schools,

6823 or nearly half are from Black and Minority Ethnic groups (Oxfordshire County Council

2011)

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Asylum seekers and refugees

Children in these families or unaccompanied minors often experience severe social,

economic and health problems that are likely to impact negatively on their life chances. 35-

40 unaccompanied asylum seeking children are registered in Oxfordshire (Framework-I

April 2011).

Teenage mothers

Children born to teenage mothers are 63% more likely to live in poverty than children born

to mothers in their twenties (DfE, DWP 2011). In Oxfordshire there are about 175 new

mothers aged 15-17 years old in any one year (Oxfordshire PCT, 2011).

Looked After Children and Young Carers are at higher risk of poor outcomes due to

very low educational attainment. There are currently 430 looked after children in

Oxfordshire (Framework-I, April 2011). A survey conducted by the Children’s and Young

Peoples Board conducted in 2007 identified 29% of school age children as being involved

in some level of caring.

Special Educational Needs Almost 16,000 pupils were identified as displaying special needs with just over 2000 being

issued with statements (Census, Jan 2010). 12% of those with special needs were NEET

(Not in education, employment or training) compared with 5.7% overall (Oxfordshire

County Council, IYSS, April 2011) and the proportion of Oxfordshire pupils with any SEN

attaining 5 A*-C including English and mathematics has risen steadily from 7% in 2006 to

14% in 2010. The gap between those with SEN and their peers has fluctuated but has

increased from 50 to 54 percentage points 2006 – 2010.

Young offenders and children who have a parent in prison are also at high risk of poor

outcomes. 490 Young offenders were recorded in Oxfordshire in 2010, a quarter are Not in

Education, Employment or Training (Oxfordshire County Council, IYSS, April 2011).

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3. Local context: Some facts and figures

• Oxfordshire has an estimated population of 640,300, of which 156,700 are children and

young people (ONS 2009)

• Oxfordshire is the most rural county in the South East region. Over 40% of people in

Oxfordshire live in settlements of less than 10,000 people (Oxfordshire County Council,

2010)

• Forecasts predict a rise in population in the county as a whole but many rural areas are

forecast to see a decline in their child populations by 2016 (Oxfordshire County Council

Policy Unit 2011)

• Conversely, in the largely urban central area (Oxford City), the pre-school population is

estimated to rise by 17% by 2016 (Oxfordshire County Council Policy Unit 2011)

• Oxford City is the most ethnically diverse district, with more than one quarter (28%) of

its population belonging to Other White or Black and Minority Ethnic groups. This is

second highest in the South East region (Oxfordshire County Council Policy Unit 2011)

• Oxfordshire has relatively low levels of deprivation, coming 137th out of 149 counties

(149 being the lowest) (IMD 2007). However, there are now eighteen small areas

(SOAs) that fall into the top 20% most disadvantaged areas nationally (a rise from 12 in

2007) and one that falls into the top 10% nationally (IMD 2010).

In summary, Oxfordshire is overall an affluent county, viewed by many as a desirable

place to live, work and raise a family as evidenced in the quote below:

“Oxfordshire is a county alive with enterprise, beauty, learning and history.

Businesses, institutions and communities have thrived here for centuries and will

continue to do so into the future” (Oxfordshire Economic Partnership 2011)

While this may be true for some, our needs assessment shows that there are some

significant gaps between those children who are in a position to learn, thrive & achieve,

and those who are less so.

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4. What does Child Poverty Look Like in Oxfordshire? In Oxfordshire there were 15,660 children living in income deprived families in 2008, or

11.7% of all the children in the area. This number has changed very little since 2006 but it

is important to note that it is now three years out of date and given the economic downturn

and rise in unemployment that began in 2008, it is likely that the current figures are higher.

4.1 Geography It is not until lower level data is examined that there are marked differences between areas

and we can highlight the places where child poverty is concentrated (see appendix 2). Key

points are:

• 23.2% of children in Oxford City or 5,800 are living in poverty compared to 7.4% or

1,650 in West Oxfordshire (NI 116, 2008)

Percent of Children Living in Poverty, 2008

0

5

10

15

20

25

Cherwell Oxford City South Oxon Vale West Oxon

District

Perc

ent Oxfordshire Figure

• There are twelve wards in the county within the top 25% most disadvantaged

nationally. Ten are in Oxford City, one in Banbury and one in Abingdon (NI 116,

2008)

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• There are 23 SOAs in the county in the top 20% most disadvantaged nationally and

8 (all in Oxford City) that fall in the top 10% (IDACI 2010)

• Across the county, 3,345 children in rural areas live in income deprived households

or 23% of all children in poverty in the county (Oxfordshire Rural Community

Council 2011). This is the ‘rural share’ of child poverty made up of families scattered

across large geographical areas in contrast to the concentrations in small urban

areas identified above.

Age breakdown Within the 0-19 age group, children aged 0-4 are more likely to be living in low income

households. In Oxford City, 8% of this age group are living in poverty compared to 2.2 of

16-19 year olds (NI 116, 2008)

5. Employment and skills

Employment in jobs that are secure, offer training and development and pay well is key to

preventing and reducing poverty and improving children and young people’s life chances.

5.1 Job availability and economic activity Job availability in Oxfordshire is relatively good. In 2008 there was an average of 0.91 jobs

for every Oxfordshire resident of working age (national 0.79) and this has remained stable

over time (DWP, 2008). Our overall employment rate of 78.8 is above the national average

of 73.0 with male rates of 81.0 and female rates 76.3 (NI 151, 2008). Within the county,

the range is from 71% in Oxford to 83% in Cherwell (Nomis). In a recent study of UK cities,

Oxford was only one of two cities to have more businesses starting up than closing in 2009

(Oxfordshire County Council Policy Unit 2011).

5.2 Knowledge based economy In the year to July 2010, over half (53%) of Oxfordshire’s working population worked in the

highest three occupational levels (managerial, professional, technical) which is well above

the national average of 44%. This reflects the strength and predominance of knowledge

based sectors in the county which include hi tech manufacturing, ICT, knowledge intensive

businesses (eg accountants, lawyers, research & development) education and health

services. Oxfordshire’s strengths in science and technology are expected to generate

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more employment opportunities in the future, for example at Science Vale UK in South

Oxfordshire and around Bicester with the development of an eco town and associated jobs

in environmental technologies (Oxfordshire County Council Environment and Economy,

May 2010).

5.3 Large public sector – but under threat The public sector (including public administration, defence, education and health) is

currently the largest employer in the county. In Oxford City, 46% of the workforce is

employed in this sector which is the highest in the country (Business Register and

Employment Survey 2009). However, cuts in public spending are likely to mean that jobs

will be lost, growth will slow down and the sector will reduce.

5.4 Lower skilled opportunities fewer and falling The numbers of people employed in the lowest two occupational levels is low and

declining. Job opportunities in lower skilled occupations fell during the recession. From

January 2007 to January 2009 there was a 29% decrease in the lowest three occupational

levels. In the year to July 2010, only 13% of Oxfordshire’s working population were

employed in the lowest two occupational levels (Nomis).

5.5 Location of jobs Oxford City has by far the largest number of job vacancies – 753 in January 2011,

Cherwell was next with 491. Cherwell is close to Oxford in the number of vacancies in the

lowest three occupational levels, in January 2011 Cherwell had 390 vacancies and Oxford

had 393 (Nomis). As over 50% of the county’s population live in villages and small towns

this means that many people are likely to have to travel some distance to find a job.

5.6 Skill levels & qualifications Oxfordshire has high proportions of people with degrees and higher level qualifications:

35% qualified to level 4 or above, compared to 30% nationally. However this varies widely

across the county from 41% in the Vale to 20% in Cherwell District (Nomis). The strength

of the knowledge based sectors means that the local labour market favours those who

have high levels of skills and qualifications.

Nationally it is known that there are also vast differences in terms of access to professional

jobs. Those from less well-off backgrounds are less likely to enter the professions or to

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reach high levels within them if they do. People who attended independent schools are

over-represented at the very top level of the professions and generally those entering

many of the professions grew up in households with significantly higher incomes than

average (Cabinet Office, 2011). The issue here is around social mobility – or the ability of

children to get a better job and prospects than their parents. In order to address these

issues there is a need to look across the lifecycle and narrow the gap at every stage.

5.7 Skills gap At the other end of the spectrum however there is concern about a lack of skills that is

preventing some people from finding work, even where jobs are available. An employer

skills survey carried out by Oxfordshire Economic Partnership found that there is demand

for level 2 or 3 technicians in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

(STEM) sectors, but low take up of these jobs and low numbers of students taking the

relevant subjects at school. Employers also said that they needed people with entry level

skills such as team working and customer service and that these were often lacking

(Oxfordshire Economic Partnership, 2010). As a result, one of the four key priorities of the

new Local Enterprise Partnership is to improve the skills of the Oxfordshire workforce and

those about to enter it.

100 Apprentices A local initiative to increase the number of apprenticeships in the county is on track to

meet its target. 19 employers including BMW and a Bicester solicitors firm pledged to sign

up 59 apprentices on the launch day in February.

Oxfordshire County Council has recruited over 100 apprentices since 2006 in a range of

fields including business administration, civil engineering, creative arts, IT, outdoor

education and social and health care. There are currently 33 apprentices. As well as

working towards a work based or technical qualification, training includes either Key Skills

(e.g. working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technology) or

Functional Skills (e.g. Maths and English). Apprenticeship completion rate currently

exceeds 95% and over 90% of apprentices who complete are retained in employment by

the Council or our partners.

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5.8 Unemployment Unemployment across the county is relatively low. The number of people claiming Job

Seekers Allowance (JSA) in September 2010 was 7,490 or 1.8% of the working age

population. This is below national (3.5%) and regional (2.4%) rates. (DWP 2010).

However, although job availability in the county is relatively good, the number of vacancies

at any point in time (typically 600-1000) is far lower than the numbers of people seeking

work and lower skilled people are the ones who tend to lose out. In January 2011

Oxfordshire had 2.8 job seekers for every vacancy and the trend in the last few months

has been an increase.

5.9 Where is the greatest need? Unemployment is concentrated in a few small areas and amongst particular groups. The

highest proportion of JSA claimants are in the most deprived areas, all of which are in

Oxford City – Blackbird Leys (5.4%), Northfield Brook (4.4%), Rose Hill and Iffley and

Barton and Sandhills (4.1%). It is significant that these are also the areas that rank in the

bottom 5% nationally for education, skills and training (there are 4 areas in the bottom 5%

– 3 in Oxford City, 1 in South Oxfordshire (IMD, 2010).

Brighter Futures in Banbury Improving employment and skills is a key theme in Oxfordshire’s Breaking the Cycle of

Deprivation programme being piloted in 21 of the most disadvantaged areas in the county.

Some examples of initiatives that have been piloted in Banbury include:

‘Get that Job’ courses and the Job Finder Service, run by Oxford and Cherwell Valley

College, successfully matching local residents into local jobs

Next Step advisors offering career advice in venues such as children’s centres and GP

surgeries

Youth volunteering event at which over 70 students made volunteering commitments. As

well as giving something back to their local community this opportunity is helping them

gain valuable work experience and enhance their employability.

5.10 Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training Young people are disproportionately affected by unemployment. 867 or 5.6% of 16-18

year olds in Oxfordshire are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). This is

about the national average but is higher than our statistical neighbours. Within this,

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numbers are even higher for particular groups and areas. For example, Oxford City, South

East has a rate of 8.28%, Banbury 8.24%, care leavers 14%, young people with learning

disabilities & difficulties 23%, young offenders 48%, teenage mothers 76%.

As a result of the work of the three multi-agency area based NEET action plan groups a

range of provision is now available for 16 and 17 year olds and NEET figures are falling for

these age groups. Further work is needed to engage 18 year olds who are typically looking

for employment, have few qualifications, have tried various options but dropped out, have

been NEET for a long time, may have more complex personal circumstances and have

very little work experience.

Arts Projects for NEET young people A new street arts café has opened at Union St centre for young people aged 16 plus who

are NEET. Young people have an opportunity to work with Multi Arts Programme (MAP)

artists on professional arts projects as well as access more general support from Youth

and Connexions staff

Pegasus Theatre run a number of projects for young people who are excluded from

school, or at risk of being excluded, young people who are NEET and young offenders and

those at risk of offending.

5.11 Barriers to employment Parents - especially mothers, who are usually the primary carers, face the often

problematic issue of childcare. In some parts of the county childcare is expensive; for

example Oxford City and Goring and Henley have the highest costs. Conversely

availability and access to places may also be a problem particularly in areas of Faringdon,

Kidlington and Yarnton (Oxfordshire County Council, Children,Young People and Families,

March 2010).

Grandparent Support It has been estimated that Britain's 14 million grandparents are supporting families by

providing childcare worth 3.9 billion every year. Parents are increasingly turning to their

parents for childcare because they value and trust them and because they can't afford

other options. Local grandparents reiterated this position during our consultation and felt

that the informal support they and other members of the extended family provide was key

to enabling families to keep their heads above water both financially and emotionally.

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Travelling to work may be a significant problem if you live in a rural area and you work in a

market town or Oxford City where the majority of jobs are. Public transport in Oxfordshire

is limited and expensive. The cost of running a car may be beyond the means of people in

low paid jobs – particularly where costs of parking are added.

Some parents, especially those who have never had jobs and have few or no qualifications

may need extra help and support to build their confidence and self esteem and raise their

aspirations. One of the key aims of children’s centres is to improve economic wellbeing

and reduce and prevent child poverty.

Improving Economic Wellbeing: Oxfordshire Children’s Centres A recent evaluation of the county’s 45 children’s centres found that 40% of parents have

gained skills and information to help them find employment and make decisions about

future work options since coming to the children’s centre (Liane Low, 2011). Job Centre

Plus has recently entered into a new agreement to work more closely with children’s

centres. Some centres host job clubs or drop in sessions with Next Step advisors, others

run family learning and adult education groups to improve basic skills. Full service centres

provide high quality, affordable daycare for working parents. All centres provide

volunteering opportunities as a way of gaining work experience and developing new skills.

5.12 Summary statement of needs: Employment and Skills Although there are job opportunities in the local economy, parents and young people from

disadvantaged backgrounds face many barriers to employment which reinforce the cyclical

nature of poverty:

“Once you’re in poverty it’s really hard to get out of it”

(local parent at consultation workshop)

Needs include:

• A lack of basic skills, qualifications and experience

• Low self confidence and low aspirations

• Difficulty finding and affording childcare

• Problems with transport in rural areas (high cost of running a car, poor availability &

high cost of public transport)

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Some groups of young people in Oxfordshire are particularly vulnerable to Not being in

Education, Training or Employment (NEET) aged 16-18 which has a negative impact on

their future prospects and ability to escape poverty in adulthood. These groups include:

• Teenage mothers

• Young offenders

• Young people with Learning Disabilities and Difficulties

• Young people living in the areas of highest deprivation

Employers have identified a skills gap in the local workforce in both the technical skills

needed to support growing sectors such as hi tech manufacturing and soft skills such as

team working and customer service.

6. Financial support

Financial support in the form of benefits can have a positive impact on child poverty by

maximising household income whether parents are out of work or in low paid jobs.

6.1 Benefits Parents out of work can claim income support / job seekers allowance. Parents in low paid

employment can claim child tax credit to top up their income and help with childcare costs.

Other benefits for parents on low incomes include Sure Start maternity grant, healthy start

vouchers, free school meals for their children, housing and council tax benefit. All welfare

benefits are currently under review with the aim of replacing them with a single universal

credit.

In Oxfordshire there are 15,665 families receiving child tax credit or income support / job

seeker allowance (HM Revenue and Customs, 2008). 10.1% of pupils in Oxfordshire

Schools are registered as eligible for Free School Meals (FSM – Jan 2011 census). The

chart below shows how the incidence of FSM is higher at the earlier stages of education.

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Percent of pupils registered for Free School Meals by Year Group Jan 2011

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Year Group

Perc

ent

County Figure

We know that there are many families who are not claiming all the benefits and financial

help they are entitled to. This may be due to lack of knowledge about what is available,

difficulty with the paperwork / application process, or a sense of pride (don’t want to be

seen as a ‘scrounger’) or fear of being stigmatised. A tool that is proving to be very helpful

in overcoming these barriers is the ‘ten quick questions’ used in children’s centres. The

checklist helps workers to begin a dialogue with parents to highlight benefit entitlements as

well as work or training options that may be available to them.

6.2 Other forms of financial support

Go for It In Oxfordshire there are currently 4,257 children and young people from economically

deprived backgrounds taking part in extra-curricular activities funded through ‘Go for It’

(known nationally as the disadvantaged subsidy). Examples of things that have been

funded include sailing, windsurfing and kayaking courses, one to one art sessions, family

outings, summer play schemes and after school clubs, bike for a young boy in a rural area.

A small amount of financial support can make a big difference: enabling a young person to

discover new skills and interests or providing a safe and unpressurised place to be when

their home life is complex and stressful.

“Amir joined reception class in September 2010. His father, a single parent, has been

waiting for the past 18 months for his immigration status to be confirmed by the Home

Office. During this time, he has not been able to work and has been receiving a very small

cash subsistence payment, barely enough to live on. ‘Go for It’ funding has enabled Amir

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to join Tae Kwando classes and buy the uniform, giving him something special to look

forward to each week and a sense of belonging” (Extended Services Co-ordinator)

Aiming High for Disabled Children Short Breaks Programme Disabled children and young people and their families face many challenges, not least of

which may be a shortage of money. Families who do not qualify for a respite care package

may not be able to afford the cost of transport or fees to enable their children to take part

in clubs and activities outside the home. Since the start of this scheme in Oxfordshire, 430

placements have been funded including 90 transport arrangements. A total of 241 children

and young people have taken part in a variety of short breaks activities.

” For many families this funding has been their lifeline to allow their child or young person

to access out of school activities and give the family a much needed break from the very

demanding caring role they do” (Out of School Liaison Officer).

6.3 Debt – making matters worse Parents who are struggling to make ends meet will often take out loans they can’t afford to

re-pay and end up with severe debts. Nationally it is estimated that 29% of the spending

in households led by a single parent is on the repayment of debts and the average amount

of debt held by single parent families is £4,820 per household (Aviva 2011).

In 2009/10, Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advised on more than 3,929 debt

problems. They estimate that they helped clients manage £5 million of problem debt.

Approximately 34% of people accessing the Bureau have dependent children (Oxford CAB

2010). At Banbury CAB, 35% of all enquiries in 09/10 were about debt problems – the

largest number being about credit card debts and personal loans (Banbury CAB, 2010)

Helping families manage on a low income without falling into a worse financial situation is

vital. There are various initiatives in Oxfordshire that aim to help parents and children

develop financial management skills including budgeting and prioritising spending such as

the new Oxfordshire wide CAB financial capability training.

6.4 Benefit dependency One of the downsides to financial support for parents who are unemployed is the problem

of benefit dependency or the ‘benefit trap’ which can act as a disincentive to taking up

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employment and escaping poverty. While it is important to help families claim the benefits

they are entitled to, it is also important to offer opportunities for upskilling & training to

enable parents to get into good jobs that pay well.

6.5 Summary Statement of Needs: Financial Support For families living in poverty, financial support can help to cover basic needs.

The benefit system is complex and is changing. Parents need help accessing the benefits

they are entitled to and understanding the changes that are happening.

Disadvantaged families need to be able to access small grants and subsidies to pay for

activities that will benefit their children, which they would otherwise be unable to afford.

Parents on low incomes benefit from help and support in managing and prioritising their

limited resources so they avoid getting into debt and making matters worse. In rural areas

it is difficult to get this support as services such as CAB are limited.

Families where benefit dependency has become the norm and aspirations are low need

opportunities to build their confidence improve their skills and recognise that there are

more benefits to working than to not working

Money matters but escaping poverty is not just about financial support but dealing with all

the other needs that ‘get in the way’

“So ground down with life sometimes, you can’t dig yourself out – its too big”

( local parent at consultation workshop)

7. Family and life chances

While money does matter in helping children and families escape poverty, it is now widely

recognised that there are a number of other factors that have a significant effect on a

child’s life chances and their potential to succeed materially and emotionally in later life.

7.1 Maternal health and effect on babies

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Life enhancing or life limiting experiences start very early. Even before a baby is born,

their mother’s health in pregnancy will have an impact on their development.

For example, smoking in pregnancy is a major risk factor for low birth weight and is more

prevalent in women from poorer backgrounds and teenage mothers. Only 4.5% of

mothers from the least deprived areas of Oxfordshire were smoking at time of delivery

compared to 17% from the most deprived. A quarter of all mothers aged under 20 in

Oxfordshire were recorded as smoking at time of delivery compared to only 7.3% of those

aged over 20 (Oxfordshire PCT 2010).

Percent of mothers smoking at the time of delivery

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

Oxfordshire LeastDeprived Areas

Oxfordshire MostDeprived Areas

Oxfordshire TeenageMothers

Mothers Over 20

Perc

ent

Low birth weight is associated with a higher risk of infant mortality and health problems in

childhood and later life. This includes respiratory disease, neurological problems and

mental health problems.

A baby’s earliest experiences are predominately shaped by their relationship with their

mother. When a mother suffers from post-natal depression, mother baby attachment can

be seriously affected.

“An unhappy, unresponsive adult carer limits a baby’s ability to develop their social

and emotional capabilities….Deep long lasting emotional attachment influences

mind, body, emotions, relationships and values and has a positive effect on self

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esteem, independence, the ability to make both temporary and enduring

relationships, empathy, compassion and resiliency” (Allen 2011).

Children who have not developed secure attachment have been found to experience a

range of negative outcomes in later life including higher levels of alcohol and substance

misuse, higher risk of health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and high blood

pressure and greater propensity to perpetrate domestic violence (Allen 2011). Therefore

promoting early attachment in all mothers and their babies is important as is the ability to

develop positive parenting skills.

Breastfeeding is known to help with early attachment. It also has many health benefits

such as reducing the risk of childhood illnesses, diabetes and gastrointestinal and

respiratory illnesses. Overall, Oxfordshire has high rates of breastfeeding with

breastfeeding initiation slightly higher than the national average at 78.3%. However, while

84.1% of mothers living in the least deprived areas are initiating breastfeeding, only 65.8%

of those living in the most deprived areas do so. This figure drops to only 46.9% of

teenage mothers (Oxfordshire PCT 2010).

7.2 Importance of the early years As babies grow up, experiences both in and outside the family home such as the type of

parenting they receive, parental health, the opportunities for learning and development, the

quality of childcare they receive, are critical to their future outcomes.

“Babies are born with only 25% of their brains developed and there is then a rapid period

of development so that by the age of three their brains are 80% wired. In that period,

neglect, the wrong type of parenting and other adverse experiences can have a profound

effect on how children are emotionally wired” (Allen 2011).

Oxfordshire Family Nurse Partnership: providing targeted support for teenage mothers 108 teenage first time mothers are currently being supported on the local programme with

nearly half involving their partners. Specially trained Family Nurses develop strong

therapeutic relationships with the young women and positive results are already emerging

for example, 50% of mums are breastfeeding (much higher than the average for this age

group). Families stay on the programme until the baby reaches 2 years of age. This pilot is

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still in the ‘testing’ phase as part of a national evaluation but early evidence nationally

shows that the programme helps develop strong positive parenting, delays second

conceptions and promotes cognitive development in the young child. The programme is

being expanded in 2011 so that 200 young mothers will be supported at any one time.

7.3 Parenting and the home environment “Parents above all are the main influence on their children’s outcomes in the early

years” (Field 2010)

Positive parenting has been shown to have a positive impact on children. Positive

parenting involves parents setting clear boundaries for their children as well as being

responsive and warm. It is also about providing a home environment that stimulates

learning, for example talking & reading to children from a young age, singing songs and

nursery rhymes and encouraging learning through involvement in everyday activities and

play.

Family Links: supporting positive parenting in the early years & beyond Family Links, an organization based in Oxford has developed the Nurturing Programme to

promote loving, kind relationships within families, schools and communities. Family Links

trains parenting support workers and school staff to deliver the Nurturing Programme

across the UK in parent groups, schools and one to one with parents and carers. The

Nurturing Programme focuses on the adult as well as the child. It invites parents, carers

and school staff to give time to their own needs and reflect on their own childhood and

parenting ideas.

“Tantrums and dealing with them can be quite emotionally and physically demanding but

today’s session helped me to empathize more with feelings (mine and daughter’s) and to

realize that it is normal, to keep calm and that it is a healthy way of dealing with

frustrations” (parent attending a Family Links group at the Orchard Children’s Centre)

Parents who are struggling materially, emotionally and physically may not have the

capacity to provide the kind of experiences described above. In particular parents who are

affected by substance misuse, domestic violence and mental health problems may

struggle to fulfil their parenting role.

Up to 350,000 children in the UK have parents who are problem drug users. Drug and

alcohol dependence is strongly associated with worklessness. Many drug users live in

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disadvantaged communities in condition of poverty and social exclusion (DfE, DWP 2011).

In Oxfordshire there were 1,258 parents undergoing treatment for substance misuse in

2010 (Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Team (DAAT). Parental drug and alcohol abuse can

compromise the individual’s ability to maintain relationships and care for their children.

This can have a significant effect on the development, health and achievement of their

children.

Research has shown that children who experience domestic violence will be affected in

some way by the fear, disruption and distress in their lives with a range of physical,

emotional, learning, behavioural or developmental problems (Neil, 2006). In Oxfordshire in

2010 there were a total of 3,329 reports of domestic violence to the Children & Families

Assessment teams county wide. Of these 78 were deemed high risk (up from 40 in 2009)

and 515 medium risk (up from 396 in 2009). (Oxfordshire County Council, Children and

Families Assessment Team 2009 and 2010).

Family Intervention Project (FIP) FIP is a voluntary programme which uses a whole-family approach to support families to

enhance their strengths and protective factors and address challenges in a sustainable

way. Intervention lasts for an average of 12 months, with initially high intensity reducing

over time as families become re-established in their communities and self-supporting.

The top three presenting issues in cases so far have been offending behaviour (parent),

education issues (young person) and parenting concerns. As a result of their involvement

in the programme 46 families have increased engagement with Education, Employment

and Training, improved health, increased compliance with statutory agencies & increased

engagement with community and voluntary sector services. Cost benefit analysis has

demonstrated annual savings of £94,333 for the three cases that have been open for

almost 12 months.

7.4 Childcare and early education

“Access to good quality early years provision has the next largest impact on

children’s development by age 5” (Tickell, 2011).

The evidence shows that this is particularly important for disadvantaged children and can

help parents to develop effective home learning environments. Oxfordshire has an

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extensive network of early years provision including private day nurseries, childminders,

pre-schools & playgroups, nursery schools, Foundation Stage units in primary schools,

and children’s centres, all of which follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

framework and guidance. Of the 565 settings (Private Voluntary Independent and

Maintained sectors) providing the free entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds in Oxfordshire, 44

were rated as outstanding by Ofsted in 2010. However, of these, only one was located in

the 20% most disadvantaged SOAs (IDACI 2010).

When we start to look at educational achievement, as with health, it is clear that children

growing up in areas of disadvantage, or in at risk groups, have poorer outcomes. These

differences start to emerge very early.

In Oxfordshire as a whole, attainment measured by the Foundation Stage Profile at age

five is relatively good. 59% reach the recommended level, slightly above our statistical

neighbours and the national figure. However only 43% of children living in SOAs that fall

in the top 30% most disadvantaged nationally attain the expected standard. Children from

Asian (42%) and Black (41%) backgrounds and those with Special Educational Needs

(12%) are well below national rates for these groups:

Offering play and early learning to isolated and hard to reach groups in rural Oxfordshire: Mobile Children’s Centre A joint initiative between the Rural Children’s Centre Project and Oxfordshire Libraries, a

purpose built vehicle visits 16 targeted locations in rural Oxfordshire including 4 Traveller

sites & small pockets of rural deprivation offering a ‘stay and play’ session for parents and

carers and under fives. Sessions include singing and rhymes, storytelling, creative play

and the opportunity to borrow books. Since the service started in April 2010, 2597 books

have been borrowed and nearly 200 new families have joined the library service. Staff are

trained in the Every Child a Talker (ECAT) methodology and are able to provide expert

input to promote early communication, language and literacy and identify and support

children who need extra help.

“At Minster Lovell Travellers site we provide a range of activities including stories and

rhymes and the children interact and join in really well. For many this is their only pre-

school experience as they have not been able to get a place at the local pre-school”

(Children’s Centre Mobile Manager)

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7.5 Achievement gaps widen as children get older Educational achievement is a key factor in whether or not a child will be able to find a good

job and have a secure future. By the time young people are taking their GCSEs – the

results of which will be crucial in terms of their future education, training and employment

prospects, the differences are marked.

At key Stage Four (GCSE’s), only 22% of pupils in Oxfordshire eligible for Free School

Meals attained 5 A* - C grades including English and Maths, compared to 60% of those

not eligible (DfE 2010). The gap in percentage points is 38, compared to 28 nationally.

Attainment by children living in the most disadvantaged wards in the county is far below

average of 60%; for example Banbury Ruscote, 36.8%, Littlemore, 29%, Northfield Brook,

25.9%.

44% of pupils with English as an additional language attain 5 A*-C grades including

English and Maths. This puts Oxfordshire bottom when compared to our statistical

neighbours. Our gap is 14%, compared to 2% nationally. Other at risk groups such as

looked after children (6.4%) and young offenders (7%) have much lower levels of

attainment. (All educational attainment data taken from DfE Statistical First Release data

2010 / 11).

GCSE 5A*-C incl English & Mathematics 2010

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

FSM Non FSM FSM Non FSM EAL Non EAL EAL Non EAL

Oxon Oxon National National Oxon Oxon National National

Perc

ent

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There are many factors in adolescence that can impact on educational achievement

including risky behaviours – alcohol & substance misuse, poor mental health (depression,

eating disorders, self harm), risky sexual behaviour which can result in teenage

pregnancy, involvement in anti-social behaviour and crime, absenteeism and exclusion

from school. A number of initiatives are in place in Oxfordshire to support young people

during this often difficult time of transition to adulthood and to try to keep them on track for

a successful future. Examples include the Success Project, IYSS Positive Activities,

Targeted Adolescent Mental Health in Schools Project (TAMHS), and Positive Futures.

Positive Futures This programme run by Oxford City Council is for young people who have been identified

as being at risk of offending. It is based around multi-sports activities but also includes a

girls only group, a NEET group and holiday activities in deprived areas. There are currently

about 120 young people participating and an additional 1400 attending the holiday

activities. Relationships between the young people and the workers are excellent and

have been the key to changing behaviour and aspirations.

Oxfordshire Targeted Adolescent Mental Health in Schools (TAMHS) The Oxfordshire TAMHS pathfinder project built on local developments in child mental

health and the common assessment framework.

The project offered ten targeted schools regular consultation and advice, training

workshops, joint work with children in groups and on a 1-to-1 basis and mental health

promotion generally . The key success features of this project include a better

understanding of mental health issues in schools, the ability to work with individual children

and improved communication between schools and mental health services. Although

central government funding for the TAMHS project ended on 31st March 2011, the lessons

learnt are being incorporated into the planning of future child and adolescent mental health

services.

7.6 Summary statement of needs: Family and Life Chances “Starts with money, but it goes deeper and deeper and affects every area of your life – it’s

like a spider diagram”

(local young person at consultation event)

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Children growing up in poverty in Oxfordshire experience worse health and lower

educational achievement. This makes it more difficult for them to escape the cycle of

deprivation.

Differences in life chances start early during pregnancy and continue to widen as children

grow older. Even before children start school, factors that influence their life chances

include:

• Maternal health – both physical and mental

• Mother / baby attachment

• Quality of parenting

• Home learning environment

• Parental substance misuse

• Domestic violence

Children’s life chances will be improved if parents’ needs are addressed.

Educational achievement is the key to gaining a job with prospects and escaping poverty.

From the Foundation Stage Profile all the way through to GCSE level, children growing up

in poverty experience worse results.

Improving educational achievement for these children is a major need. This is likely to

include addressing health & wellbeing, emotional & psychological issues as well as

academic performance. It also means not labelling or pre-judging vulnerable young people

such as those in care, disabled or young carers

“Seen as different, an outsider, your confidence drops, you fall behind, don’t want to go to

school, truant, seen as trouble – just a spiral down. Ignorance is the biggest thing that

needs to change”

(local young person at consultation workshop)

“There’s a lot of groups and help out there but they’re not well known about – you have to

be in the know”

(local parent at consultation event)

8. Place and Delivery

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The physical environment in which a child grows up can either enhance or limit their life

chances.

8.1 Housing – a worsening problem “Without a stable, decent home; secure and free from disrepair, parents often

struggle to provide a stable and nurturing environment for their children to develop

and thrive” (Shelter: 2010)

Oxfordshire has a severe shortage of affordable housing. In Oxford City for example there

are over 4,600 households on the City Council’s waiting lists, 450 households living in

temporary accommodation, and over 6000 over-crowded households (Oxford City Council

2011)

Average house prices are the second highest in the country – second only to London.

High house prices across the county mean that many families are priced out in rural areas

too. In South Oxfordshire, house prices are more than 10 times median salaries

(Oxfordshire County Council Policy Unit, 2011). In these areas too, affordable housing is in

very short supply. Only 14% of households in the county are living in housing association

or council housing.

Families who live in the social rented sector are more likely to experience overcrowding as

there are few opportunities to transfer to a larger home as their family increases. 17% of

families living in socially rented homes are overcrowded as compared to 6% of all

households in the county (Census 2001).

Children who live in overcrowded homes are more likely to suffer respiratory problems

such as chest problems, breathing difficulties, asthma and bronchitis. A lack of quiet space

to do homework can also impact negatively on their educational achievement.

Many families in housing need are now offered the option of a tenancy in the private

rented sector under the Home Choice scheme. Although this means they are able to find a

home, the tenancy will be insecure and the quality of the property maybe poor. Cuts to

housing benefit mean that the high cost of rents in the private sector, particularly in Oxford

may be unaffordable for families on low incomes who cannot afford to make up the

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shortfall, and they will be forced to move away to lower cost areas, causing upheaval and

disruption.

8.2 Fuel Poverty When it comes to fuel poverty, the situation is worse in rural areas. 16% of low income

rural households in Oxfordshire are in fuel poverty compared to 6% of low income urban

households (NI187, 2008). High fuel bills can be a major drain on household income and

cold damp living conditions can have a detrimental effect on children’s health.

8.3 Homelessness Oxford City has a high rate of homelessness – 4.6 per 1000 which is well above the South

East regional average of 1.1 per 1000 and the fourth highest in the region. The rest of the

county ranges from 0.3 per 1000 in West Oxfordshire and 0.7 per 1000 in Cherwell

District. However, these low numbers may be in part due to different ways of interpreting

and recording homelessness. About 1 in 4 homeless people are from a Black and Minority

Ethnic community. (Department for Communities and Local Government 2011)

The health and wellbeing of children and families is seriously affected by the experience of

becoming homelessness and living in temporary accommodation. Schooling may be

disrupted, friendships and support networks lost. For families in crisis, that have to move

suddenly into emergency accommodation the experience may be even worse. Properties

used for this purpose may be sub standard or unsuitable due to the other occupants and

concerns were raised about this in one of our consultation workshops.

The two initiatives described below are an attempt to mitigate or avoid the problems of

homelessness.

Oxfordshire Homeless Families Notification System The Homeless Families Notification system operates between the district councils and

Oxfordshire PCT. The details of all families accepted as homeless and placed in

temporary accommodation are sent to the Specialist Health Visitor, who informs health

visiting teams of the move and ensures that the family is visited to assess their health and

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other needs. Approximately 25% of these families are already known to health services as

having complex health needs.

In 2010, 218 homeless families and 201 children were identified under this system. This is

similar to the previous year. Half were young families (parent under 26 years), 24% were

pregnant and almost 70% (151) were placed in temporary housing in the City. Due to a

shortage of places in temporary housing, 22 families had to be accommodated in guest

houses or hotels. Health visitors are concerned about the lack of cooking, food storage

and laundry facilities and unsuitable locations which have contributed to poor diet,

maternal depression and difficulty getting children to school.

Families at Risk of Homelessness (FAROH)

FAROH is a multi-agency group that was set up in 2008 to address the needs of families

and children at risk of homelessness. Partners include Children’s Social Care, Oxford City

Housing Needs Team, Specialist Health Visitor, Floating Support Services and Children’s

Centres. The focus of the work is to prevent families from becoming homeless by helping

them to sustain their existing tenancy. Between April 2009 and March 2010, 69 families

including 124 children were supported by FAROH. The main reason that these families

were at risk of homelessness was rent arrears. Other reasons included leaving suitable

accommodation, anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.

8.4 Quality of the Environment The quality of the environment outside the home can also influence a child’s future

outcomes. For children to thrive and develop they need access to outdoor space and safe

and stimulating places to play.

Over the three years of Play Pathfinder, the County Council has funded 28 community play

spaces through the Playbuilder Capital Grant Scheme. A further 12 community groups

have been assisted through the Play Design Grant Scheme and five adventurous play

sites have been developed in the City through the Pathfinder funding. ‘Play Barton’ Play

Rangers have delivered play sessions to hundreds of children in Barton and Blackbird

Leys, something that will continue through the summer of 2011.

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In general, people in Oxfordshire feel safe in their local areas. More than nine in ten

residents said they felt safe when outside during the day and 63% said they felt safe when

out after dark. (Oxfordshire County Council Policy Unit 2011). Levels of crime across the

county are low. Crime has declined across almost all Oxfordshire districts by about 20%

since 2003 (Home Office 2011).

8. 5 Living in a rural environment – implications for child poverty 36% of children in Oxfordshire live in rural areas, 18% in very rural areas (Office for

National Statistics 2004). While this brings many advantages in terms of easy access to

attractive & varied landscapes & green spaces to explore, there are downsides.

For the 3,345 children in rural areas living in income deprived households, the effects of

child poverty are felt even more sharply, due to the lack of access to services that could

help. Families who cannot afford a car (or where the car is being used by one parent to get

to work) have to rely on infrequent and expensive public transport to get around. Services

that families in urban areas can walk to like children’s centres, health centres, libraries,

information & advice centres may be beyond the reach of families in rural areas. To add to

the sense of isolation, broadband connections and mobile phone signals are very poor in

some areas, so telephone or internet support is also limited. Opportunities for employment

& childcare provision are more limited so the challenge to find work and improve family

income may be even greater.

8.6 Summary statement of needs – Place and Delivery More affordable, secure and good quality family housing is desperately needed throughout

the county. Children need a stable home if they are to learn, thrive and achieve.

The high level of homelessness in parts of the county particularly Oxford City has a

negative impact on children’s health and educational achievement. Homelessness needs

to be prevented, eg through addressing issues such as rent arrears or ant-social behaviour

at an early stage. Children need access to safe and stimulating outdoor places to play.

Families in poverty in rural areas have the additional problem of lack of access to services.

There is a need for more outreach support and more frequent and affordable public

transport or communal car sharing schemes.

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Appendix 1 ChYPIN 9: Child Poverty Workshop: Summarised report

Things that lift you above the line … Aspirations Govt policy Support Looking young! Children leaving home Positive relationships People believing in you Winning some money Determination Inclusion Good Schools Good grades Opportunities Leaving abusive relationships Diagnosis/operations/treatment Getting jobs Going to college/uni/studying Fatherhood Being fostered/being in care Volunteering/mentoring Good housing Money Age 0 60+ Illness/operations/disability Homelessness Caring responsibilities Mental health problems Parents splitting up In care Parental addictions Being bullied Running away from home Loss, death and bereavement Sofa surfing/no housing Destructive relationships Leaving home Single parent Ill/disabled parents Convictions/jail Coming to England – with nothing Moving around a lot Teenage parent Excluded from school Loneliness Partners/own addictions Govt policy Information Schools Benefits Debt Cycles Things that push you below the line …

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Appendix 3 References Allen, G. (2011) Early Intervention: The Next Steps

Aviva website (2011) home page

Banbury Citizens Advice Bureau (2010) Annual Report

Business Register and Employment Survey (2009) Annual Business Enquiry

DWP website for employment and benefits information http://www.dwp.gov.uk/research-

and-statistics/

Cabinet Office (2011) Social Mobility Strategy, Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers

Census data (2001 and 2011)

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=9476

Department for Communities and Local Government (2011) Homelessness data

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatistic

sby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/

Department for Communities and Local Government (2010) Decentralisation and Local

Government Bill

DfE and DWP and HM Treasury (2011) Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Life

Chances: consulting on a new approach

DfE and DWP (2011) A New Approach to Child Poverty: Tackling the Causes of

Disadvantage and Transforming Families’ Lives

DfE (2010/11) Statistical First Release educational attainment data

http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/whatsnew.shtml

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DoH (2010) Our Strategy for Public Health in England

Field, F. (2010) The Foundation Years: preventing poor children becoming poor adults

Home Office (2011) Crime data

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-

statistics/crime-research/local-police-recorded-crime/reccrime-la.csv

Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) (2010)

Index of Multiple Deprivation (2010)

http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/statistics/subject/indicesde

privation

Improvement and Development Agency (2010) Growing Up in Poverty briefing

Neil, P. (2006) Assessing the Risk to Children Living with Domestic Violence

New Policy Institute (2011) Estimating severe child poverty in local areas

NHS (2010) Liberating the NHS

NI 116 (2008) National Indicator for the Proportion of Children in Poverty.

The number of children in families in receipt of either out of work benefits, or tax credits

where their reported income is less than 60% median income divided by the total number

of children in the area

NI 151 (2008) National Indicator for overall employment rate (working age)

NI 187 (2008) National Indicator for tackling fuel poverty - % of people receiving income

based benefits living in homes with a low energy efficiency . Fuel poverty is the

requirement to spend more than 10% of household income to maintain an adequate level

or warmth and includes non-heating fuel use.

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Nomis (2011) Official Labour Market Statistics. www.nomisweb.co.uk

ONS (2004) Rurality data

http://www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/geography/products/area-classifications/rural-urban-

definition-and-la-classification/rural-urban-definition/index.html

ONS Mid Year Population Estimates 2009.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/populationestimates/flash_pyramid/Subnational-

pyramids/base.html

Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau (2010) Annual Report

Oxfordshire County Council, Children and Families Assessment Teams (2009 and 2010)

summary of domestic violence reports (Dom 5)

Oxfordshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Directorate (2011)

Oxfordshire Children and Young People’s Plan Needs Analysis refresh

Oxfordshire County Council, Children, Young People & Families Directorate (2010)

Childcare Sufficiency Refresh Analysis of Supply

Oxfordshire County Council, Children, Young People and Families Directorate (2011)

Children’s Centres Impact Evaluation Report

Oxfordshire County Council, Children, Young People and Families Directorate (2010/11)

Integrated Youth Support Services data

Oxfordshire County Council, Children, Young People and Families Directorate (Jan 2011)

Schools Census

Oxfordshire County Council, Environment and Economy Directorate (2010) Oxfordshire

Economic Assessment

Oxfordshire County Council Policy Unit (2011) This is Oxfordshire

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Oxfordshire County Council (2011) Framework I

Oxfordshire County Council Small Area Population Forecasts, 2010.

Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (2010) internal data

Oxfordshire Economic Partnership website (2011) home page

Oxfordshire Economic Partnership (2010) Oxfordshire Employer Skills Study

Oxfordshire PCT (2010/11) Public Health data

Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (2011) The Rural Share of Deprivation: Children

and Young People briefing

Tickell, C. (2011) The Early Years: Foundations for Life, Health and Learning

Shelter (2010) response to government consultation on national child poverty strategy