www.londoncouncils.gov.uk child poverty: the london picture and the child poverty bill mary hill...
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www.londoncouncils.gov.uk
Child Poverty: The London Picture and the Child Poverty Bill
Mary HillChild Poverty Officer, London Councils
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• Child poverty in London - why it became a high priority
• Progress across London so far
• Different approaches among London boroughs
• The Child Poverty Bill and what this means for local authorities.
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Child poverty in London
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The London wide responseLondon Child Poverty Commission – put issues ‘on the map’; evidence based final report gains cross-party support
Est. 2006
Final report
Feb 2008
Regional
Child Poverty Toolkit and briefing on Child Poverty and LAAs – to help local delivery
Late 2007 National and regional
‘London project’ within CPU and Ministerial Delivery Group
Early 2008 Regional
London Summit and London Child Poverty Pledge
Oct/Nov 2008
Regional and local
London Child Poverty Network and London Child Poverty Awards
Jan 2009/
Nov 2009
Regional and local
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Child poverty across London
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Progress across London
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Progress across London
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Borough approachesLB IslingtonLB Islington• Corporate approach;
senior commitment• Re-aligning services• Getting buy-in from a
range of front-line professionals
• Data sharing within the council
• Council as a major employer
LB Tower HamletsLB Tower Hamlets• Key priority in
Community Plan for 2020; cross-cutting priority in Children & YP Plan & in other strategies
• Integrated into all team plans
• Clear outcomes• Starting strategic
commissioning model
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What’s working in London• Tailored employment schemes
drawing on a range of support services e.g. Southwark, Kingston, Lewisham, Ealing, H&F
• Targeted work with the most vulnerable families e.g. K&C, Waltham Forest
• Training and awareness raising for front-line workers in different services e.g. Merton, Islington, Harrow
• Improving access to childcare and employment support – Greenwich, Croydon, Hillingdon, Bromley
• Joint working with other key agencies & services such as Jobcentre Plus, PCT, housing/RSLs, VCS e.g. Camden, Enfield, Redbridge, Wandsworth
• Promote financial inclusion using key services and outreach e.g. Barking and Dagenham, Lambeth, Haringey, Hackney, Brent
• Development and roll-out of ‘core offers’ e.g. Westminster, Newham
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The Child Poverty Bill• Has been through Committee stage in Parliament and is
now going to the Lords for approval.• Is expected to gain Royal assent by Spring 2010.• Each local authority will have a responsibility to promote
co-operation amongst key partners to reduce, and mitigate the effects of child poverty in their local area.
• Local authorities must prepare and publish an assessment of the needs of children living in poverty within their borough.
• Local authorities must develop a joint strategy with strategic partners for reducing and mitigating the effects of child poverty. Strategies should relate to the matters identified in the child poverty needs assessment.
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Support we would like from Government• Review targets for
Government depts and what they measure
• Better local data to establish baseline and improve data sharing
• Review key benefits in relation to parents moving into work
• Give local authorities more control over key DWP employment programmes
• Commit to mainstreaming successful pilots, working with local authorities
• Acknowledge through CAA realistic timescales and measures for success
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Contact:
Mary Hill
020 7934 9707
www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/children/childpoverty/default.htm
www.c4eo.org.uk