Reducing Child poverty in Aberdeenshire George Howie Principal Health Improvement Officer Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership

Overview of presentation Child poverty in Scotland and Aberdeenshire – current trends. Poverty/child policy context in Scotland and Aberdeenshire. Aberdeenshire approach to addressing child poverty. Next steps.

Defining poverty/child poverty Poverty is about ‘not having enough’. Child poverty measured in terms of household income. ‘Not having enough’ is about not having sufficient material resources to allow full participation in society and access to what is necessary to facilitate this (e.g. transport, internet access). Widespread misunderstanding of the causes and consequences of child poverty among policy makers, practitioners, the media and the public. Poverty has negative impacts on children’s health - cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural development; friendships; self-esteem; relationships; experience of education; educational outcomes and access to employment.

Poverty in Scotland – some facts 16% of those living in rural Scotland estimated to be living in poverty. 41% in lone parent households are at risk of poverty. 20% of lone parent households where parent is in full time employment are in poverty. 56% of couples in households where one or more in part time work are in poverty. Children at higher risk than other groups of living in poverty. 70% of children living in poverty are in a household where someone is in employment. Close association between poverty and disability - 31% of families with a disabled child or adult are in poverty compared to 18% for those without a disabled person.

Poverty policy context in Scotland Higher profile for poverty and inequality within Scottish policy context. Social Security Bill setting out how (some) new powers will be used. New claimants charter to be developed outlining rights. Creation of a new Poverty and Inequality Commission which will scrutinise Scottish Government policy. Development of a new Fuel Poverty Strategy. Efforts to address educational inequality through Scottish Attainment Challenge. Fairer Scotland Duty (Socio-Economic Duty on public bodies). Child Poverty (Scotland) Act.

Child poverty in Aberdeenshire Best estimate of child poverty in Aberdeenshire suggests that one in six children are living in poverty (13.1%) but considerable variation across Aberdeenshire.

Estimates of child poverty for localised areas within Aberdeenshire

Child Poverty (Scotland) Act, 2017 Sets four statutory targets relating to child poverty which must be met by Scottish Government by 31st March 2031. Places duties on Scottish Ministers to publish national delivery plans for each of the following periods: - 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2022 (to be published in April 2018), - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026, - 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.  The Bill places duties on local authorities and health boards to jointly prepare and publish a “local child poverty action report” annually outlining all action taken.

What’s informing our approach to child poverty in Aberdeenshire? Changing poverty policy context in Scotland including the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act. Evidence e.g. What Works Scotland child poverty evidence review – Tackling child poverty: Actions to prevent and mitigate child poverty at the local level, Growing Up in Scotland study. Aberdeenshire CPP commissioned research. Aberdeenshire Citizens’ Panel Survey of public attitudes towards child poverty. Review of Partner Data.

Aberdeenshire CPP commissioned research The Poverty Alliance and Scottish Poverty Information Unit commissioned to undertake research on behalf of Aberdeenshire CPP:- Focused literature review with emphasis on poverty/child poverty within a rural context. Online survey of service providers. Qualitative field work to better understand living in poverty within an Aberdeenshire context. Partner event to consider findings and feasibility of recommendations.

Key messages from Aberdeenshire research – living in poverty Research clearly indicates that everyday life is a struggle. These struggles present as financial, but the impacts go far beyond the material. Many parents/guardians go without to ensure children are provided for. Priorities and aspirations of people experiencing poverty are no different from the wider population. Considerable perceived stigma of living in poverty and reluctance to identify as living in poverty, particularly within smaller rural communities.

Key messages from Aberdeenshire research – living in poverty Welfare benefits changes had led to an intensification of poverty and loss of income. How people perceived poverty shaped how they responded to it. Notions of ‘deservingness’ and the positions of others in the wider community impacted on uptake and use of support services. Strong informal networks of support reported. Crisis points often saw households relying on wider support networks as opposed to accessing emergency support.

Key messages from Aberdeenshire research – living in poverty Living in poverty restricting the lives of children and young people experiencing poverty in terms of choices and opportunities to take part in leisure and other activities. This constrained their social networks and impacted on wellbeing. School is important to and for poorer children. Poorer parents value school and want to help support their child learn but less likely to know what that looks like or how to achieve it. Hidden costs for families within schools presented pressure on households to find additional costs in their day to day budgets.

Key messages from Aberdeenshire research - engagement with services Importance of services being delivered as locally as possible and through face to face interactions as opposed to online systems. Centralisation of services had resulted in people travelling further for services, resulting in higher travel costs. Interactions need to be empathetic, non stigmatising and non judgemental. Examples emerged across the study of negative attitudes and how this in some cases resulted in people not accessing services. Entitlements and advice - people spoke of being confused and unsure of what help was on offer and where they could get advice, particularly when benefits changed. Similarly there was confusion for those in work and what was available to assist them.

Key messages from Aberdeenshire research – digitalisation and technological change Varying confidence and experience using digital technology. Cost of digital access for households significant in their day to day outgoing. Local provision requiring online access such people having to make school payments only through an online system. Some households had limited online access which impacted on job searching and benefit claims. “ yi cannae just go in there and hand oe’er the money, you’ve got taw go dae it online, everything's got to be online”

Key messages from Aberdeenshire research – employment Households required security and flexibility in employment to maintain sustainable financial circumstance. Changing local labour market, cost and accessibility of childcare and transport were limiting access to employment. In work poverty presented a complex mix of issues across this study including: - Being ineligible for other entitlements that the household may benefit from due to income thresholds. - At risk of further poverty due to changes such in contracted hours, wages rates being low, transport costs, paying full rate for housing etc. - Specific locality risk due to transport and seasonal weather and availability of entry level jobs available for young people in particular.

Key messages from Aberdeenshire research – views of service providers Service providers think that there is child poverty in Aberdeenshire. Service providers think tackling child poverty matters. Some evidence that service providers who have direct personal experience of living in poverty more likely to acknowledge discrimination, housing problems and inadequacy of social benefits. Some negative/victim blaming attitudes identified.

Aberdeenshire approach to child poverty - areas for development Income maximisation Investment in local services following audit of existing provision but need to further explore appropriateness of provision. Pilot of integration of advice services within a Primary Care context. Education Further promotion of free school meals and school clothing grants. Review level of the school clothing grant and how it’s paid and policy on school uniforms. Review cost of breakfast and holiday clubs.

Aberdeenshire approach to child poverty - areas for development Childcare Explore what more can be done to ensure improved access to affordable childcare but protecting quality of provision. Employability Support for lone parents, particularly lone mothers. Support for adults living with a disability/long term condition. Training/CPD opportunities for key staff on the nature, causes and consequences of child poverty Promotion of Health Scotland Child Poverty, Health and Wellbeing e-learning module. Training on the nature, causes and consequences of child poverty.

Next steps Development of an evidence informed Child Poverty Action Plan and Monitoring Framework for Aberdeenshire, informed by available evidence and our commissioned research. Further engagement with those living in poverty as we develop our strategic approach and redesign services.

Discussion What role can the ALCP play in: - Prevention - preventing children/families on the margins moving into poverty. - Alleviation - increasing the chances of children/families living in poverty to escape it. - Amelioration - protecting children/families living in poverty from the most adverse affects of poverty.