Ending child poverty everybodys business Mission possible: ending child poverty David Churchill Child Poverty Unit 16 th November 2010

Ending child poverty everybodys business There is work to do to eradicate child poverty by tackling its causes of poverty

Ending child poverty everybodys business To do that, CPU has created a new governance structure to strengthen engagement Devolved Administrations Local authorities & delivery partners AT RISK GROUPS EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS BOARD PLACE AND LOCAL DELIVERY BOARD FINANCIAL SUPPORT BOARD LIFE CHANCES & FAMILIES CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE ON CHILD POVERTY DH DfE DWPBISCLGDfTHMT HMRC Life chances working group Employment and Skills working group Financial support working group Place and Delivery working group Relevant policy leads will bring together work for Boards Policies should consider risk groups Boards will consider delivery+ implementation Senior cross Gov input. Boards responsible for each policy area. Pilots

Ending child poverty everybodys business This approach should improve action across a number of areas Housing Programmes - Supporting People and Supply and Quality of Housing (CLG) Regeneration Funding (CLG) and Transport Infrastructure (DfT) Localism - Increased freedoms for Local Authorities and Partners and Community Budgets (HMT and CLG) Structural Benefit Reform (DWP and HMT) – Universal credit proposals could improve incentives to work and take up rates of benefits for some groups. -Design of childcare offer under the new benefit system. Financial inclusion, debt, and capability (DWP, HMT, BIS) Housing Benefit and Take Up (DWP, HMT) DWP Work programme (DWP) – incentivising contractors to support additional costs of parents moving into work – supporting at risk groups through the work programme – supporting wider outreach activity through JCP Other policies (DWP and BIS) - flexible working; managing ill health/disability at work; in work progression and skills policies Early years – focussing Sure Start on the neediest families and recruiting extra health visitors (DfE) Schools – pupil premium and targeting disadvantaged pupils (DfE) Youth – policies aimed at at-risk youth groups to increase participation and attainment e.g. apprenticeships (DfE) Families - good quality home environment to support learning and development e.g. Family Intervention Projects for families with multiple problems (DfE/HO/MOJ etc ) Employment and Skills Life Chances Financial SupportPlace and Local Delivery

Ending child poverty everybodys business But ending child poverty is also heavily dependent on action at local level The vast majority of local areas have rates of relative child poverty well above the 10% (the 2020 national target) – a small handful have rates below, a number have rates of 40% and above, and the highest reported rates of nearly 70% (Inner London). To meet the 2020 targets strong progress is needed across almost all local areas – however around 70% of all children in relative poverty live in under a quarter of all wards so the biggest inroads may be enacted through a targeted approach. There is also massive variation by ward – areas with average rates of 10% still have wards and pockets with rates of over 45%; and areas with average rates of around 45% can have wards and pockets with rates below 10%.

Ending child poverty everybodys business Giving greater control over what happens locally can help address this To enable local authorities to develop effective and efficient solutions to meet the particular needs of their areas, there will be: –de-ring fencing of local budgets and pooling of budgets on specific themes. –removal of bureaucratic targets, prescription, guidance, and controls. –greater ability to attract private and social investment and stimulate growth

Ending child poverty everybodys business -Local partnerships -Links in to other services and positive outcomes for families -Role of local employers and businesses -Engagement with voluntary and community sector, for example as challenge, as strategic planners, as service providers, and as champions of those most at risk of poverty And key to success will be how local areas take this forward