1. Ending child poverty everybodys business Update from the Child Poverty Unit East Midlands Event Child Poverty Unit October 2010

2. 22 Ending child poverty everybodys business The Child Poverty Act 2010 enshrines in law the commitment to end child poverty by 2020 Part 1 of the Act sets out how government will be held accountable, by publishing: A strategy every three years to 2020 and an annual report. The first strategy must be published by March 2011, and will cover the first 3 years of the strategy. The Strategy will need to: (a) propose the action needed in each area in order to meet the targets and minimise socio-economic disadvantage, and (b) assess what progress needs to be made by 2014 It will also need to assess: which groups are most at risk of poverty and disadvantage; & consider the impact of policy for each group The Child Poverty Act gained Royal Assent on 25 th March 2010 and the Government must publish their first UK-wide strategy by March 2011.

3. Ending child poverty everybodys business Part 2 of the Child Poverty Act and the Local Duties Part 2 of the Child Poverty Act requires local authorities and their statutory partners to: Cooperate to reduce, and mitigate the effects of, child poverty in their local area; Prepare and publish local child poverty needs assessments ; Prepare joint child poverty strategies for their local areas; and Take their responsibilities to tackle child poverty into account when preparing or revising their Sustainable Community Strategies. Local authorities and their partners are also required to consult with children and parents when preparing the strategy. The local duties came into force 2 months after Royal Assent, on 25 th May 2010

4. Ending child poverty everybodys business What has the Coalition Government said so far on the local duties? Child Poverty Lead Ministers (DfE, DWP, HMT) have confirmed that they are committed to the local duties within Part 2 of the Act and to the long term goal of eradicating child poverty by 2020. However, in line with the decentralisation/localism agenda of central Government not prescribing how local areas carry out their work, the Government confirmed that it would not publish statutory guidance or issue detailed regulations around the needs assessment. Instead we issued a short non-statutory guide alongside a broader package of sector-led support in line with the demand that has been identified through informal and formal consultation. It was also announced that funding in relation to the local duties would be made available in the Autumn for this implementation year (2010-11).

5. Ending child poverty everybodys business What does this mean in practice? Timetables – advice on timetables would have been set out in the statutory guidance – any timetables are now illustrative. However, since funding in respect of the duties has been confirmed for 2010-11, areas are likely to want to deploy this funding to meet the duties and ensure plans are in place ahead of the operational cycle. Consultation – the need to consult with children and parents and organisations representing them on the strategy is set out in primary legislation – but leaves it in part to local areas discretion to consult as they see fit. Publication – details on when the needs assessment must be published and whether as a stand alone document were to be included in regulations but must still be reflected in the Sustainable Communities Strategy – manner of publication will not be prescribed but local areas will wish to be able to demonstrate they have fulfilled the duties and engaged their communities.

6. Ending child poverty everybodys business Funding for Local Authorities in 2010-11 Funding will be provided in 2010-11 to support responsible local authorities in England who are leading cooperation around the duties – will be distributed to all top-tier local authorities. The funding will be made available to local authorities through payments via the 2010-11 Area-Based Grant from the Autumn - a non-ringfenced grant which is paid and administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Payments will be weighted in part relative to the numbers of children in poverty in the area, reflecting the scale of the overall challenge. This funding provides a critical opportunity to focus capacity and resources on understanding the needs in the local area and reprioritising and refocusing local services accordingly.

7. Ending child poverty everybodys business Package of Support – launched September 2010 We recently issued the short guide to Part 2 of the Child Poverty Act that signposts to a package of sector-led support that focuses on practical tools, information guides and good practice examples to enable local authorities and partners to respond positively to the Part 2 duties, in line with their local circumstances. The package of support includes: Needs assessment toolkit developed by LGID Guidance on data-sharing to enable local authorities and others to make the most of available data within the context of data protection and security Save the Childrens guide to consulting children and young people CPU website signposting users to a range of data sources CPUs data sheets on the child poverty basket of indicators to aid analysis at LA level

8. Ending child poverty everybodys business The Core Offer of Support The Child Poverty Unit website Research CPU updates Data Tool CPAG Child Poverty Toolkit Gov Offices C4EO Sector Specialist C4EO Take Up Taskforce Report & Materials Beacons active personalised support Good Practice Examples Online Resources: Child Poverty Community of Practice (CoP) C4EO website LGID C4EO Validated Local Practice RIEPs CWDC NCL Save The Children Child Poverty Units website and CoP Child Poverty Pilots

9. Ending child poverty everybodys business Non-statutory guide to Part 2 of the Act Responds to informal and formal consultation Purpose is to help authorities et al make the most of the Part 2 duties Gives overview of Coalition Governments commitment to ending child poverty Describes and explains role of responsible authorities and named and un-named partners Explains duties to prepare needs assessments and strategies with link to assessment toolkit Offers messages on decentralisation and localism and how to engage/ consult communities Describes Core Offer of Support on child poverty The Guide to Part 2 is designed to provide clear background information and to signpost local authorities, their named partners and un-named partners to associated materials and tools.

10. Ending child poverty everybodys business Child poverty developments SEPT: Local duties support package launched DEC: Frank Field MP Independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances making recommendations around Measurement and Life Chances, particularly early years and parenting. Government Response through National Strategy. JAN & MAY 2011: Graham Allen MP Early Intervention Review reporting (interim and final), focussing on early intervention and delivery and funding models. MARCH 2011: National Strategy must be published. Overseen by the Social Justice Cabinet Committee chaired by Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for DWP.

11. Ending child poverty everybodys business Questions and feedback going forward Likely to be more reliant on using websites and communities of practice in future to share information directly with local areas. Register at the LGID community of practice: http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/reg/sp.do Would welcome views and concerns here via the CoP: i) on child poverty networks going forward; ii) how the Child Poverty Unit can support you and best communicate with you; iii) is the support package effective? Is anything missing? Do you think it will help your organisation meet the duties?

12. Ending child poverty everybodys business Further information http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/_download/?id=8624 Core Offer leaflet with details of the group membership and the services they provide: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/_download/?id=8609 Guide to Part 2 of the Child Poverty Act: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/strategy/parents/childpoverty/bill/support/ support_to_meet_local_duties/ Refer to the Child Poverty Units website for details of the full package of support: