www londoncouncils gov uk Child Poverty The London

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Child Poverty: The London Picture and the Child Poverty Bill Mary Hill Child Poverty Officer, London Councils

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk • Child poverty in London - why it became a high priority • Progress across London so far • The child poverty basket of indicators • Different approaches among London boroughs • The Child Poverty Bill and what this means for local authorities. 2

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Child poverty in London 3

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk The London wide response London Child Poverty Commission – put issues ‘on the map’; evidence based final report gains cross-party support Est. 2006 Regional Child Poverty Toolkit and briefing on Child Poverty and LAAs – to help local delivery Late 2007 ‘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 Final report Dec 2008 National and regional 4

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Child poverty across London 5

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Progress across London 6

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Progress across London 7

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Basket of indicators • The Child Poverty Unit has defined a basket of indicators relating to child poverty from within the current national indicator set. • The indicators reflect the drivers of poverty which can be influenced by local authorities and their partners. • Clarity on the drivers of child poverty will be especially important when local authorities need to undertake a child poverty needs assessment and put together a child poverty strategy as part of the Child Poverty Bill requirements. 8

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Borough approaches LB 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 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 9

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk 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 10

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk 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. 11

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk 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 12

www. londoncouncils. gov. uk Contact: Mary Hill mary. hill@londoncouncils. gov. uk 020 7934 9707 www. londoncouncils. gov. uk/children/child poverty/default. htm 13