Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland

Alex Young

Scottish and UK Parliament responsibilities

Scottish Parliament

•Health

•Education

•Skills

•Housing

UK Parliament

•Fiscal, economic and monetary

•Employment legislation

•Social Security

Early intervention and prevention

•Three key social policy frameworks address the causes of poverty and inequality:

o Achieving our Potential - tackling poverty and income inequality

o Early Years Framework - giving children the best start in life

o Equally Well: Report of the Ministerial Taskforce on Health Inequalities

Universal entitlements• Commitment to the Social Wage

–Free prescriptions

–Free personal care

–Free tuition

–Living Wage

(Free School Meals)

Child Poverty in Scotland• Relative poverty decreased substantially in the 90s and continues to fall,

albeit at a lower rate

• However, The IFS estimates the relative child poverty rate in Scotland will increase significantly by 2020, rising to 22.7%. This would account for an additional 50,000 children in Scotland living in poverty.

Welfare Reform

• There have been significant delays to the roll out of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments

• Do not anticipate any roll out beyond Inverness in Scotland before the UK General Election

• However, cultural changes, sanctions, claimant commitment, have been progressed

Welfare Reform impacts

• Scottish Government analysis published on 7 April 2014  estimates that the cumulative impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms over the six years to 2015-16 could result in the Scottish welfare bill being reduced by around £6 billion; it is estimated that over £1 billion relates directly to children in Scotland.

Ministerial Advisory Group

• In 2012 Ministers appointed the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty to advise on the strategy and annual reporting

• It meets two to three times a year, chaired by DFM, and includes the Minister for Housing and Welfare, Minister for Children and Young People, representatives of local authorities, health boards, children’s and anti-poverty organisations

Child Poverty Strategy revision

Three key outcomes:

1.Maximising household resources. (Pockets)

2.Improving children’s wellbeing and life chances (Prospects)

3.Children from low income households live in well designed sustainable places (Places)

Prospects

• Best place in the world to grow up

• Focus on early intervention and prevention

• Early Years Framework emphasis on giving children, particularly those who are most disadvantaged, the best possible start in life

Prospects

• Children and Young People Act– Single planning approach for children need

additional support– Single point of contact – Children’s Services Plans– Increase amount and flexibility of childcare

Prospects – specific actions

• £272 million (with local authorities, the NHS and other partners) Early Years Change Fund to improve children’s life chances

• Over 130,000 receive free school meals and from January 2015 P1-P3 children have the option of a free meal at school. Saving of around £330 per child if the pupil takes a meal every day

Prospects – specific actions

• Expanding nursery provision from 475 hours to a minimum of 600 hours. Expanding to 2 years olds in workless households from 2014, and to 2 year olds who would have been eligible for free school meals from 2015

• STV Child Poverty Appeal match funded between 2011 and 2014 with £3.65m

Prospects – specific actions

• Communities and Families fund - £6 million in funding over 3 years (with Big Lottery) to help groups working with children aged under 8

• £30m to support work with children, young people families and communities through £20m Third Sector Early Intervention Fund and £10m Strategic Funding Partnerships

Outcomes Framework

• MAG and stakeholders have consistently requested more robust reporting on impact of activities

• Outcomes framework focused around 3 Ps – map onto 3 long term outcomes– Maximising household resources (Pockets)

– Improved life chances for children (Prospects)

– Children grow up in sustainable places (Places)

• Articulates how we expect our activities will lead to outcomes

• Provides framework for monitoring and evaluation and structure for future annual reports

OutcomeIntermediate outcomes

Policies

Maximisingfinancialresources of families on low incomes

Families on low incomesare managing finances appropriately and accessing all financial entitlements

Households have the skills and motivation to access advice and manage finances; and knowledge about products, welfare rights and support services

Maximised financial entitlements of families on low incomes

Parents are in good quality, sustained employment in line with skills and ambitions

Good quality employment is available

Individuals have the skills and motivation to find and retain work

Affordable, accessible and flexible childcare is available

Financial capability and welfare rights advice/support

Employability/Skills Strategy

Economic growth policies

Living Wage

Childcare for employment and education

Reduced household spend of families on low incomes

Universal entitlements (social wage)

Welfare reform mitigation

Scottish Welfare Fund

Fuel Poverty ProgrammesFree School Meals and funding for school activities

OutcomeIntermediate outcomes

Policies

Improved life chances of children in poverty

Children from low income households have improving levels of physical and mental health

Children from low income households have improving relative levels of educational attainment, achieving their full potential

Children from low income households experience social inclusion and display social competence

Young people from low income backgrounds are in good quality sustained employment in line with skills and ambitions

Emotional wellbeing

Healthy lifestyles

Early and high quality treatment

High quality teaching and support targeted to needs and abilities

Cognitive and emotional skills

Children feel valued

Skills and qualifications

Availability of suitable work, inc apprenticeships and highly skilled work

Motivation/aspirationsYouth Employment Strategy

Health Inequalities

Educational Attainment, including FE/HE

Resilient, stable, strong families providing supportive home environment

Participation in positive activities/hobbies

National Parenting Strategy

Early Years Collaborative and Change Fund

Parents engaged in childrens’ learning

Access to professions

Modern Apprenticeships

OutcomeIntermediate outcomes

Policies

Children from low income households live in well designed sustainable places

Children from low income households live in high quality sustainable housing

Affordability, availability and security

Sustainability and quality

Housing that meets needs

Children from low income households grow up in places that are economically sustainable

Supportive, inclusive and engaged communities

Accessible, affordable and high quality facilities and amenities

Regeneration Strategy

Housing

Fuel Poverty

Homelessness

Accessible, effective local social services

Children from low income households grow up in places that are socially sustainable

Children from low income households grow up in places that are physically sustainable

Communities protected and safe

Quality buildings and spaces

Strong local economies

Learning opportunities and support in accessing economic opportunities

Infrastructure, inc digital, that supports economic growth

Quality housing and amenities reduce household costs (pockets) ; supportive communities, healthy homes, healthy and safe environments, quality services and facilities, and local economic opportunities improve physical and mental health, attainment, social inclusion and employment (prospects) outcomes

Transport linksAccess to high quality affordable public transport

Today’s event

• Very keen to learn more about the impact of health inequalities on the outcomes in the strategy

• Interested in views on how best to deliver on the outcomes in the strategy

• Would appreciate specific examples of your activities which relate to the outcomes