West Dunbartonshire: Local Child Poverty Action Report June 2020
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'Improved Life Chances for all Children, Young People and Families’. West Dunbartonshire: Local Child Poverty Action Report June 2020. Table of Contents Foreword............................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 2 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4 Living in West Dunbartonshire.............................................................................................. 8 Lived Experience in West Dunbartonshire........................................................................... 14 Work and Earnings.............................................................................................................. 17 No One Left Behind ........................................................................................................ 17 Employability Pipeline .................................................................................................... 17 Parental Employability Support (Working 4 Parents)....................................................... 20 Oot Scoot and Aboot ....................................................................................................... 22 Apprenticeship Pathway .................................................................................................. 23 Social Benefit .................................................................................................................. 24 Skills Development Scotland - National Training Programmes. ....................................... 25 Income Maximisation (Benefits and Debt) .......................................................................... 26 Benefit and Debt Management ........................................................................................ 26 Scottish Social Security in West Dunbartonshire ............................................................. 28 Scottish Welfare Fund ..................................................................................................... 30 Costs of Living.................................................................................................................... 31 Housing and Support ....................................................................................................... 31 Fuel Poverty .................................................................................................................... 34 Cost of the School Day .................................................................................................... 35 Early Learning and Childcare .......................................................................................... 39 Education Maintenance Allowance Payments .................................................................. 40 Free School Meals and Clothing Grants ........................................................................... 41 Young Scot Card ............................................................................................................. 43 Ending Period Poverty in the Community ........................................................................ 44 Food Insecurity in the Community .................................................................................. 45 Helping Families in Other Ways ......................................................................................... 47 Care Connections ............................................................................................................ 47 Community Learning and Development .......................................................................... 49 Access to Further Education ............................................................................................ 51 Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences ................................................................... 52 Family Nurse Partnership ................................................................................................ 54 Domestic Abuse Partnership ............................................................................................ 55 Family Opportunity Hubs ................................................................................................ 57 West Dunbartonshire Improving the Cancer Journey Service........................................... 59 Planned Developments ........................................................................................................ 60 Entitlement to 1,140 Hours Childcare .............................................................................. 60 Understanding Credit (Illicit Money Lending) ................................................................. 61 Connecting Scotland ....................................................................................................... 62 Addressing Mental Health ............................................................................................... 63 Crisis Support ................................................................................................................. 64 Managing Child Poverty Action Reporting .......................................................................... 65 Assessing Impact ................................................................................................................ 66 Appendix 1: NHSGGC Child Poverty Leads Group: ......................................................... i Appendix 2: Partnership Group Membership ..................................................................... ii West Dunbartonshire Local Child Poverty Action Report 2019/2020 Foreword There is no universally agreed upon definition of poverty but a good starting point is the definition that the campaigning ‘Child Poverty Action Group’, uses: Individuals, families and groups in the population can be said to be in poverty when they lack resources to obtain the type of diet, participate in the activities and have the living conditions and amenities which are customary, or at least widely encouraged and approved, in the societies in which they belong.’ People are poor if they are unable to live at the standard that most others would expect. Children may have housing and food, but remain poor if their parents can’t afford to put the heating on at home. Families and children may have mobile phones, mobile devices and computers, but remain poor if there isn’t sufficient connectivity to use the equipment for everyday tasks that others take for granted. Children can have warm clothes and modern footwear for school, but remain poor if there isn’t enough money for them to go on the same school trips as their classmates. Unfortunately, child poverty is the reality of life for many children in West Dunbartonshire. A reality that is clearly illustrated in this report. Add to this the reality of the challenges we face as the wide reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic take effect; the uncertainty surrounding Brexit; and the impact of Government welfare reform and we are entering a very challenging and largely unknown future. As we work our way through these circumstances it is clear that there are significant challenges ahead that will have an impact on household incomes and living standards. The worst effects are likely to be felt most severely by those already most disadvantaged. Because of this there is a real risk that we will see rising levels of child poverty and inequality. If you do nothing else, I recommend that you read the ‘Lived Experience’ section (pages 14 – 17) of this report: It’s both, hard hitting and thought provoking. The emotions it stirs should ands will drive our determination to take action and force positive change based on equality and human rights. This report is not offered simply as a list of good intentions. It’s has been developed as a working document for individuals and organisations seeking to improve the quality of life for families in West Dunbartonshire. The expectation is that by providing this as a key reference document we will raise awareness of available services and their aims and actions; we will provide contact details and links to further information; and we will encourage cross working between these services. I’d like to convey my thanks to the staff delivering services for their professionalism and commitment. I hope this document will help them top continue that work and extend the reach and accessibility of support services, increase the number of families benefitting from support and, as a result, improve the quality of life for children in our communities. For that reason I am happy to commend this document and urge everyone to make use of this as a key resource for tackling child poverty in West Dunbartonshire. Councillor Diane Docherty West Dunbartonshire Council. 1 'Improved Life chances for all Children, Young People and Families’ in West Dunbartonshire. West Dunbartonshire Local Child Poverty Action Report 2019/2020 Executive Summary The Bill for The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 was passed by the Parliament on 8th November 2017 and received Royal Assent on 18th December 2017. The Bill requires local authorities and health boards to produce a Local Child Poverty Action Report each year. The report should describe measures being taken in the area that contribute to meeting the child poverty targets.