SVP Brochure 6(S2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 1
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SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 1 St Mary’s University College A College of Queen's University Belfast | Coláiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 2 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the contribution of the authors - Professor Peter Finn, Dr Gerard McCann, Dr Niall Coll and Dr Gabrielle Nig Uidhir. We would also like to thank the members of the Working Group - Rev Tim Bartlett, Dr Nicola Rooney, Dr Oliver Woods and Mr Jack Doran. In addition, thanks goes to those who provided feedback on the document, including: the members of the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs, the members of the Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, Mr Cormac Wilson, Regional President, SVP, and the members of the Social Justice and Policy Team, SVP National Office. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 3 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION 4 ONE - THE MANY VOICES OF POVERTY 6 TWO - THE SCALE OF POVERTY 16 THREE - FAITH AND POVERTY 26 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 30 REFERENCES 34 SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 4 4 Introduction Poverty is a problem in Northern Ireland and challenging poverty is important. It is important for those who have to endure the day-to-day struggle of trying to make ends meet, for those in our society who are forced to live on the social and economic margins and for communities that have been systemically trapped in a cycle of deprivation and social exclusion. Poverty is an aspect of our seemingly prosperous Northern Irish society that is often not prioritised by either policy makers or media, yet we live in a region of the European Union that has some of the highest levels of definable poverty. Child poverty rates are among the worst in Europe, poverty among the elderly is endemic, our new communities - often from other regions of the EU or Africa - suffer multiple deprivations, and those on low income find that opportunities to escape from the constraints of poverty are few and far between. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 5 5 In January 2010 the UK The results of the experience of poverty has on government’s Equality Office individuals and families; the reported some shocking research state what second section examines findings regarding the those living in this the extent of the problem, extent of economic community are all the organisational and inequality in Northern governmental statistics on Ireland. They concluded that too aware of - that in the subject; and the third over the past forty years the an apparently section explores the position socio-economic differences prosperous society of faith-based organisations between the richest social in addressing issues groups and the poorest has there are individuals, pertinent to the problem of widened; that disadvantage families and indeed poverty in our society. Each has been reinforced across sectors of the section complements the generations and life cycles; other and each of the and that there remains population who are positions taken carries differences in opportunity, caught within worlds forward a strong message income, and life experiences of systemic from those who are in which suggest that current poverty and those who work policies and initiatives are disadvantage and to rid society of it. In order having a questionable economic to challenge poverty we impact on poverty for deprivation. need to invest in personal significant sections of the and organisational energies population. These findings This report has engaged to overcome both its causes concur with the dialogue with these issues in a and its effects. that has been ongoing over number of ways to go the past year between a beyond the normal In the final analysis, an panel on poverty at St quantitative surveys of ethical position should take Mary’s University College social exclusion with the us to a situation where which comprised of aim of approaching the people are actively engaging academics, St Vincent de issue from the position of a with those causes in our Paul and NICCOSA, the community dialogue. In this society that perpetuate Northern Ireland Catholic it explores three aspects of social exclusion and Council on Social Affairs, a the debate on poverty, each condemn people, families Council of the Irish Catholic focused on the idea of and communities to poverty. Bishops’ Conference. actively challenging poverty, Organisations such as St This report is the product of and which reflect on the Vincent de Paul, along with that dialogue, linking in ethos and community based other front-line agencies, conveniently with the Big approach taken by are in a unique position to Society debate initiated by organisations such as the energise the voluntary and the new Coalition Society of St Vincent de communitarian potentials of Government in Westminster Paul. society, as well as to lobby and the ongoing adaptation government to put in place of poverty related policies in These aspects are: first, a policies which directly the Stormont Executive. section reflecting personal challenge poverty. It is experiences of poverty and hoped that this report the effects that the advances such an ethical position. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 6 6 The Many Voices of 1 Poverty This section reflects the views and insights shared by research participants who work in a range of charitable organisations supporting people in poverty, as well as other participants who have had to endure the effects of poverty. “The great whip of poverty…that great lash of hunger, the dread spirit that ever haunts the poor, reminding them of the hardship that is to come, deadening the pain that is present.” This was the Irish writer, Liam O’Flaherty’s description of poverty in early twentieth century rural Ireland. Surely, such problems could not exist in modern day society? Today, the effects of poverty are all around us. People are suffering in our relatively affluent society. What dims our senses? What relegates such a piercing plea to a mere background din in a noisy world? These questions demand attention if we are to face the truth of what poverty really means in our society. Our understanding of poverty can be one-dimensional. Young people, in particular, are often treated as potential consumers by the media which tries to manipulate and distort their view of the world in commercial terms. Generally, there is a tendency to oversimplify complex concepts like poverty. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 7 7 As part of this report, a group of That concept had not yet been This comment refers to those sixteen year old pupils in an fully understood by the young people who have left the urban school were invited to teenagers. care system at eighteen, suggest definitions of poverty. unequipped with the skills One of the community workers needed to survive as Some of the views expressed at interviewed for this report independent young adults the beginning of the discussion described the challenge posed having experienced dependency were: by the personal and emotional in a system and a familiarity impact of poverty. with a lack of empowerment. • Anne - “Having no money.” Commentaries and reflections • Ciara - “Someone who were sought to communicate “He or she has been taken care doesn’t have the things they the havoc and hurt embedded in of by the Government. need to live.” that situation. “Having a hole in Everything paid for. Survival • Darren - “Someone who the soul” was the harrowing skills have not been developed. doesn’t have enough money image used by one of the key He or she may never have had to survive in a normal workers in a charitable to pay a bill or buy clothes. And environment.” organisation to describe this then at eighteen he or she is • Colm - “Can’t enjoy life to state of being caught in the grip just sent out into society. Those the full – can’t enjoy life’s of poverty. The sense of kids are failed. Those kids are luxuries - because they are hopelessness experienced by going to fail.” always worrying more about the men and women who find their financial status.” help at the interviewee’s drop-in One young person who was • Donall - “Severe lack of centre, poses the most urgent interviewed referred to her material goods or wealth. challenge to its workers. weekly state benefit of £47.50. Living in extremely poor She usually spent it all on the living conditions.” EARLY BEGINNINGS first day. Essentials for a teenager go beyond a balanced These views were expressed Conversations with people in diet and basic clothing. A compassionately and poverty disclose a disturbing teenager caught in the poverty thoughtfully and they do give an reality: the crisis can often be trap is no different from any insight into the way our society traced back to early childhood. other teenager in that sense. views poverty. The most striking One of the workers in another They are exposed to peer and image is one associated with charitable organisation made media pressures, just as much financial hardship, excluding this observation: as their more fortunate peers. the individual from a more Basic life skills are even more comfortable lifestyle. In today’s “We have a lot of kids who have important to be able to manage financial climate, it is come through the care system, a very small budget, without understandable that the threat who weren’t fortunate enough family support, and to withstand of “having no money” is to have foster parents.