Reducing Child Poverty Action Plan

Aberdeenshire Reducing Child Poverty – Update Report April 2020

Reducing Child Poverty

Overarching goals: A. Preventing children on the margins of poverty falling into poverty B. Reducing the number of children living in poverty by moving those in poverty out of poverty C. Protecting Children living in poverty from its most adverse effects D. Enabling children to live a poverty-free adult life

Key themes: 1. Participation and Engagement Link to drivers of child poverty: Reducing Household Costs

Action Action Description Due Date Partners and Latest Latest Note Code Services Note Date A.01 Engage and recruit people with 30-Apr- Third Sector 02 March Poverty Engagement Worker appointed and has experience of poverty in 2022 Agencies 2020 recruited families from across Aberdeenshire. The establishing appropriate families represent the target groups highlighted within mechanisms such as an online Aberdeenshire the Local Action Reports. The breakdown of the expert panel to ensure their voices Council employment status of those involved is below. are heard in developing programmes, policies and Tackling commissioning services. Poverty & Inequality Group

Online forum now live and hosted within Our Aberdeenshire. Community based engagement sessions will take place in the more remote areas of Aberdeenshire to ensure a wide range of parents can have their voice heard.

Early stages of developing an Energy Summit as a result of one of the issues families have raised.

Action Action Description Due Date Partners and Latest Latest Note Code Services Note Date A.02 Improve practitioner awareness of 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 27 Feb Senior Community Learning and Development Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire Council – 2020 Workers have started to deliver Cost of the School and action to address Child Community Day events in their areas. These events focus on Poverty through the development Learning & understanding what poverty is and, not only, costs and delivery of a range of Development linked to school but also costs in the community and Continuous Professional (CLD) the impact of these. The session also discusses good Development (CPD) opportunities, practice, challenges and barriers. The events are including Cost of The School Day open to practitioners, elected members and members sessions. of the community. Events have so far been held in Marr, Formartine and Kincardine and Mearns. Kemnay Network events in February. Further dates to be confirmed.

A Citizens’ Panel survey will be repeated in 2020 to obtain data to see if there has been a change in perception of those experiencing poverty. (Previous survey was undertaken in 2018).

Key themes: 2. Health & Wellbeing Link to drivers of child poverty: Maximising income from social security benefits

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date A.08 Develop mechanisms and 30-Apr-2022 NHS Grampian 12-Mar- Antenatal financial inclusion pathway appropriate care pathways within 2020 Generic email and has been set up with Midwifery, Health Visiting and pre- Third Sector Aberdeenshire Citizens’ Advice Bureau, there is an school childcare services to agreement regarding data that will be exchanged

3 provide signposting for pregnant Tackling between the respective organisations. NHS women and families with young Poverty & Grampian (NHSG) Information Governance have children to specialist money and Inequality Group provided guidance on the data governance aspects welfare advice. of this development. NHSG will ensure that appropriate information is recorded on the BadgerNet system for Best Start. Health visiting and Midwifery teams will have access to support tools and training. It is anticipated that the pathway will be launched early in 2020/21.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date A.09 Ensure the Universal Health 30-Apr-2022 NHS Grampian 12-Mar- Neonatal Expenses Fund – All parents whose baby Visiting Pathway, the further 2020 has been admitted to the Neonatal Unit are provided extension of the Family Nurse with the information they require in regard to the Partnership, Making Every Neonatal Expenses Fund. NHSG have liaised with Opportunity Count (MEOC), the the clinical management structure, a form has been Neonatal Expenses Fund and included within the universal information pack Parenting Programmes maximise provided on admission. The aspiration for the future opportunities to provide support is to build this within the wider programme. Work is and appropriate signposting to ongoing to further improve uptake of this fund. mothers/families in or at risk of poverty. Healthier, Wealthier Children Funding – Income maximisation funding allocation 2019/20 Directors letter has been received confirming North of Scotland will receive £65K which is roughly expected to translate to £8k this year for NHSG. This funding allocation was used to support food poverty work with families with you children in collaboration with CFINE.

4 Making every Opportunity Count (MeOC) – The aspiration is that MeOC be the framework by which will provide the context for conversations about Financial Inclusion, Best Start, Healthy Start etc.

Key themes: 3. School and Community Link to drivers of child poverty: Reducing Household Costs

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date .A.05 Maximising the uptake of free 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 12 Feb The Aberdeenshire Support & Advice Team directly school meals (FSM) and school Council 2020 populate the SEEMIS system with the Free School clothing grants to eligible families Meals (FSM) entitlement flag reducing the need for by regularly reviewing uptake and Tackling each individual school to update their own records. reducing barriers to accessing this Poverty and This has ensured that the relevant credit is available support. Inequality Group on the pupils online account / catering system promptly. Head Teachers handbooks were updated Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) funding is Social Security with the process as it was established some schools funding which is allocated to Scotland were unsure about how the scheme operates. In schools to close the poverty- addition, all key admin staff were advised about the related attainment gap. Some of Education and process and options for applying. the activities and programmes that Children’s are funded using PEF within Services Potential families eligible are picked up when an schools can also contribute to application for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax reducing child poverty. CLD Reduction is made. In addition, applicants who are not eligible to claim for Housing Benefit of Council Tax Reduction can make a stand-alone application.

Fraserburgh Local Plan - Booster Project With the help of CLD and Academy staff recruit

5 pupils to take part in a mini public process and recruit parents with pupils entitled to FSM to participate in the mini public process. Raise awareness among parents and academy students of the breakfast allowance and lunch vouchers. To raise awareness of the FSM offer to pupils and increase the number of pupils making use of the breakfast allowance and lunch voucher. To break down barriers the FSM system creates for some families. Outputs from project: 1. Increase in the uptake of FSM – breakfast and lunch 2. Decrease in the number of pupils arriving late for school

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date A.06 Consult with schools to identify a 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 06 Feb Aberdeenshire Council has agreed initial priorities range of effective measures that Council 2020 supported by the Northern Alliance and linking to our can be implemented in Reducing Child Poverty actions to their closing the Aberdeenshire to reduce the Tackling poverty linked attainment gap outcomes: inequalities gap which is felt by Poverty and low income families. Inequality Group We aim to better define the poverty within Aberdeenshire that prevents children and young Education and people achieving their full potential. This will require Children’s a better understanding of rural poverty as well as Services promoting the issue of child poverty across all

6 communities within the local authority control and Northern beyond. We aim to demonstrate that any barriers to Alliance children’s learning once fully understood can be eliminated/reduced by a strategically planned and locally delivered, partnership approach

We will measure the impact of our work both informally (by regular feedback from all stakeholders) and formally by measuring attainment data including; attendance and exclusions data, BGE progression by Quintile, Breadth and Depth by end of S5 by Quintile, average tariff scores by end of S5 by SIMD, leavers with more than 1 level 6 qualification by Quintile, and leavers entering a positive destination by Quintile. We will also formally evaluate PEF interventions.

Aberdeenshire Council have initially accepted the Northern Alliance supporting aims 1&2 and partial of aim 4. https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/our- priorities/reducing-child-poverty/

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date A.07 Review promotion of Education 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 17 Jan New minimum school clothing grant payment has Maintenance Council 2020 been set at £100 per child and is paid directly to Allowance which provides financial families by Aberdeenshire Council. support to eligible young people Education and from low income households. Children Services

7 Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date C.02 Improve support for families 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 12 Feb Formartine experiencing food poverty, Council 2020 Community Learning and Development (CLD) and including addressing food Community Learning Officers arranged a breakfast insecurity during school holidays. NHS Grampian club to address the issue of children not having breakfast prior to the school day but the bus Department of timetables didn’t really work for this. The money Work & going on the card earlier in the day was implemented. Pensions There is a Conversation Cafe; held in Sim Gardens, (DWP) the sheltered housing complex in Turriff, the first Tuesday of each month, 10-12 and there is food from Third Sector Tesco available for people to take, also helps with isolation.

There is a below the radar emergency food parcel arrangement in Turriff and the Community Planning Officer for Formartine is working with Citizens' Advice and CLD to further this.

The Family resource Centre in Turriff also provides provisions for people, which isn’t just food, they do nappies etc. too.

Kincardine & Mearns The Fareshare project being run by CFine in partnership with CLD and Mearns Area partnership; the food is provided by CFine and is delivered to the Burgh buildings in Laurencekirk.

Local community groups, primary school and health

8 visitors currently access the food and distribute to their community. Currently the project benefits around 250 people in the area between sessions. Additionally, this service is to be extended to Portlethen serving the community and surrounding area.

Latest meeting of Alleviating Poverty sub-group – 12 Feb 2020. Third Sector, Aberdeenshire Council and NHS partners are members of the group sharing practice and linking to work together to deliver services and access to food and care products. Presentation from Aberdeenshire Council Housing Service.

Garioch - Garioch Community Kitchen (GCK) We have been fortunate to receive £5800 in funding to allow us to deliver 14 Family Kitchen sessions during the school holidays over Easter, Summer and October with 332 attending (119 adults and 213 children). These sessions provide families with a hot meal, which they cook together, physical exercise for the children to take part in as well as information and health talks for the adults. These have been very well received and delivered in Port Elphinstone, GCK Inverurie as well as Kemnay. The GCK will look to deliver this again this coming year and are looking to role this out to Insch in addition to the existing areas.

After School Junior Cooking courses have delivered 23 classes past year and can offer funded spaces on these classes, they are continuing this year. We also

9 offer one off children's classes throughout the holidays. Since April we have had 244 under 5’s either through the kitchen or at an outreach session and 858 young people.

Have offered various income generating classes such as: Indian Cookery, Italian, Vegetarian, Xmas Gifts, pickling and Preserves as well as our Birthday parties for children. We will continue these on a rolling basis as well as looking at Gluten Free cookery this year.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date C.05 Improve access to services aimed 30-Apr-2022 Education and 17 Jan Contact to be made with Education and Children’s at pupils to improve physical and Children’s 2020 Services, Educational Psychology Service to learn of mental well-being of children and Services work to support this action. young people experiencing poverty. Including mental health services in each Academy and Primary School cluster.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date C.04 Ensure local transport strategies 30-Apr-2022 NESTRANS 07 Feb Meeting with Transport, TP&I Coordinator, H&SCP including Grampian Health & 2020 and Corporate Community Planning. National Transport Action Plan reflects the Aberdeenshire Transport Strategy published 05 Feb 2020. Regional needs of children and families Council Strategy being developed, led by NESTRANS. living in poverty and develop new Supporting this will be a local delivery plan. These solutions to the transport issues Transport need to ensure they link to National Outcomes to that people/families on low Services reduce inequalities that exist around transport to

10 incomes face. This includes make sure it is affordable, easy to use and allows for ensuring transport for out of school Tackling fair access. activities and services for primary Poverty and Aim to improve links across the development of the and secondary pupils is available. Inequality delivery plan and reducing child poverty actions was agreed. HSCP Community Planning Partnership Workshop #5 in May 2020 will focus on transport.

Key themes: 4. Skills and Employability Link to drivers of child poverty: Increase Income from Employment

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date D.01 Reduce in work poverty by 30-Apr-2022 HSCP 04 May The report ‘Towards a Fairer Aberdeenshire’ developing and implementing an 2020 https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/wp- in-work poverty strategy in Tackling content/uploads/2020/01/Towards-a-Fairer- partnership with local employers to Poverty and Aberdeenshire-Report.pdf has been developed to increase the number of local Inequality outline the impact of the Tackling Poverty & businesses who are Living Wage Inequalities Strategic group, which covers the whole employers. Criminal Justice of Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeenshire There has been funding to target those experiencing Council in-work poverty through the community hubs in Peterhead and Fraserburgh. Measures such as Third Sector extending opening hours and provision of free online training as well as working towards enhancing workforce planning and pathways.

Aberdeenshire Council is taking steps towards

11 gaining accreditation as a Living Wage Employer following its Business Services Committee decision on 23rd April to add the matter to the Outstanding Business List and to seek to progress this within a realistic timescale, bearing in mind the current pandemic situation.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date .D.02 Encourage all businesses that are 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 17 Jan The Council considers the delivery of high quality delivering services which have Council 2020 public services to be inextricably linked with been procured by Aberdeenshire workforces that are well-rewarded, well-motivated, Council and other Community Tackling well-led, have access to appropriate opportunities Planning partner to be living wage Poverty and for training and skills development, recognise and employers with a diverse Inequality respect diversity and are involved in some key workforce which has no gender decision making affecting them. pay gap. NHS Grampian In order to ensure the highest standards of service In Aberdeenshire Council Aberdeenshire quality in all contracted work all contractors are considers Community Benefit Employability asked to demonstrate a positive approach to fair Clauses on contracts over 4 Partnership work practices include such things as: million. These clauses already • A fair and equal pay policy that includes a highlight fair working practices and commitment to supporting the Living Wage, encourages business to have a including, for example being a Living Wage positive impact on reducing Accredited Employer; poverty & inequalities through a • Clear managerial responsibility to nurture talent range of programmes including and help individuals fulfil their potential, supporting work placements and including for example, a strong commitment to apprenticeships. Modern Apprenticeships and the development of Scotland’s young workforce; • Promoting equality of opportunity and

12 developing a workforce which reflects the population of Scotland in terms of characteristics such as age, gender, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership and race (including gypsy travellers). The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with a ‘protected characteristic’. Organisational policies (including but not limited to recruitment) should ideally account for and respect all protected characteristics; • Support for learning and development; • Stability of employment and hours of work, and avoiding exploitative employment practices, including for example no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts; and • Flexible working (including for example practices such as flexi-time and career breaks) and support for family friendly working and wider work life balance.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date D.03 Ensure community-based support 30-Apr-2022 Tackling 17 Jan The Scottish Government has introduced a New is person-centred, providing Poverty and 2020 Parent Support Fund to support parents to progress support for parents to address Inequality and secure employment which will reduce Child their barriers to work, which might Poverty. The target groups are lone parents, person include health support, money Employability with a disability, families with 3+ children, children advice, or motivational Partnership under one year old and parents under 25 years old. The amount of funding which has been for

13 Aberdeenshire is £134,000 per year starting 2020/2021.The funding has been set up to support those families that are not in employment and address the working poor with a breakdown of 35% of the funding to support access into employment and 65% of the funding to address in work poverty.

This funding will enhance existing provision such as the community hubs and address any gaps.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date D.05 Ensure the strategic approach to 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 17 Jan Connect with Library & CLD teams to gather improve digital access and skills in Council 2020 information to support this action. Aberdeenshire addresses the CLD / Library Community Hubs have been developed in needs of low-income families. service Peterhead, Huntly, Fraserburgh & Banff which Aberdeenshire increase access to digital support. Voluntary Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA) support a Action. number of community-based projects across Employability Aberdeenshire to increase digital skills Partnership

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date D.04 Provide appropriate support to 30-Apr-2022 Tackling 17 Jan Links to D.01 projects and outcomes. Next steps to address in-work poverty by Poverty and 2020 work with Tackling Poverty and Inequality Group to targeting support to help parents Inequality identify future projects and sustainable support. already in jobs to remain active in the workplace and gain HSCP progression in their career.

14 NHS Grampian

Aberdeenshire Council

Employability Partnership

Skills Development Scotland

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date D.06 Ensure strategies and action 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 17 Jan The development of a Child Poverty Working group related to housing, prevention of Council 2020 to support this action plan will ensure all relevant homelessness; the prevention of CCP Board partners are involved in contributing to reducing childhood accidents; parental Third Sector effects of child poverty through links with their substance misuse; supporting the Criminal Justice planning and service provision. needs of the Criminal Justice Housing population; parenting and mental Services health can reduce the inequalities Social Security gap and further improve quality of Scotland life and life chances for children DWP and their families living in poverty. Skills Development Scotland

15 Key themes: 5. Social Security and Advisory Services Link to drivers of child poverty: Maximising income from social security benefits

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date A.10 Promotion of Scottish 30-Apr-2022 HSCP 17 Jan Social Security Scotland staff for Aberdeenshire will Government’s online and face-to- 2020 be based at Fraserburgh Business Centre and face Financial Health Checks. CAB looking at outreach options. Ensuring the uptake of the Best Partnership links have been established to ensure Start Grant and improve the Social Security community-based outreach can be delivered from the uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers. Scotland summer of 2020.

Applications for Best Start Grants were authorised for Aberdeenshire. Sept 2019 67% Payment to: Amount: Pregnancy and baby £173,700 Early learning £118,250 School age £80,000 Best Start Foods £1,985 TOTAL £373,935

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date B.01 Increase household income of low- 30-Apr-2022 Social Security 17 Jan Progress has been made recruiting a team to cover income families by developing and Scotland 2020 Aberdeenshire and the proposed benefit roll outs. At implementing a comprehensive present Social Security Scotland delivered a range of benefit take-up campaign. Tackling benefits including the Best Start Grants, Carers Poverty and Allowance and Funeral Supplement. Disability

16 Inequality benefits will be rolled out summer 2020.

Financial The team that will be covering Aberdeenshire will be Inclusion based in the Business Centre, Fraserburgh. There Partnership will also be a community-based outreach service developed across the area.

The team leader has been put in place and the full team will be in place for summer 2020.

Local campaigns have been undertaken, such as; Communities Connect in Banff (Oct 2019). Social Security Scotland have been working with groups to look at Personal Independence Payments (PiP) and improving processes around this benefit.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date B.02 Explore opportunities to providers 30-Apr-2022 Tackling 17 Jan Local Affordable Credit of affordable credit in Poverty and 2020 Over 6,000 people across Aberdeenshire are Aberdeenshire. Inequalities accessing high cost credit. Mostly small loans for paying bills, buying a new cooker, etc. There is a Aberdeenshire need to promote some lenders who have lower Council interest rates.

Carnegie Trust paid for research and have suggested a joint meeting to brief members/ partners that work in Aberdeen, Moray and Aberdeenshire. Currently waiting for outcome of research to inform next steps.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date B.03 Explore a system of basic income 30-Apr-2022 Tackling 17 Jan Project to be scoped to support this action, which could be piloted in rural Poverty and 2020 November 2020. Aberdeenshire. Inequality

Aberdeenshire Council

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date C.01 Ensure income maximisation, 30-Apr-2022 Tackling 17 Jan Faithlie Centre, Saltoun Square is open. This is a money advice and welfare rights Poverty and 2020 Community building which will offer range of services are accessible, including Inequality services. The proposal is to deliver out of hours for in rural and remote areas. Embed services targeting working families. The funding will income maximisation and welfare Social Security be used for additional staff to cover Customer rights support within services that Scotland Service, employability, digital skills and using warm people living in poverty already handovers, will link into the Specialist Link Workers use e.g. Primary Care services, HSCP in GP Surgeries and other services. Schools, etc. Financial New Information & Advice Service Framework has Inclusion been implemented with additional posts to be Partnership recruited to be based within GPs across Aberdeenshire.

Service through Community Hubs in Peterhead and Banff.

Action Partners and Latest Action Description Due Date Latest Note Code Services Note Date C.03 Improve support for families 30-Apr-2022 Third Sector 06 Jan National movement, new strategy pending and experiencing fuel poverty, 2020 legislation. including increasing Tackling Challenge in reducing in next 5 years across rural targeted referrals for home Poverty and Aberdeenshire. energy grants support. Inequality Working with SCARF and individuals. Aberdeenshire Council Energy Summit will be held – further information to follow. Housing Services

SCARF

Financial Inclusion Partnership.