Poverty in Doncaster Data Update June 2016 1 Contents Section 1: Introduction ................................................................................................ 4 Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 5 Section 2: Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2015 .......................................................... 7 Doncaster IMD 2015 Rank out of 326 Local Authorities ....................................... 10 Change ................................................................................................................. 11 2015 Most Deprived .............................................................................................. 11 IMD: - Areas Declining .......................................................................................... 12 IMD: - Areas Improving ......................................................................................... 13 2015 Most Income Deprived ................................................................................. 14 Income: - Areas Declining ..................................................................................... 15 Income: - Areas Improving .................................................................................... 16 2015 Most Employment Deprived Areas in Doncaster .......................................... 17 Employment: - Areas Declining ............................................................................. 18 Employment: - Areas Improving ............................................................................ 19 2015 Most Health Deprived Areas in Doncaster ................................................... 20 Health: - Areas Declining ...................................................................................... 21 Health: - Areas Improving ..................................................................................... 22 2015 Most Education Skills and Training Deprived Areas in Doncaster ............... 23 EST: - Areas Declining .......................................................................................... 24 EST: - Areas Improving ......................................................................................... 25 Section 3: Actions to Tackle Poverty ........................................................................ 26 Awareness of benefits delays, sanctions and their impact .................................... 26 Information and Advice ......................................................................................... 26 Increasing tenancy sustainability in social housing ............................................... 26 Fuel Poverty Workshops ....................................................................................... 26 Early Help Strategy ............................................................................................... 27 Food Bank Forum and Food Bank Champions ..................................................... 27 Local Assistance Scheme ..................................................................................... 27 Sharing information ............................................................................................... 28 World of Work Academy ....................................................................................... 28 Well North, Well Doncaster ................................................................................... 28 2 Stronger Families Extended Programme .............................................................. 28 Universal Credit .................................................................................................... 29 Housing Benefit & Council Tax Support ................................................................ 29 Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme .................................................................. 30 Discretionary Housing Payments .......................................................................... 31 Free School Meals ................................................................................................ 32 Pupil Premium ....................................................................................................... 33 Benefit Sanctions .................................................................................................. 34 Benefit Cap ........................................................................................................... 34 Under Occupancy Reductions to Housing Benefit ................................................ 35 Welfare Reform Support Fund .............................................................................. 36 Section 4: Employment, Education & Training ......................................................... 38 Employment Rates ................................................................................................ 38 Unemployment Rate ............................................................................................. 38 Key Out of Work Benefits ...................................................................................... 39 Jobseekers Allowance .......................................................................................... 40 Universal Credit .................................................................................................... 41 Employment Support Allowance ........................................................................... 41 Tax Credits ............................................................................................................ 42 Qualifications ........................................................................................................ 43 Apprenticeships .................................................................................................... 45 3 Section 1: Introduction The Team Doncaster Strategic Partnership Board members have signed an Anti- Poverty Strategy Statement to demonstrate their commitment in working collectively to tackle the complex causes and effects of poverty on people’s lives. They have agreed to share expertise and adapt activities to promote social and financial inclusion, and to reduce the impact of poverty. The Anti-Poverty Strategy Group’s role is to increase awareness of poverty issues across the partnership, identify gaps in provision and to develop actions to meet them. It acts in an advisory capacity: providing advice, guidance and support to Anti- Poverty Strategy partners and participatory bodies; and acts as an interface between all partners. Each member organisation has its own remit and can contribute to tackling poverty issues. The inter-relationships across many parts of people’s lives mean that poverty is a complex problem; there are no easy fixes. A number of strategies and interventions are in place, that are effective in supporting individuals and families. However, they are fragmented and need more co-ordination to give a strategic and joined up approach to alleviating the causes and effects of poverty. By embedding an Anti- Poverty approach in other strategies and partnership plans, the Anti-Poverty agenda will be focused and delivered. This document supports the Anti-Poverty Summit in June 2016. It provides the latest data on key poverty issues within Doncaster, an update on some of the actions that have been taken or gaps that need to be addressed. The key themes are: Financial Exclusion - Increasing income and access to affordable credit; Employment, Education & Training - Improving access to work; Health & Wellbeing – Reducing health inequalities related to poverty; Housing – Improving access to suitable and affordable quality accommodation; Communities – Supporting families and improving access to information and advice, services and amenities. 4 Executive Summary Doncaster has improved from 39th to 48th most deprived District in England. It is also the 2nd most deprived district in South Yorkshire and The Sheffield City Region behind Barnsley The highest deprivation is amongst Employment, Education, Skills and Training, with Health and Disability, Income and Crime following closely behind. All in the top 50 overall deprivation figures. 1 in 5 of the Lower Super Output Areas in Doncaster are the most deprived 10% Nationally. Denaby Main, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Hexthorpe & St Sepulchregate West and Balby Bridge are highlighted in the top 10 most deprived areas of Doncaster. Denaby Main has deprivation issues in all categories Mexborough has deprivation issues in all categories Conisbrough has deprivation issues in Education Skills and Training Hexthorpe & St Sepulchregate West has deprivation issues in Employment Balby Bridge has deprivation issues in all categories. The areas seeing the highest rate of decline from previous years are Hexthorpe & St Sepulchregate West, Moss and Kirk Bramwith, Edlington Central, Bently Church Street and Mexborough Main Street. The areas with the highest rate of improvement from previous years are New Rossington South, Edlington Broomhouse Lane, Town Centre Chequer Road, Balby Carr Bank and Woodlands Crescent The actions taken to tackle poverty in Doncaster include: Raising awareness of benefits delays, sanctions and their impact Information and Advice Increasing Tenancy Sustainability in Social Housing Fuel Poverty workshops Early Help Strategy Food Bank Forum and Food Bank Champions Local Assistance Scheme Information Sharing World of Work Academy Well North, Well Doncaster