Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services on the progress of the Child Poverty Working Group (CPWG) in addressing and mitigating the impact of poverty on children, young people and their families in County Durham. (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

The report delivered by Lindsey Davidson, Child Poverty Operations Manager gave a brief update on the current levels of child poverty in County Durham and work undertaken by the CPWG to address 4 key priorities. Children living in poverty in County Durham is 19.3% with 23,200 (31.9%) eligible for free school meals. County Durham was ranked 48 out of 151 upper tier authorities in England for children living in poverty. The work of a multi-agency CPWG partners from early heath, voluntary, 0-19 health and public health had identified 4 priority areas with the aim of using all available resources to help, prevent, reduce and mitigate the impact of poverty on children, Young People and their families in County Durham. These 4 key priorities included co-produced activities, skills and knowledge, promote inclusion and build resilience and raise aspirations.

The was an overview of support available to families with the area that have seen the most significant and bespoke intervention being the Financial Inclusion Support Officer Programme (FISO) which worked with 12 secondary schools and Bishop Auckland Collage to pilot supporting young people. FISO worked with parents to tailor support and offered benefits advice, within the first month 15 out of 25 families were supported to access further benefit support. The Fun and Food programme worked in partnership with schools and the Bread-and-Butter Thing to establish activities and trips for eligible families. The Start for Life schemes supported 673 households to purchase safe sleeping and home safety equipment 673 households with on-going demand for the service increasing. A pilot of free school meal auto enrolment contacted families of children in school-based education and eligible for benefits related free school meals. Very few replies were received asking to opt-out and this resulted in a 9.6% increase in free school meal uptake. The pilot will continue into next year due previous success.

Gail Earl, Strategic Manager Early Help added that a key focus of the CPWG was to work with partners to raise aspirations of young people through support into education and employment. DurhamWorks was a partner who work with NEET young people and schools identifying young people at risk of becoming NEET. They offered a Workplaces Project for year 10 children that linked to employers to look at skills and needs and be introduced to the world of work. Work with vulnerable 16-24 year olds was prioritised including young parents, young carers and those with additional needs.

Councillor Reed commented that the offer of work experience to young people was valuable support into the world of work and was often needed as part of a course. She asked what support is given to young people to find work experience and approaching employers. The Strategic Manager Early Help responded that at DurhamWorks has good relationships with employers and will seek feedback for the committee on what they offered.

Councillor Coult commented that there were often barriers to parents accessing support, however the FISO programme had been a success in supporting parents of secondary school children and would benefit primary aged and academy trust families. Were there plans to extend the program to these schools? The Child Poverty Operations Manager responded that FISO has been a pilot focused on secondary school initially due to limited funding and the numbers who attend them in comparison to primary schools. Primary schools  had better links with parents compared with secondary therefore prioritised. Councillor Coult noted that equipment supplied through the Start for Life fund included Cots, mattresses, bedding, pushchairs and safety equipment all of which were available through Baby Banks. The Child Poverty Operations Manager added that the service does sign post families in need to equipment suppliers through the voluntary sector alliance list and Family Hubs.  The Strategic Manager added that in the entrance to the Family Hubs were rails of free children’s clothes available for those who needed them.

Councillor Waldock noted that 12 secondary schools had been focused on for the FISO programme and asked if these had been identified in areas of high child poverty? The Child Poverty Operations Manager clarified that the programme focused across all areas working with schools that could commit to giving their support to the pilot however one school was identified in the Dales area where access to citizens advice and other support services can be more limited.

Councillor Varty shared positive feedback on the impact she had witnessed in school of the Start for Life fund supporting a young person and having a positive impact.

Councillor Mulholland referred to the success of the Free School Meal Auto Enrolment pilot and enquired to the cost of administering this.

The Child Poverty Operations Manager responded that she was not aware of the administration costs however due to the increased up take of free school meals the pilot would continue.

Mrs Gunn asked there were any organisations which donated surplus equipment to the Start of Life fund for example pushchairs left at the airport. The Strategic Manager Early Help clarified that the fund could only offer new goods as storage of equipment was an issue.

Professor Ciesielska noted that 19.3% of children in County Durham were living in poverty and asked what was being done to address the gaps in support given to families who had not accessed or refused support in the past. The Strategic Manager Early Help agreed that there is always more work that can be done. Hard to reach families were engaged through school partnership, support through The Family Hubs which were open to all and the on-going work of the multi-agency CPWG were all working towards reducing child poverty.

Councillor Hunt referred to the communication and engagement work carried out with secondary schools to overcome potential stigma relating to free school meals. The Head of Early Help, Inclusion and Vulnerable Children highlighted the use of modern biometric systems within schools which used a fingerprint to take payment for meals had removed some of the stigma as it was less apparent who takes free school meals. Since the free school meal pilot and the support of FISO there had been an increased uptake of secondary school parents applying for free school meals.

The Chair thanked the Officers for the presentation.

Resolved: That the contents of the report and presentation be noted by the Committee.