Walsall Childrens Trust
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
• Child Poverty
1.Why have a strategy to reduce child poverty?
2.The Strategy3.The Action Plan4.What it will look like5.Effectiveness – Evidence-based monitoring
and evaluation
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
Why have a strategy to reduce child poverty? Nearly 1/3 of children live in poverty (around 16,000)
Poorer healthLower attainment etc
A Moral and economic imperativeCouncil PledgeCycle of deprivationCost of servicesGovernment Target
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
Three facets:- 1.Mitigate against the effects of Child Poverty
2.Reduce parental worklessness
3.Raise Aspirations
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
1. Mitigate the effects of Child Poverty Impact now Improve health and well-being Increasing tax credits and benefits Build seamless family support system
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
2. Reduce parental worklessness Impact now Support parents into decent, sustainable
jobs Recruitment targets City Strategy and Neighbourhood Skills
Project Childcare and positive activity guarantee
for 0-19 yr olds
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
3. Raise Aspirations Longer term impact Schools as drivers to narrow the gap in
achievement
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
Action Plan Child Poverty reduction as an explicit
service outcome Aligned and co-ordinated outcomes-
based services Children’s Fund dedicated to Child
Poverty strategy Commissioned services Focus on areas of greatest need Parents\Communities as experts
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
• Evidence-based monitoring and evaluation
Outcome measures in specification
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
What’s next
• Working with 2 localities (tba)• Priority for Childrens fund for next 2 years
• Tender in November 2008
• £1.8 million bid to government at stage 2• Coordinated approach across the borough
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
1. Mitigate against the effects of Child Poverty
2. Reduce parental worklessness
3. Raise Aspirations• What lessons can be learned from practice
elsewhere?
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
• What are your observations about our collaborative approach to service delivery?
Walsall Child Poverty Impact Reduction Strategy
• What are your perceptions about the effectiveness of locality focussing?