End Child Poverty Network Information Bulletin

BWLETIN GWYBODAETH / INFORMATION BULLETIN

Yn y Rhifyn Yma / In This Issue CYMRU/WALES Y DEYRNAS UNEDIG/THE UNITED KINGDOM DIWYGIO LLES/WELFARE REFORM DOGFENNNAU AC ADRODDIADAU/DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS YMGYNGHORIADAU/CONSULTATIONS ADDYSG A CHYFLOGAETH/EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT TLODI TANWYDD/FUEL POVERTY TLODI BWYD/FOOD POVERTY GOFAL PLANT/CHILDCARE Cysylltiadau / Links ECPN Cymru Website    Join the Network    Cuts Watch Cymru  Fuel Poverty Charter    End Child Poverty Campaign   Robin Hood Tax    Gwefan RhDTP Cymru   Ymunwch â'n Rhwydwaith   Cuts Watch Cymru  Siarter Tlodi Tanwydd    Ymgyrch Dileu Tlodi Plant   Robin Hood Tax

Hydref - Tachwedd 2013/  October - November 2013   Cydlynir Rhwydwaith Dileu Tlodi Plant Cymru gan Plant yng Nghymru. The End Child Poverty Network Cymru is hosted by Children in Wales. CYMRU/WALES Multi-million boost to provide new money and housing advice to Wales' poorest communities New services to provide advice on issues such as debt, money management and housing to Wales' poorest communities have been given the go-ahead after the Welsh Government announced £2.4 million of new funding today. Welsh Government extends programme to support deprived communities A programme to combat poverty and promote education, health and economic prosperity in deprived areas in Wales has been extended. Welsh Government launches £3m small grants fund for poorest communities A fund totalling £3m for education initiatives and childcare in Wales' poorest communities has been announced by the Welsh Government. The Tackling Poverty Small Grants Fund will go towards improving play facilities and childcare projects in Wales' 52 Communities First clusters, which target funding on alleviating poverty in the most deprived area Wales 'worst' for job scheme figures according to MP committee Only one in nine people in Wales have found long-term employment under the UK government's flagship welfare-to-work scheme, a group of MPs has claimed. The Welsh Affairs Select Committee says Wales' figures are the worst in the UK. Welsh budget priorities 'not reflected in spending' The Welsh government's budget for next year fails to reflect what it claims are the key priorities, the assembly's finance committee has warned. While ministers say they are putting jobs and growth first, the budget deal last month in fact puts substantially more money into the NHS, AMs said. Wales Ahead Tackling Poverty Last week the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published a short report thatcompared approaches to reducing child poverty in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales' poorest children 'much less likely to succeed in school than English counterparts' Wales' poorest children are significantly less likely to do well in school than their counterparts in England, according to the UK Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. Y DEYRNAS UNEDIG/THE UNITED KINGDOM UK child poverty survey exposes 'grinding reality' of cold, damp homes More than half of all poor children in the UK are living in homes that are too cold, and around a quarter said their home suffered from damp or mould, a survey published by the Children's Society indicates. Households with lone breadwinner are biggest group living in poverty in UK Households with a lone breadwinner, traditionally consisting of a working man and a stay-at-home mother, are the biggest group living in poverty in Britain - according to new research. Vulnerable children at risk as children's services struggle to survive Unison has warned that children's services are 'hanging by a thread' as charities become increasingly financially dependent on winning contracts from the public sector. Further consultation over charity campaigning changes The government has agreed to calls from charities to hold a fresh consultation over changes to how much they can spend on campaigning in an election year. Ministers have announced a "pause" of nearly six weeks in proposals that would tighten the requirements on organisations other than political parties to register their spending.    80,000 Children To Spend Christmas Homeless, Shelter Warns More than 80,000 children in the UK will spend this Christmas homeless, with the number of families due to be in emergency housing over the period at a 10year-high. The homelessness charity Shelter has launched an emergency appeal following an investigation into the "shocking conditions that many homeless children will be living in this Christmas". Miliband calls for payday loan TV ads to children to be banned Adverts for payday loans should be banned during children's TV programmes, Labour leader Ed Miliband has said. Writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper, Mr Miliband criticised payday lenders who "target" children through advertising.    Sir John Major attacks 'truly shocking' privilege of privately educated elite A former Conservative Prime Minister has attacked the "truly shocking" privilege of the privately educated elite. Sir John Major, who went to a comprehensive in south London and left school with three O-Levels, said that the "affluent middle class" dominated "every single sphere of British influence". He said "hard graft" was not enough in today's society for state school educated pupils to reach the "upper echelons of power". DIWYGIO LLES/WELFARE REFORM Young people take brunt of tougher jobseeker sanctions Poverty and youth campaigners have warned that unemployed young people are being disproportionately affected by jobseeker benefit sanctions. Figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions show that between October 2012, when the new tougher sanctions regime was introduced, and June 2013, the number of unemployed people that have had sanctions applied to their jobseekers' allowance (JSA) rose 13 per cent. Benefit levels 'do not promote laziness', study suggests High levels of benefits for the unemployed do not lead to a lack of motivation to find work, a Europe-wide study has found. University of Edinburgh researchers found benefit levels had "no effect" on the wellbeing of those without a job. MPs deliver damning benefit reform verdict Damning cross-party report warns of multi-million pound write-off looming for UK Government's flagship welfare reform project. Poundland case: government defeated again over back-to-work schemes The government's "back to work" schemes, which were challenged by a graduate who was made to work for free at Poundland and an HGV driver made to clean furniture, were legally flawed, the UK's highest court has ruled. Single mothers lose legal challenge to benefit cap Three single mothers and their children have lost a legal challenge to the government's benefit cap. Judges ruled that regulations brought in by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith were lawful and did not breach human rights. Disabled people win living fund case against government Five disabled people have succeeded in a legal challenge to the government's decision to abolish the Independent Living Fund. The £320m ILF currently provides support enabling nearly 19,000 severely disabled people in the UK to live independent lives in the community. Welsh campaigners call on Government to end 'misery and hardship' caused by bedroom tax Opponents of the Government's so-called "bedroom tax" have ramped up their campaign against the policy ahead of a Parliamentary debate on the issue. Under the Government's welfare reform, social tenants deemed to have more bedrooms than they need have had their housing benefit reduced. The policy has been in place since April 1. Universal Credit scheme rolls out The government's flagship welfare reform - Universal Credit - is starting the next phase of its national launch but far more slowly than intended. Disability welfare changes delayed by assessment process Disability welfare changes for England, Scotland and Wales have been delayed because the government has been unable to assess claimants in time.    Single parents bear brunt of benefits changes, charities warn Single parents with already stretched finances are bearing the brunt of government changes to benefits, charities have warned, when many are already struggling with huge increases to household bills.    Proposed child maintenance levy cut by government The government has reduced the amount it will charge lone parents for using the Child Maintenance Service to secure support payments following widespread opposition to the proposals. Landlord fears rent arrears rise under Universal Credit A private sector landlord with more than 700 homes says benefit changes could put his business at risk. Carmarthenshire-based Kevin Green fears tenants will fall behind on their rent when a new system of paying benefits is introduced. He says he may have to stop letting to people on welfare. Large families worst hit by benefit cap Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that of the 18,024 households subject to the cap as of September this year, all but 369 (two per cent) featured children. Of those affected, 7,730 households (43 per cent) had five or more children and 4,721 (26 per cent) had four children. DOGFENNNAU AC ADRODDIADAU/DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS A review of devolved approaches to child poverty This report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation details the appraoches taken by the devolved nations in the UK to tackling child poverty. It gives a summary of how devolved powers are being implemented to reduce poverty, and what more could be done. You can download the report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website. The Financial Capability of 15-17 year olds This report by the Money Advice Service looks at attitudes and behaviours of young people towards financial issues. It will be used to inform they work the service does to help people make the most of their money. The report can be found on the Money Advice Service website. Tackling in-work poverty by supporting dual-earning families The report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds that children aremore likely to live in poverty if only one of their parents work. It recommends allowing the second earner to keep more of their income before benefits are withdrawn, and more support for working parents such as publically-funded children and more generous parental leave. Young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), year to 30 June 2013 The Welsh Government has released a statistical report on young people not in education, employment or training. YMGYNGHORIADAU/CONSULTATIONS 14-19 Learning Pathways Policy: the way ahead The Welsh Government is consulting on changes to the 14-19 Learning Pathways Policy. The changes aim take into accounts changes in education over recent years, and to give a greater balance between learner choice and quality of the options available at this stage of learning. Consultation ends: 04/12/13. Draft periodic report to the UNCRC UK - Call for views The UK Government is consulting on its latest report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Committee is made up of a group of experts who look at how countries are making the UNCRC real for children in their countries. Countries who sign up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child have to report every five years. The next report is due to be submitted early in 2014. Consultation ends: 22/11/13. Curriculum for Wales: Consultation on proposals for revised curriculum and assessment arrangements The Welsh Government is consulting on proposed changes to the education curriculum and assessments, aimed at improving literacy, numeracy and other basic skills. Plans are also included to ensure continuity throughout the education stages, from Foundation Phase to Key Stage 4.Consultation ends: 17/01/14. New guidance for the Risk Assessment of Walked Routes to School This consultation seeks your views on improving the way in which the safety of walked routes to school is assessed. The Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 sets out that local authorities have a duty to risk assess routes to school, including walked routes. Consultation ends: 07/02/14. ADDYSG A CHYFLOGAETH/EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT Parents must be involved in children's education, says Welsh learning body Schools in Wales need to involve parents in their children's education to help raise attainment and narrow the gap between the lowest and highest achievers, according to a report published today. Only finding young people real, paid jobs will get them off benefits Getting people back to work is a serious business that requires trained public servants just like teachers, the police and doctors. Call to encourage entrepreneurship from primary school age Youngsters should be encouraged to develop their business and social enterprise skills in primary school, an assembly committee has said. The enterprise and business committee believes entrepreneurship should be "at the very heart" of Wales' education system. Businesses Can Help Themselves by Helping Young People One of the most impactful aspects of business behaviour is the approach taken to employment, especially when it comes to the recruitment of young people. David Cameron's recent call for more rigorous academic training during apprenticeships is just one example of how seriously youth employment is being taken by everyone from the government down. Work Foundation to help disadvantaged students gain qualifications Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are to be encouraged to gain youth work qualifications with the help of a £40,000 bursary and scholarship scheme. The board of the National Youth Agency (NYA) has established the scheme as an independent charity called the Youth Work Foundation. It is being funded by the agency, together with 02's youth initiative Think Big. PTSD report finds veterans from disadvantaged backgrounds most at risk Forces Watch report calls for the minimum age of recruitment to be raised to 18 to avoid exposing the youngest soldiers to the most trauma.report from Forces Watch claims that young soldiers from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to suffer from mental health problems. Welsh bishops urge army to raise enlistment age to 18 The Ministry of Defence has come under pressure from the Church in Wales and campaign group Child Soldiers International which is calling for an end to recruitment of under-18s to the Army. TLODI TANWYDD/FUEL POVERTY No 10 says people should consider wearing jumpers to keep fuel bills down No 10 has been reluctantly drawn into a row over whether the public should wear jumpers to keep down their energy bills. The prime minister's spokesman said it was something people should consider, after the energy secretary, Ed Davey, said he wore jumpers at home to keep the bills down. TLODI BWYD/FOOD POVERTY Some British people can't afford to heat their food. Aren't we ashamed? People are reportedly returning parcels to some food banks because they cannot afford to cook, while various energy companies are putting their prices up, by an average of over 9%. Recession hits family spending on fresh food Many young families cut back on fresh fruit and vegetables and switched to less healthy processed food as the recession squeezed budgets, a UK study of 15,000 households' data suggests. It showed rising food prices and stagnating wages had led people to buy less food and choose cheaper products. GOFAL PLANT/CHILDCARE Protest over Rhondda Cynon Taf's proposed nursery cuts About 100 parents have turned up outside Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council's headquarters in Clydach Vale to protest against proposed cuts. The council is thinking of cutting free nursery provision for all three year olds, proposing children start their education later. How more paternity leave will spell less discrimination against women Women of child-bearing age are less likely to be employed because companies don't want to risk the extra cost. YMGYRCHOEDD/CAMPAIGNS Cuts Watch Cymru Living Wage Campaign During Living Wage Week 3rd- 9th November 2013, Cuts Watch Cymru members launched a Living Wage Campaign. Politicians and employers in Wales are being encouraged to sign up to a Living Wage Charter, supporting the Living Wage and calling for progress to be made to increase the numbers of accredited Living Wage employers in Wales.Find out more. Gadewch i ni wybod os oes gennych unrhyw eitemau, er enghraifft, digwyddiadau, newyddion neu adroddiadau, yr hoffech i ni eu cynnwys yn y Bwletin nesaf.    If you have any items you wish to see included in the next Bulletin - forthcoming events, news items or released reports - please let us know.  Diolch,  Thank you,    Anita Myfanwy Swyddog Datblygu Rhwydwaith Dileu Tlodi Plant Cymru  End Child Poverty Network Development Officer