Council acts to tackle child poverty in York

City of York Council has set out how it aims to build on its current initiatives to tackle child poverty in York, and work with other organisations to achieve its goal of narrowing the gap between the least and most deprived areas of the city.

1 in 7 children in York live in poverty . At 14.2 per cent, child poverty in York is below the national average of 19.9 per cent. However, there are 5 wards with figures in excess of the national average: Guildhall (33%), Westfield (32.6%), Hull Road (25.5%), Heworth (22.2%) and Clifton (24.6%).

More than 50 per cent of the children that live in these wards are from families that are income deprived.

Just one area of the city - Kingsway West in Westfield, is in the lowest 10 per cent most deprived areas nationally, and the Council and other agencies are currently running a pilot project to tackle deprivation here.

Children living in these areas are more likely to have poorer academic outcomes, but the Council is working to narrow that gap. In 2002/3 there was a difference of 27% between the number of 11 year-olds living in the least deprived areas of York achieving Level 4 in their English SATs, and those in the most deprived areas, but by 2007/8 the decrease the difference stood at 19%. The Council will continue to work on narrowing the gap in equality amongst children in York, and has prioritised this in the Children and Young People's Plan 2007-10.

The Council already has an Anti-poverty Strategy in place which brings together existing initiatives and proposes new ones in order to maximize incomes of those living in poverty; minimise the cost of living in York; increase the take up of services; and improve the responses of organisations to poverty.

The Council is currently taking action to 'narrow the gap' in York through various initiatives:

Ø Eight children's centres have been established across York, providing childcare, information and advice, health services, parenting programmes and support groups

Ø Childcare provision for vulnerable 2 year olds, and free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds exists across the city - both projects are making good progress in providing for the most vulnerable children

Ø Home-Start York is a voluntary organisation, linked to children's centres, which trains volunteers to offer practical help as well as advice and guidance on parenting problems to families with young children. It aims to give children greater stability in their early years, and has been very successful.

The Council has also outlined new initiatives through which it will tackle child poverty:

Ø Working in partnership with Job Centre Plus in York's Children's Centres to actively encourage and support parents to engage with Job Centre Plus services, which range from information and advice sessions, skills courses, volunteering programmes, apprenticeships; and flexible and affordable childcare for parents in training.

Ø The Council has placed a bid (now shortlisted) for government funding to provide additional services for improving the health and development of children of teenage parents. The service would improve parenting skills and support teenage parents with learning.

Ø A number of young person's drop-in sessions are provided in homeless hostels in York, but the Council hopes to provide a specific service to assist young people and teenage parents to make positive changes to their lifestyles in order to break the cycle of poverty, reduce teenage pregnancy and prevent a repeat of homelessness. An intensive support and development programme will be introduced for young parents who need to resettle and live independently after living in temporary or hostel accommodation.

Cllr Sue Galloway, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, said: "I am very much hoping we will be successful with this bid for government funding, as this would allow us to provide an incredibly worthwhile service to improve young mum's lives and reduce the cycle of poverty for their children. Even if the bid is unsuccessful, the Council will aim to implement this model through existing resources."

The number of young people in York who present as homeless is higher than the national average - 22% in York compared with 9% nationally.

Cllr Carol Runciman, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, said: "York as a whole is a relatively affluent city, so the issue for us in York is one of pockets of deprivation. Child poverty is a vital issue for the Council to tackle particularly because, once in poverty, many people struggle to get out of it, with between 60 and 70% of their weekly income used for debt repayments. This means that, of the 1 in 7 children living in York, many are trapped in a cycle of poverty.

"The Liberal Democrats recently proposed a council motion calling on the Government to invest in tackling child poverty, in order to benefit children in York and across the country. Further investment would really help us, but it is also important that the Council, and other agencies such as the police and health service, all sign up to the same agenda of narrowing the gap between the least and most deprived children in York, and achieve this by working in partnership on current and future projects."

The Council outlines the plans above in a report going to the Executive on 2nd December. Further discussion of this paper will go to Inclusive York and YorOK Board in order to ensure that all agencies are working together to tackle child poverty.