(12) reducing child poverty in aberdeenshire - progress rpt · child poverty action plan. 2...

Business Services

REPORT TO EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMITTEE – 19 MARCH 2020

REDUCING CHILD POVERTY IN ABERDEENSHIRE – PROGRESS REPORT

1 Reason for Report/Summary

1.1 This report is to update the Committee on progress made implementing the Reducing Child Poverty Action Plan.

2 Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

2.1 Acknowledge and support the progress made in reducing child poverty and provide comments which will inform the final Local Child Poverty Action Report.

2.2 Identify any specific concerns which the Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Group could be asked to consider, as part of the development of future plans.

3 Purpose and Decision-Making Route

3.1 The Scottish Government has explicitly stated a commitment to ending child poverty through the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 (‘the Act’), which outlines a statutory requirement to reduce the number of children who live in poverty. The Act also places a statutory duty on local authorities and health boards to jointly prepare and submit to the Scottish Government an annual “Local Child Poverty Action Report” (‘the Action Report’) which identifies what action has been taken in the previous 12 months and what action will be taken in the future to reduce child poverty.

3.2 Full Council approved the Action Plan at its meeting on 26 April, 2019, and delegated the approval of future submissions of the Action Report to the Scottish Government to the Communities Committee, following consideration and comment on the Action Plan by area committees and the Education & Children’s Services Committee. The Scheme of Governance was updated to reflect this decision.

The Child Poverty Action Plan has been developed alongside Community Planning partners, most noticeably with NHS Grampian, which has the joint statutory duty with Aberdeenshire Council to produce the Action Plan which was approved and publicised on the Aberdeenshire Council and NHS Grampian websites on 28th June, 2019. This report can be found in Appendix 2. The Scottish Government set up the Poverty & Inequalities Commission to assess and monitor these reports. The feedback which has been supplied from the Commission and the Improvement Service is outlined in Appendix 3.

Reducing child poverty is also one of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) priorities, which is led by the Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Group, chaired by Amanda Roe, Buchan Area Manager.

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The Action Plan was approved by the CPP Board in May, 2019, as the delivery plan for the LOIP priority. Progress made up to 10 February, 2020, can be found in Appendix 4 of this report.

Any comments made by this Committee will be integrated into the feedback from area committees, which can be found in Appendix 5.

3.3 This report has not been considered by this Committee previously.

4 Discussion

4.1 The Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2018 - 2022, Every Child, Every Chance, highlights 3 main drivers of child poverty:

Employment: Income from parents’ work and earnings is insufficient to lift them from poverty;

Household costs: The costs of living which households have to cover are too high;

Social Security: Income from Social Security has been cut back significantly, particularly for families with children.

4.2 The Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Group was set up by the Community Planning Partnership to coordinate strategic development across partners. This Group leads on the priority to reduce child poverty across Aberdeenshire.

Definition of Poverty Poverty is technically defined as when a person's household income (adjusted for the size and composition of the household) is less than 60% of the UK average income.  Poverty is much more than just low income.  The factors which generate poverty are wide-ranging and encompass many aspects of day-to-day life such as health, housing, educational attainment, employability and access to services.    "A denial of choices and opportunities, as well as a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family or a job to earn one's living, nor having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities”.United Nations, 1998

A family is considered as in poverty if they are living on:

Less than £363 a week or £18,900 a year for a single person with children aged between 5 and 14;

Less than £463 or £24,100 a year for a couple with children aged between 5 and 14.

Our approach within Aberdeenshire to tackling child poverty focusses on tackling the root causes and building people’s capabilities through income maximisation, employability, improving quality of life, helping families manage the impacts of povertyand promoting positive life choices. It is important that the voices of those with lived experienced are not just heard but their views construct future strategies and the Action

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Plan as these families are key to delivering the 4 overarching goals which are highlighted in this Plan.

These are:

Preventing children on the margins of poverty falling into poverty; Reducing the number of children living in poverty by moving those in poverty out

of poverty; Protecting children living in poverty from its most adverse effects; Enabling children to live a poverty-free adult life.

Child poverty is a complex area which is reflected within the actions within the Child Poverty Plan. The intention is for the Action Plan to add value and complement existing strategies. The Aberdeenshire Child Poverty Action Plan is a live document. The following link will give you access to the most up-to-date version – https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/our-priorities/reducing-child-poverty/ .

4.3 All the Aberdeenshire wards have levels which are lower than the Scottish average. The following table outlines the child poverty figures for the highest and lowest areas in Aberdeenshire for 2018/2019.

After Housing Costs No. of Children % of Children

Scottish 240,000 24% Aberdeenshire 8,215 14%

After Housing Costs Wards No. of Children % of Children Fraserburgh & District 806 22% Troup 411 20% Peterhead South & Cruden 545 19% Peterhead North and Rattray 568 19%

After Housing Costs Wards No. of Children % of Children Westhill & District 343 8% Ellon & District 242 8% East Garioch 251 8% North Kincardine 349 9%

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https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/our-priorities/reducing-child-poverty/

4.4 The following actions demonstrate the positive impact they have had addressing child poverty and may have particular relevance to the Education and Children’s Services Committee –

The Garioch Community Kitchen has supported 120 parents and children from the Garioch area through the delivery of its Eat Well for Less Parent & Child Cooking Programme. This Programme has increased confidence preparing healthy meals from scratch, following recipes and improving diet. Families are better equipped to budget with regard to their food costs and prevent financial hardship for low income families. The Garioch Community Kitchen has also delivered a Lifeskills programme to young people from Inverurie, Meldrum and Turriff Academies.

‘I enjoyed chatting with the group and sharing money saving tips.’

“The kids could make them at the weekend and freeze them for snacks during the week.”

Community Works - a community development project to help improve living and working experience for those in the community. This ranges from access to services, support in ensuring clients are earning what they are entitled to and getting the support that goes with it. The project is designed to encourage and use a whole community approach and focus on improving circumstances. To date, the project has supported approximately 85 people to increase their household income through employment, reducing household costs and increase the uptake of benefits such as the Best Start Grant.

Across Aberdeenshire, 13 academies have increased the daily allowance for those entitled to free school meals to ensure the cashless catering cards can be used to cover breakfast. This has resulted in pupils being more prepared to participate in their studies throughout the day and increased the percentage of pupils taking up free school meals.

Homestart North East has offered support and advice to families who have been experiencing separation/divorce, children and/or parents with mental/physical disabilities, isolation, multiple births, bereavement, lone parents, poor family support, and families who live in temporary accommodation or inadequate housing. The evidence of this project demonstrates that the life chances of people at risk of falling into poverty, or already living in poverty, have been improved. The project has reduced child poverty by providing a service which is flexible and responsive, to 151 families living in the Buchan area.

The summer holidays can become a crisis point for low income families with them having additional costs to be covered. Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust delivered a summer holiday programme which targeted children and young people from low income households who attend Buchanhaven and New Pitsligo Primary Schools. Both Primary Schools used their pupil equity fund as match funding. The project supported 38 children and young people to gain skills, confidence, to volunteer, to train as assistant instructors & instructors and broaden their horizons. The project

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has had a positive impact on their confidence, belief in themselves, and ultimately their aspirations and choices. Low income working households were targeted to take part in the project to reduce the childcare costs for these families.

‘Mum gets to work a bit more because we’re here.’

‘This is the best Summer holidays I have ever had.’

Tackling Poverty & Inequalities allocated resources through funding projects and programmes across Aberdeenshire which resulted in the following outcomes –

o 599 individuals have been supported into employment or training opportunities

o 156 young people have participated in training opportunities (16-20 year olds)

o 10,396 people have accessed money, debt advice, income maximisation and information & advice services

o 135 additional volunteers have supported community-based projects delivering almost 4,000 additional hours.

o 455 low income families have been supported to access opportunities and services

o Client Financial Gain of £8,859,404 has been secured.

5 Council Priorities, Implications and Risk

5.1 The work and outcomes outlined in this report help to deliver Council Priority 8 - Work to reduce poverty and inequalities within our communities.

The activities and impacts also support the delivery of the following priorities:

Council Priority 3 - Providing the best life chances for all our children and young people by raising levels of attainment and achievement.

Council Priority 10 – Having the right people, in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time.

5.2 The activities and outcomes within this report help deliver against the Aberdeenshire Children’s’ Services Plan, where the outcomes are outlined within the Plan and links with a range of strategies including Criminal Justice, Housing, Transport and Economic Development.

5.3 The table below shows whether risks and implications apply if the recommendations are agreed. Subject Yes No N/AFinancial xStaffing xEqualities xFairer Scotland Duty xTown Centre First xSustainability xChildren and Young People’s Rights and Wellbeing

x

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5.4 An Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out and is outlined in Appendix 1. The work which is delivered and monitored through the Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Strategic Group, to maximise income and improve employability for people on a low income, can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socioeconomic disadvantage, which helps meet our aims under the Fairer Scotland Duty.

The following positive impacts have been highlighted –

Increased household income for those living in poverty and at highest risk of poverty;

Improved social mobility and engagement with employment market in Aberdeenshire;

Improved employment conditions and household income for those experiencing in-work poverty;

Improved health and well-being and educational attainment; Reduced unintended inequalities caused by service commissioning; Action is likely to contribute to children and young people living a poverty-free

life in adulthood.

5.5 The children and young peoples’ rights and wellbeing implications are likely to close the inequalities gap and support improved quality of life, which may contribute to children and young people living a poverty-free life in adulthood.

5.6 It is anticipated that some of the ambitions set out in the Child Poverty Action Plan can be met from within existing resources, where changes to the way in which services are delivered can be made at no additional cost to partner organisations. At a local level, funding opportunities such as Fairer Aberdeenshire Funding will be explored where appropriate. In addition, the Scottish Government’s Delivery Plan Every Child, Every Chancehighlights a range of funding opportunities which will come onstream during the life of the Plan. Opportunities to access these funding streams will be explored as appropriate.

5.7 The following Risks have been identified as relevant to this matter on a Corporate Level:ACORP007 – Social Risks, changes in population Poverty & Social Inequality Corporate Risk Register.https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/23596/20181128-directorate-risks.pdf

6 Scheme of Governance

6.1 The Head of Finance and Monitoring Officer within Business Services have been consulted in the preparation of this report and their comments are incorporated within the report. They are satisfied that the report complies with the Scheme of Governance and relevant legislation.

6.2 The Committee is able to consider this item in terms of Section E.1.1 of Part 2A of the List of Committee Powers in the Scheme of Governance, as the matter impacts Education and Children’s Services, and the delegation to the Communities Committee in Section D.4.4 of Part 2A of the List of Committee Powers requires consultation with this Committee prior to approval.

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https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/24689/aberdeenshirecorporaterisks.pdf

https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/23596/20181128-directorate-risks.pdf

https://aberdeenshire.sharepoint.com/sites/Arcadia/services/Pages/Business Services/Legal and Governance/Governance/Scheme-of-Governance-.aspx

Ritchie Johnson Director of Business Services

Report prepared by Annette Johnston, Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Coordinator Date 14 February, 2020

List of Appendices – Appendix 1 – Equality Impact Assessment Appendix 2 – Local Child Poverty Action Report Appendix 3 – Local Child Poverty Action Report Feedback Appendix 4 – Child Poverty Action Plan Appendix 5 – Feedback from Area Committees.

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EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

EIA Version Date Author Changes

Version1 28/02/2020 A Johnston

Stage 1: Title and aims of the activity (“activity” is an umbrella term covering policies, procedures, guidance and decisions including those that affect services the council delivers).

Service Business Services

Section Tackling Poverty & Inequalities

Title of the activity etc. Towards a Fairer Aberdeenshire

Aims and desired outcomes of the activity

Preventing people including children on the margins of poverty falling into poverty.

Reducing the number people including children living in poverty by moving those in poverty out of poverty.

Author(s) & Title(s) Annette Johnston

Tackling Poverty & Inequalities – progress report.

St

Stage 2: List the evidence that has been used in this assessment and explain what it means in relation to the activity you are assessing.

Evidence What does it say? What does it mean?

APPENDIX 1Item: 12

Page: 79

Internal data (customer satisfaction surveys; equality monitoring data; customer complaints).

Tackling Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire: lessons from local voices (2018) research commissioned on behalf of Aberdeenshire CPP. This research engaged with a range of staff, partners and low-income families. The outcome of the research project informed the Child Poverty Action Plan.

Monitoring data supplied by existing service level agreements which includes who the services have worked with, where the service is delivered and what services are being delivered. Housing & finance information that identifies areas of need for Information & Advice services to reduce rent arrears, homelessness or the risk of losing a tenancy or home. The level of free school meals Number of applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund.

The voices of those with lived experience is important in the co-production of services and opportunities. Addressing stigma felt by low income families is a priority area for the partnership. Data supplied from funded services and project is used to identify gaps, highlight good practice and ensure the existing resources are used more effectively. The number of free school meals gives an indication of the number of low-income families across Aberdeenshire therefore this can be used to target areas that require additional support especially out with term time. The data collected through the Scottish Welfare Fund has identified an increase in applications looking for support to cover household bills including food as a result of the 5-week waiting time when applying for Universal Credit.

Internal consultation with staff and other services affected.

Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Group and Monitoring Officers.

Improved links with Housing, Early Years, Transport and Education is required to ensure a clearer understanding of the poverty agenda.

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External consultation (partner organisations, community groups, and councils.

Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Strategic Group Improvement Service Health & Social Care Partnership NHS staff – Peterhead & Fraserburgh GPs, Health Visitors, Practice Managers and Nurse practitioners. Aberdeenshire Financial Inclusion Partnership Aberdeenshire Employablity Partnership Community Planning Board

Addressing any forms of poverty is complex and requires support and commitment from all partners. Partners require to identify their role in reducing Child Poverty and how they can change their practice to ensure stigma is addressed. The voice of the lived experience is key to delivering and the coproduction of services. The work which has been carried out across Aberdeenshire has had a positive impact however there are areas of improvement which requires to be actioned.

External data (census, available statistics).

SMID, NHS data, DWP (Universal Credit) data, Scottish Government – Child Poverty data.

Data supplied is used to identify gaps, highlight good practice and ensure the existing resources are used more effectively. Not all of the data is available at a ward level therefore localised data is being explored.

Other (general information as appropriate).

The ambitions set out by Scottish Government in Every Child; Every Chance have informed the Child Poverty Plan which will be used to develop the Local Action Report which will be produced annually

The ambitions are to ensure services and opportunities supported through the Tackling Poverty & Inequalities group are accessible, high quality, good value and cover across Aberdeenshire. The lived experience forum gives us access to case studies which are used to highlight the areas of improvement of service delivery.

The report outlines what has been delivered over the last 12 months and what should be a priority over the next 12 months giving an opportunity to review action and progress annually. The 2019 report gives partners a base line to work from. An annual review of the work carried out and supported by the Tackling Poverty & Inequalities group identifies trends, gaps and good practice. The lived experience group has identified different ways of working which can benefit the wider community.

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Stage 3: Evidence Gaps.

Are there any gaps in the information you currently hold?

None have been identified however not all data is available at a ward level therefore local data is being identified which could be collated to enhance future plans.

Stage 4: Measures to fill the evidence gaps.

What measures will be taken to fill the information gaps before the activity is implemented? These should be included in the action plan at the back of this form.

Measures: Timescale:

Collate the local data outlined in the Child Poverty Action plan which will be reviewed annually.

June 2020

The monitoring information received internally and externally will be collated and used to identify trends. This would be reviewed annually.

February 2021

Stage 5: What steps can be taken to promote good relations between various groups/areas?

These should be included in the action plan.

Ensure that the Lived Experience continues to reflect those target groups outlined in the Scottish Government in Every Child, Every Chance. Continue to build on the partnership work which has been developed around this area. Report progress to Area Committees, Policy Committees and Health & Social Care Partnership. Highlight good practice at a local and national level.

Stage 6: How does the policy/activity create opportunities for advancing equality of opportunity?

The approach to tackling poverty & inequalities focusses on early intervention and prevention – tackling the root causes of poverty and building people’s capabilities through income maximisation, employability and promoting positive life chances.

Accessing appropriate services and opportunities will contribute to reducing child poverty, social justice, support housing first principles, reducing homelessness and reducing inequalities across Aberdeenshire. Through identifying and addressing the barriers faced by those who are at risk of poverty or living in poverty should result in a reduction of inequalities.

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Stage 7a:

Are there potential impacts on protected groups?

The protected groups covered by the equality duty are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Who is affected by the activity or who is intended to benefit from the proposed activity and how?

Complete the table below for each protected group by inserting “yes” in the applicable box/boxes below.

Positive Negative Neutral Unknown

Age – Younger Yes

Through increasing opportunities for those who are living in low income households ensuring improved outcomes.

Age - Older Yes

Through increasing opportunities and access to services for parents who are living in low income households ensuring improved outcomes.

Disability Yes

Through increasing opportunities and access to services for parents who are living in low income households ensuring improved outcomes.

Race – (includes Gypsy Travellers)

Yes

Through increasing opportunities and access to services for those families that have low income, high living costs and limited employment.

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Religion or Belief

Not known as the data will not identify religion or beliefs

Sex Yes


Pregnancy and maternity

Yes


The development of the Financial Health Check pathways targets those who are pregnant or have a child under 1 years old.

Sexual orientation – (includes Lesbian/ Gay/Bisexual)

Unknow as this data will not be identified.

Gender reassignment – (includes Transgender)

Unknow as this data will not be identified.

Marriage and Civil Partnership

Yes


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Stage 7b: Do you have evidence or reason to believe that this policy, activity etc. will or may impact on socio-economic inequalities?

This is about trying to be fair to everyone. Part of that is realising that not everyone may be starting at the same place. Some individuals and families may have low income, may have very little or no savings which means they are living from month to month therefore changes to council policies/services may have a greater adverse impact on them.

On this basis you should consider potential impacts on individuals/families by:

• Place: on specific vulnerable areas or communities (SIMD, regeneration, rural) e.g. housing, transport.

• Pockets: household resources, (Income, benefits, outgoings) ability to access a service

• Prospects: peoples life chances e.g. Access to, or ability to access employment, training, services (such as council or health) or support.

Groups of people who may be impacted include, but not limited to:

• Unemployed

• Single parents and vulnerable families

• People on benefits

• Those involved in the criminal justice system

• People in the most deprived communities

• People who live in rural areas

• Pensioners

• Looked after children

• Carers including young carers

• Veterans

• Students

• Single adult households

• People who have experienced the asylum system

• Those leaving the care setting including children and young people and those with illness

• Homeless people

• People with low literacy/numeracy

• People with lower educational qualifications

• People in low paid work

• People with one or more protected characteristic

Please complete by inserting “yes” in the applicable box/boxes below.

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Socio-economic disadvantage

Positive Negative Neutral Unknown

Pockets: Low income/income poverty – cannot afford to maintain regular payments such as bills, food, clothing

Yes


Pockets: Low and/or no wealth – enough money to meet basic living costs and pay bills but have no savings to deal with any unexpected spends and no provision for the future

Yes


Pockets: Material deprivation – being unable to access basic goods and services i.e. financial products like life insurance, repair/replace broken electrical goods, warm home, leisure and hobbies

Yes


Place: Area deprivation – where you live, where you work

Yes


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Prospects: Socioeconomic background – social class i.e. parents’ education, employment and income, educational achievement.

Yes


Stage 8: What are the positive and negative impacts?

Impacts. Positive

Negative

Please detail the potential positive and/or negative impacts you have highlighted above. Detail the impacts and describe those affected.

Increasing opportunities and access to services for those families that have low income, high living costs and limited employment.

Increased access to services will close the inequalities gap and support improved quality of life.

People living in poverty or at risk of living in poverty will experience a reduction of stigma from accessing services and opportunities which will improve their outcomes.

Increased household income for those living in poverty and at highest risk of poverty through benefit up take and income maximisation.

The development of a lived experience forum the challenges of living in poverty and experience inequalities will be raised and address to ensure services and opportunities are accessible, where and when require.

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Stage 9: Have any of the affected groups/areas been involved, engaged with or consulted?

If yes, please give details of how this was done and what the results were. If no, how have you ensured that you can make an informed decision about mitigating steps?

Tackling Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire: lessons from local voices (2018) research commissioned on behalf of Aberdeenshire CPP. This research engaged low income families who will continue to be engaged with as part of the ongoing monitoring process. Client feedback has been collated from existing services and funded projects. This feedback has been the basis of the development of how services are delivered. The development of the lived experience forum will ensure local voices continue to co-develop / produce services.

Stage 10: What mitigating steps will be taken to remove or reduce negative impacts?

These should be included in any action plan at the back of this form.

Mitigating Steps Timescale

Identify & secure additional funding to build capacity

December 2020

Support all organisations to work in partnership to use existing resources more effectively

December 2020

Ensure that any commissioning process doesn’t exclude local providers from the tender process

December 2020

Stage 11: What monitoring arrangements will be put in place? How the EIA will be used to monitor the proposal

These should be included in any action plan (for example customer satisfaction questionnaires).

Monitoring framework will continue to be developed to ensure outcomes are identified and met. Progress reports will be submitted to the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Board. Progress reports to be submitted to Area Committees annually. Progress reports will be submitted to Communities Committee, Education & Children Service Committee, Health & Social Care Partnership and NHS Grampian senior Leadership team annually. Annual Child Poverty Local Action Report will be published and monitored through the structure set out through the Scottish Government. All reports will contain client feedback to ensure services are meeting their needs and any improvement areas are highlighted. The EIA will be updated to reflect positive impacts and any areas of development throughout the lifetime of the Child Poverty Action plan.

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Stage 12: What is the outcome of the Assessment?

Please complete the appropriate box/boxes

1 No negative impacts have been identified –please explain.

The approach to tackling poverty & inequalities focusses on tackling the root causes of poverty and building people’s capabilities through income maximisation, employability and promoting positive life chances.

The Fairer Aberdeenshire Fund is used to support services and opportunities that improve the live chances of those most vulnerable in Aberdeenshire.

2 Negative Impacts have been identified; these can be mitigated - please explain. * Please fill in Stage 13 if this option is chosen.

3

The activity will have negative impacts which cannot be mitigated fully – please explain.

* Please fill in Stage 13 if this option is chosen

* Stage 13: Set out the justification that the activity can and should go ahead despite the negative impact.

Stage 14: Sign off and authorisation.

Sig

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1) Service and Team

Business Services

2) Title of Activity Tackling Poverty & Inequalities (if appropriate)

3) Authors: I have completed the equality impact assessment for this

Name: Annette Johnston

Position: Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Coordinator

Date: 28/02/2020

Signature:

Name:

Position:

Date:

Signature:

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activity. Name:

Position:

Date:

Signature:

Name:

Position:

Date:

Signature:

4) Consultation with Service Manager

Name:

Date:

5) Authorisation by Director or Head of Service

Name: Amanda Roe

Position: Buchan Area Manager

Date: 28/20/2020

Name:

Position:

Date:

6) If the EIA relates to a matter that has to go before a Committee, Committee report author sends the Committee Report and this form, and any supporting assessment documents, to the Officers responsible for monitoring and the Committee Officer of the relevant Committee.

Date: 28/02/2020

7) EIA author sends a copy of the finalised form to: [email protected]

Date: 28/02/2020

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Action Plan

Action Start Complete Lead Officer Expected Outcome Resource Implications

Identify & secure additional funding to build capacity

March 2020

December 2020

Annette Johnston

Build capacity within the partnerships who deliver services to improve the lives of those who live or at risk of living in poverty,

Officers time

Support all organisations to work in partnership to use existing resources more effectively

March 2020

December 2020

Annette Johnston Existing resources more effectively

Time commitment from partners and officers from across the community planning partnership.

Ensure that any commissioning process doesn’t exclude local providers from the tender process

March 2020

December 2020

Annette Johnston

Services and opportunities supported through the Tackling Poverty & Inequalities group are accessible, high quality, good value, has a good local knowledge of the rural area to ensure coverage across Aberdeenshire.

Time commitment from partners and officers from across the community planning partnership

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CHILD POVERTY LOCAL ACTION

REPORTAberdeenshire

June 2019

APPENDIX 2Item: 12

Page: 92

Child Poverty Local Action Report, Aberdeenshire June 2019

2

INTRODUCTION

Aberdeenshire remains a relatively affluent area of Scotland. However, pockets of deprivation and rural isolation nevertheless exist. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) identifies different domains of multiple deprivation across Scotland, in data zones (small areas of around 500-1,000 people) and Aberdeenshire has six data zones in the most deprived 20% in Scotland. Three of these are within the 10% most deprived. These are found in Peterhead and Fraserburgh in the North of Aberdeenshire. Some areas within Aberdeenshire reflect higher than Scottish average levels of infant mortality and childhood accidents.

2.1% of Aberdeenshire’s population reside in these six zones and are seven times more likely to be employment deprived compared to the average for Aberdeenshire. Five out of the six zones have the most severe household overcrowding problem for all data zones in Aberdeenshire. All six data zones have the lowest pupil attendance rates for school-aged pupils of all data zones in Aberdeenshire.

In 2018/19 the Aberdeenshire figures show the following -

In Aberdeenshire people are living in poverty due to low wages, high living costs, lack of accessible affordable childcare, transport and limited opportunities. Research across Aberdeenshire confirms that those who are not working overwhelmingly want to work, but face barriers to employment. Principally these are ill-health, transport and childcare, but also caring responsibilities for family members. Some parents worry about the impact poverty has on their children, particularly that they may be bullied because of the circumstances in which they live. Parents also report that they can also feel stigmatised when accessing services which can result in reluctance to access support in future. Children living in poverty frequently report feeling excluded and embarrassed, citing it as a key source of unhappiness, and worry about their parents.

2,803households earn lessthan 60% of the medianhousehold income.

2,556children receivingfree school meals.

Approximately

7,023children and

young people areliving in poverty

The Aberdeenshire CPP commissioned a report that builds a local picture of child poverty: “Tackling Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire: lessons from local voices” (2018) The Poverty Alliance, Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University,

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3

HELPING TO MEET THE TARGETS OF THE CHILD POVERTY (SCOTLAND) ACT

Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian and the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) are committed to eradicating child poverty in our area by 2030.

The Child Povery Action Plan has been developed by Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian and wider partners within the CPP. Action to address Child Poverty is also one of the Aberdeenshire LOIP priorities.

Our approach to tackling Child Poverty focusses on addressing the root causes and building people’s capabilities through income maximisation, employability, improving quality of life, helping families manage the impacts of poverty and promoting positive life chances. It is important the voices of those with lived experiences are not just heard but their views construct future strategies and the Aberdeenshire Child Poverty Action Plan, as these families are key to the delivery of the 4 overarching goals which are highlighted in our Child Poverty Action Plan:

• Preventing children on the margins of poverty falling into poverty.

• Reducing the number of children living in poverty by moving those in poverty out of poverty.

• Protecting children living in poverty from its most adverse effects.

• Enabling children to live a poverty-free adult life.

ABERDEENSHIRE PRINCIPLES

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4

Child Poverty is also a strategic priority for the Aberdeenshire’s Community Planning Partnership. The Child Poverty Action Plan has also been developed as a Community Planning Local outcome Improvement Plan.The full action plan is outlined in Appendix 1.

Over the last 12 months the development of a partnership action plan on child poverty has been a priority for the lead group - Tackling Poverty & Inequalities, a partner group reporting to our CPP Board. It was agreed that the voice of lived experience should be key in developing solutions and identifying areas which require development. To ensure the Action Plan was informed by those low income families, a research project was commissioned on behalf of Aberdeenshire CPP Tackling Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire: Lessons from local voices (2018). The outcomes of this research and other available research and data contributed to the development of the principles, structure and focus of the Action Plan.

Actions have been informed by the requirements relating to the LOIPs; the ambitions set out by Scottish Government in Every Child, Every Chance as well as priorities identified at an Aberdeenshire level, link in with economic development and inclusive growth; transportation; housing and homelessness; community safety; community learning; employability and community justice.

Over the past 12 months we have identified various opportunities for improvement, including in increasing the up take of free school meals. A pilot project was developed and delivered to 557 pupils who were entitled to free school meals within the six northern Academies. An additional £1.20 was placed on pupils’ cards to allow them to access a breakfast deal. The project increased attendance, reduced lateness, increased the up take of free school meals and helped pupils to be more ready to learn from the start of the day.

One parent noted that “I suffer from depression & anxiety. Knowing that my children are getting breakfast and lunch really gives me a sense of relief, thank you”.

Supporting low income families throughout the school holidays has been highlighted as an area of development. Over the last year Family Kitchen Projects, have seen

34 Family Kitchen sessions delivered during the school holidays over Easter, Summer and October with 369 attending - 134 adults and 235 children.

Those with lived experience highlighted that the stigma they feel when accessing services was the main reason for not seeking support. The Cost Of The School Day Program was delivered in Stonehaven and will be rolled out to all areas of Aberdeenshire 2019 - 2021. It helped practitioners to better understand the unspoken needs of families to cover the various costs that come with their children’s education

The intention of the Child Poverty Action Plan is to improve outcomes for all families living in poverty or at risk of living in poverty but the key emphasis will be supporting families where the risk of children living in poverty is highest. The Plan outlines a range of actions addressing the three main drivers of child poverty:

• income from work and earnings;

• costs of living;

• income from social security

Health and Children’s ServicesNHS Grampian has strongly acknowledged the expectation placed on it to tackle child poverty in collaboration with local authorities, using community planning as a useful vehicle for identifying and carrying out actions. NHS Grampian is supporting the development and delivery of the Local Child Poverty Action Plans for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Community Planning Partnership (CPP) areas for the reporting (financial) year period 2018 - 2019.

NHS Grampian in providing health system leadership in addressing health inequalities has supported the implementation of Making Every Opportunity Count (MeOC) as an anchor approach. It is one of a number of drivers within the Grampian Clinical Strategy to increase capacity within NHS Grampian to take positive action that enables people to live as well as they can, including maximising their income.

NHSGs contribution to tackling child poverty in Aberdeenshire is underpinned by a broader approach and cultural shift which provides a universal element at

PROGRESS 2018/19

Improving Outcomes

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Tier 1, the brief conversation, to ensure we normalise a holistic approach to people’s needs, including all aspects of income maximisation. The actions with the Aberdeenshire Child Poverty Action Plan which NHS Grampian are leading on reflect this Learning has indicated that across NHS Grampian there is a need to build capacity and capability taking account of the clinical context and setting and the need to be sensitive to the complexities of people’s lives. Our approach therefore is broad, supporting multiple tests of change to make every opportunity count across the public and third sectors. A number of these tests of change feed in to income maximisation. In building capacity and capability across Grampian, we are working with frontline clinical colleagues, including those in maternity services, to develop and adapt MeOC in ways they believe will best help them to help their particular groups of patients, including pregnant women and their families.

Locally, there is growing understanding of the relevance to patients, and importantly the feasibility, of brief wellbeing conversations and signposting in busy clinical practice. Referral to non-clinical services is increasing.

Clinical colleagues have indicated that providing access to patient stories would help them to help their patients with issues such as income maximisation. To this end, within NHS Grampian’s innovative digital platform, No Delays, clinician can send useful information on health and well-being directly to patients by email. The section on income maximisation includes accounts by two local people of how they have benefited from accessing help with their money worries. These accounts illustrate the importance of income maximisation alongside help with other personal and social challenges, and the positive outcomes of this support. These personal accounts can be sent directly by clinicians to patients to encourage them to take the next step.In these ways, we are building a sustainable approach to income maximisation through our overall approach to MeOC. NHSG have taken steps in increasing organisational capacity and capability to embed this work and continue to strengthen connections with partners to ensure patients, including parents and prospective parents, have the opportunity to access local expertise on income maximisation.

NHS Grampian will reinforce and promote the importance of attending for antenatal care with the aim to increase the number of vulnerable mothers eligible and in receipt of the Sure Start Maternity Grant (n.b. from summer 2019 SSMG will be known as the Best Start Grant). The Scotland Performs LDP Standard indicates that at least 80 per cent of pregnant women in each SIMD (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) quintile will have booked for antenatal care by the 12th week of gestation. Figure 1 indicates that in Aberdeenshire the LDP Standard was comfortably exceeded with 90.7% woman booked for antenatal care by 12 weeks gestation and 88.9% of maternities within the most deprived quintile in Grampian are booked by 12 weeks’ gestation, lower than the less deprived quintiles.

Fig 1: Percentage of maternities by week of antenatal booking appointment, by Health Board; Year ending 31 March 2018

Prior to the launch of the Best Start Grant in December 2019, NHS Grampian’s Health Improvement Team (who lead on Best Start Grant for NHSG), recognised that the potential beneficiaries of the grant along with NHS, local authority and third sector staff should have full and accurate knowledge of who qualifies for, and how they should apply for, the Grant. NHSG have worked in partnership with the Local Delivery Relationship Leads from Social Security Scotland (SSS) who cover Grampian to ensure clear communication and include SSS staff in relevant meetings e.g. Best Start in Life Group.

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Grampian Community Midwives discuss the new grant with all pregnant mums at their booking appointment. Early Years Practitioners are also encouraged to discuss the grant during contact time identified within the Universal Pathway.

NHSG recognised that some of the information available on the Best Start Grant wasn’t readily understood by all involved. Simple, concise notes were developed for use by those who work with pregnant mums-to-be and families to ensure accurate information was delivered to all potential beneficiaries.

NHSG doesn’t currently receive information on the number of families eligible for Best Start grant. Official statistics are expected to begin August 2019 which will support targeting of effort to maximise uptake of the grant. However, Table 1 indicates the number of Best Start Grant applications received and authorised in Aberdeenshire compared to Aberdeen City, Moray and Scotland as a whole between December 2018 and February 2019.

Table 1: Best Start Grant Applications from December 2018 to February 2019

Applications from Grampian currently have the poorest rate in Scotland of claims authorised (Scotland figure includes 1,575 denied applications made from outside Scotland), but it is unclear if this is due to inappropriate applications or poorly completed applications.

NHS Grampian will continue to update NHS, local authority, and third sector partners as the rollout of Best Start Grant continues. We will ensure this information reaches all relevant staff and use social media to

promote the grant more widely. Scottish Government quarterly reports and data will be used to identify areas of Grampian where applications for Best Start fall particularly short of the number of mothers-to-be and families identified as eligible. Additional promotion of the scheme in these localities will be used to improve uptake in each of the local authority areas. Once the Best Start Grant and Foods Scheme is fully rolled out and a mother-to-be can claim as soon as she recognises she is pregnant, BadgerNet Maternity will be used to ensure the issue of income and possible sources of support are discussed at the booking appointment and early pregnancy.

Welfare Reform has been an important topic of discussion across public sector organisations in Aberdeenshire in the past year, especially relating to the impact on people experiencing poverty. In late 2018, NHS Grampian produced a report detailing the contribution of the NHS and the HSCPs across Grampian to mitigating the negative effects of welfare reform, in response to a request from the CMO in June 2018. It recognised that at least one of the target groups advised in Scottish Government’s revised Welfare Reform Outcomes Focused Plan – children in low income families – has potential to overlap with actions to address Child Poverty.

NHS Grampian’s Child Health 2020, A Strategic Framework for Children and Young People’s Health, additionally sets out how NHS Grampian will focus its efforts until 2020 to optimise children and young people’s health. It encompasses many activities that contribute to child health, from education and early prevention through to tertiary healthcare services. It takes account of current national policy and initiatives, including Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) and the Early Years Collaborative (EYC).

The 5 key strategic priorities highlighted in the Aberdeenshire Children’s Services Plan 2017 – 2020 (Early Years, Mental Health, Children with a Disability, Substance Misuse and Wellbeing and Corporate Parenting), produced by the Aberdeenshire GIRFEC Strategy Group set out a wide range of actions which are likely to make a significant contribution as well.

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Every family, regardless of their financial status, can claim support from the Neonatal Expenses Fund. NHS Grampian will continue to promote the Neonatal Expenses Fund (NNEF), with the aim especially to encourage vulnerable parents to apply, so that they may be supported to spend as much time as possible with their babies receiving care within a neonatal unit. In the 2018/19 financial year, 152 claims were submitted to the Neonatal Expenses Fund in Grampian, relating to 75 babies and families. Of these, 151 were approved with a sum total of £15,517.85 paid.

Every bedside pack at the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital Neonatal Unit (NNU) includes a pre-stamped claim form for the NNEF, so parents can claim on a weekly basis for travel and a daily main meal cost. When parents first come to the unit, the daily expense of visiting their baby isn’t a priority for them, but ward staff raise awareness of the fund once their baby is settled. The forms are processed locally and a cheque is sent to the family. Should a family require money more immediately, they can receive payment from the General Office at

EXPERIENCES OF BEST START:

Home-Start is a voluntary organisation that offers support, friendship and practical help to local parents in their own homes. Two of their client mums described their experience applying for Best Start: Mum 1 had found it easy to apply online. She felt it took a long time for the grant money to arrive, but accepted that she had applied on the day it was launched in December and likely the number of applications was huge. With the money this mum bought a cot (which will convert to a bed), mattress and bedding, hoping it will last a few years. She wasn’t sure what she would have done without the Best Start Grant money and was very happy with it. Mum 2 also applied online. She’d found it very easy and received the grant money within 2 weeks. The money has been used to pay off debts as she wants to avoid a bad credit rating in future.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the money is claimed back from the NNEF. If a family are transferred to another NNU, for example Glasgow, they continue to claim from the NNEF through NHS Grampian. NNU are working towards all maternity team members being able to tell pregnant women about the Fund, in case their baby requires treatment in the NNU. Furthermore, they want everyone to be made aware that the Fund is for any family, regardless of their financial circumstances. Awareness of the Fund will be promoted to staff through Global emails and more widely though social media. A link to the Fund will be added to the Maternal and Infant Nutrition area of the NHSG webpage. Annual reporting from NHS Grampian finance department will be used to monitor use of the fund. The end year evaluation by the Scottish Government is expected to include a survey of eligible parents and may provide useful information on barriers to claiming from the Fund which can be addressed at a Grampian level.

NHS Grampian will provide more support for children and families in the very earliest years through the Universal Health Visiting Service and Family Nurse Partnership Programme. These require routine enquiry about family finances/money worries a Pre-Birth (32-34 weeks); 11-14 Days; 13-15 months; and 4-5 years (2020). A new digitised recording system for Health Visiting is currently being developed and it is anticipated this will include the ability to identify the number of Health Visiting contacts made per and the number of families signposted to financial support services.

National Evaluation of the Family Nurse Partnership programme shows that the programme is well received by clients, attrition is low and enrolment is high. Data regarding clients who have received support from the programme at child’s second birthday show two clear outcomes: a reduced amount of time spent with input from social services and a reduced amount of time spent with housing services as clients move through the programme.

NHS Grampian will promote the importance of Healthy Start with the aim to increase access to the scheme for eligible vulnerable families. NHS Grampian’s Health Improvement Team lead on the Healthy Start Scheme across Grampian. The team works closely with midwifery,

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approach adopted has seen some improvement in the uptake of the vouchers in targeted areas, uptake has been poor in Grampian as a whole when compared to the rest of Scotland.

In preparing for the introduction of the Best Start Foods scheme, we will prepare simplified information on the scheme and ensure all relevant agencies know about the transition from Healthy Start to Best Start Foods.

NHS Grampian Health Improvement receives monthly management reports from Scottish Government which allow us to identify areas of high eligibility for Healthy Start with low % uptake of the scheme. Figure 2 shows the uptake in Grampian compared to Scotland as a whole and Figure 3 shows the uptake in Aberdeenshire compared to Aberdeen City and Moray.

Fig 2: % Uptake of Healthy Start: Grampian and Scotland

Fig 3: % Uptake of Healthy Start: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray

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Early Years Practitioners, HSCP, local authority, and third sector staff in order to improve uptake and use of the vouchers.

Historically, midwives and Early Years Practitioners were encouraged to talk about the Healthy Start Scheme as they are the signatories for the application form. However, it was recognised that everyone who works with vulnerable pregnant mums-to-be and families with children under 4 should be encouraging the potential beneficiaries to apply and use the vouchers for their intended purpose, this is the approach across Grampian. NHS Grampian negotiated with the GP practices within targeted areas to allow families to drop off completed forms to be signed by a health professional and sent for processing.

An NHSG webpage has been developed with simplified information and the application form is available to download along with links to the UK Healthy Start page and other useful sites.

Homestart, family centres, community workers, and community groups have received Healthy Start training/ awareness-raising as the Healthy Start scheme was not widely known about, even among organisations and teams that work with lower income families. Posters have been displayed in local authority and private nurseries, libraries, churches etc with staff encouraged to promote the scheme.

Grocery shops within the areas were also asked to promote the scheme and ensure they were registered to accept the vouchers and were provided with information on what produce the vouchers allowed the beneficiary to purchase. CFINE (Community Foods in the North East) allow use of the vouchers in exchange for fresh fruit and vegetables, soup packs and eggs. Each voucher gains 10% on its face value when used at CFINE. CFINE are also involved in piloting the distribution of Healthy Start children’s vitamins.

Low uptake has many causes, varying from lack of awareness to difficulty completing the application and the perceived stigma of a scheme aimed at ‘poor people’. Some families report not wanting to admit that they may qualify for Healthy Start for fear of what may happen if they are seen as ‘not coping’. While the whole system

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A Public Health Practitioner spoke to several mums who were not aware of the Healthy Start voucher scheme even though they have very young children and she gained the impression that assumptions had been made that these individuals and their families would not qualify for the scheme therefore professionals hadn’t mentioned it to them.

The lived experience of families indicates that there is great difficulty in applying for and receiving the vouchers; the vouchers suddenly stop; they apply multiple times and hear nothing back and then give up trying.

Work collaboratively with Local Authority partners, to support them to put in place an intelligence led and evidence based approach for the Pupil Equity Fund, so that the allocation of funding directly to schools will help close the poverty-related attainment gap.

NHS Grampian in partnership with the network of Citizen’s Advice services in Aberdeenshire is developing a Midwifery and Early Years Practitioners’ Pathway to provide timely access to financial support services across Grampian.

The intention is to develop a pathway for Midwifery and Early Years Practitioners which will enable them to refer expectant mums/families to financial support in their area.

NHS Grampian plan to ensure that NHSG Midwifery and Early Years Practitioners are trained in using the pathway. We will work with Aberdeenshire Council and the Citizen’s Advice services to ensure they have the ability to report data to NHSG at agreed intervals. Steps will be taken to monitor the anticipated increase in referrals and ensure that financial support services that are being used can manage the increased workload. We will ensure GDPR is adhered to for cross sector referral and feedback. Feedback from financial support services is logged onto the BadgerNet Maternity and Early years reporting system and this system will be used to monitor referrals to financial advice services in pregnancy.

CLIENT EXPERIENCES OF HEALTHY START:

A 20 year old mum with an 18 month old toddler described how her Healthy Start vouchers had suddenly stopped when no other circumstances had changed. With the help of staff at Homestart she is now in receipt of them again, but the perception that vouchers ‘suddenly stop’ was found to be widespread among potential claimants. One mother described how her vouchers had stopped and she’d assumed she was no longer eligible, but after support to re-apply, she is now in receipt again. She explained that she was worse off on Universal Credit and that the vouchers really help her. Another mum described to how she is now £60 a week worse off on Universal Credit and relies on food vouchers.

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PRIORITIES FOR 2019/20The priorities for 2019 will be to implement the Child Poverty Action Plan, fully ensuring partners are working to deliver accessible and inclusive services which will improve outcomes for the target families.

The focus around Child Poverty has given the partners the opportunity to pilot a number of projects which will continue into 2019. These include:

• Roll-out of “Cost of the School Day” training to all 17 School Clusters by 2021.

• Creating a Financial Inclusion Pathway between Midwifery, Health Visiting services, Family Nurse Partnerships and partners providing Financial Inclusion support to expectant and new mothers.

• Promote the Best Start vouchers and vitamins.

• Embedding welfare rights workers in Primary Care practices.

• Providing additional free school meals allowance in more schools, including the rollout of the £1 breakfast deal across all Academies.

• Recruitment of 30 families to an online Aberdeenshire lived experience forum.

• Creation of a new post of Child Poverty family support worker.

• Roll out elements of the Health 4 Work Pilot Partnership project to other projects.

It is anticipated that some of the ambitions set out in the action plan can be met from within existing resources, where changes to the way in which services are delivered can be made at no additional cost to partner organisations. Opportunities to access additional funding streams will be explored as appropriate.

A suite of key performance identifiers have been developed to provide the Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Group, CPP Board and partners supporting action to address child poverty with data to enable progress against our action plan to be monitored.

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ABERDEENHIRE CHILD POVERTY LOIP ACTION PLAN, 2018 – 2022 INTRODUCTION Aberdeenshire remains a relatively affluent area of Scotland, however pockets of deprivation and rural isolation nevertheless exist. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) identifies different domains of multiple deprivation across Scotland, in data zones (small areas of around 500-1000 people) and Aberdeenshire has six data zones in the most deprived 20% in Scotland. Three of these are within the 10% most deprived. These are found in Peterhead and Fraserburgh in the North of Aberdeenshire. Some areas within Aberdeenshire reflect higher than Scottish average levels of infant mortality and childhood accidents. 2.1% of Aberdeenshire’s population reside in these six zones and are seven times more likely to be employment deprived compared to the average for Aberdeenshire. Five out of the six zones have the most severe household overcrowding problem for all data zones in Aberdeenshire. All six data zones have the lowest pupil attendance rates for school-aged pupils of all data zones in Aberdeenshire. In Aberdeenshire people are living in poverty due to low wages, high living costs, lack of accessible affordable childcare, transport and limited opportunities. Those who are not working overwhelmingly want to work, but face barriers to employment. Principally these are ill-health transport and childcare, but also caring responsibilities for family members. Some parents worry about the impact poverty has on their children, particularly that they may be bullied because of the circumstances in which they live. They can also feel stigmatised when accessing services which can result in reluctance to access support in future. Children living in poverty frequently report feeling excluded and embarrassed, citing it as a key source of unhappiness, and worry about their parents. Aberdeenshire’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment identified a growing trend similar to those noted UK wide, with the majority of those households living in poverty experiencing ‘in-work poverty’, that is, households in which at least one adult works. The 2016 income gap in gross pay for full-time workers residing in Aberdeenshire, varies from £311 per week at the 10th percentile to £1271 per week at the 90th percentile. The Child Poverty Action Group defines Child Poverty as growing up in families, “without the resources to obtain the type of diet, participate in activities and have the living conditions and amenities which are the norm in 21st century Scotland”. The End Child Poverty campaign’s figures for Aberdeenshire in May 2019 show 12.9% of children living in poverty before housing costs, and 14% after housing costs. This is approximately 7,773 children and young people living in households earning less than 60% of the median household income. In 2018 the number of children receiving free school meals was 2556. While Aberdeenshire’s figures are far lower than the Scottish average from the same research (18% before housing costs and 22% after), community planning partners still see an imperative to tackle the issue locally. Evidence highlights that children living in deprived areas have poorer outcomes and wellbeing levels in comparison to their non-deprived peers. SIMD 2016 research cautions however, that two out of three deprived people do not live in deprived areas, so a number of children and young people experiencing poverty, with a level of unmet need will be living in relatively affluent communities or rural or remote locations. In Aberdeenshire service providers indicate an increased demand for money and debt advice, and employability support as a combined result of the impact of Welfare Reform and an economic downturn in the North East oil and gas sector. Sustainable, fair work is a long-term route out of poverty for families. To be sustainable, employment needs to offer parents fair rates of pay, good training and support, opportunities to progress, a flexible work environment, and enough hours in work to provide a weekly or monthly pay packet that as a minimum meets basic family needs. THE POLICY CONTEXT The Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2018 - 2022, Every Child, Every Chance highlights 3 main drivers of child poverty:

• Employment: Income from parents’ work and earnings is insufficient to lift them from poverty. • Household costs: The costs of living that households have to cover are too high. • Social Security: Income from social security has been cut back significantly, particularly for families with children.

SCOTLAND’S POVERTY TARGETS The Scottish Government has explicitly stated a commitment to ending child poverty and the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 puts a statutory requirement on them to reduce the number of children who live in poverty. By the end of the 2030/31 business year, the following ambitious targets must be met by Scottish Government:

• Fewer than 10% of children living in families in relative poverty. This means fewer than one in ten children living in households on low incomes, compared to the average UK household. • Fewer than 5% of children living in families in absolute poverty. This means fewer than one in twenty children living in low income households where living standards are not increasing. • Fewer than 5% of children living in families living in combined low income and material deprivation. This means fewer than one in twenty children living in low income households who can't afford

basic essential goods and services. • Fewer than 5% of children living in families in persistent poverty. This means fewer than one in twenty children living in households in poverty for three years out of four.

All these targets are set on an 'after housing costs' basis (the income families have left after they've paid for their housing). The Act places a statutory duty on local authorities and health boards to prepare and submit to Scottish Government an annual “Local child poverty action report” that identifies what action has been taken in the previous 12 months and what action will be taken in the future to reduce child poverty. A further objective for the Scottish Government is preventing poor children from becoming poor adults through raising their educational attainment. Improving educational attainment of children living in poverty and closing the attainment gap will enable them to escape poverty in adulthood. The Scottish Attainment Challenge, including Pupil Equity Funding allocated directly to schools and targeted at those children most affected by the poverty related attainment gap, provides a context for action by schools and teachers.

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ABERDEENSHIRE CHILD POVERTY ACTION PLAN The intention of this Action Plan is to improve outcomes for all families living in poverty or at risk of living in poverty, but the key emphasis will be supporting families where the risk of children living in poverty is highest. To this end and consistent with Scottish Government’s national Child Poverty Delivery Plan, 2018 - 2022, Every Child, Every Chance the Aberdeenshire Child Poverty Action Plan focuses on the needs of ‘priority families’ at high risk of poverty. These priority families are:-

• Lone parents, in Scotland 36% of children of lone parents are living in relative poverty. • Families where a member of the household is disabled, in Scotland 30% of children living in these circumstances are living in relative poverty. • Families with 3 or more children, in Scotland 30% of children living in families of 3 or more children are estimated to be living in relative poverty. • Minority ethnic families, in Scotland 37% of children in minority ethnic families are living in relative poverty. • Families where youngest child is under 1, in Scotland 32% of children living in families where the youngest child is under 1 are living in relative poverty. • Mothers aged under 25, in Scotland 44% of children whose mother is aged under 25 are living in relative poverty.44

Those in low-paid work, including employees of partner agencies within the CPP and contracted staff who may be in low paid and/or part-time employment and/or on fixed term contracts; Gypsy/Traveller families; people experiencing substance misuse issues and those families impacted by the criminal justice system will also be key groups that the actions set out in this action plan will support. All protected characteristics have been considered through the development of an Equalities Impact Assessment of our three LOIP priorities. This Action Plan outlines a range of actions addressing the three main drivers of child poverty (income from work and earnings; costs of living; income from social security). Actions are informed by the requirements relating to Local Outcomes Improvement Plans (LOIPs); the ambitions set out by Scottish Government in Every Child, Every Chance, which in itself has been informed by recommendations the independent Poverty and Inequality Commission made to Scottish Government; the available evidence set in documents such as What Works Scotland’s Evidence Review Tackling child poverty: Actions to prevent and mitigate child poverty at the local level (2017) and research commissioned on behalf of Aberdeenshire CPP Tackling Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire: lessons from local voices (2018). It is anticipated that actions within Aberdeenshire’s other identified LOIP priorities, Connected and Cohesive Communities and Reshaping Aberdeenshire’s Relationsh ip with Alcohol will support the ambitions outlined in this Action Plan as well as action at an Aberdeenshire level on economic development and inclusive growth; transportation; housing and homelessness; community safety; community learning; employability and community justice. NHS Grampian’s Child Health 2020, A Strategic Framework for Children and Young People’s Health, sets out how NHS Grampian will focus its efforts until 2020 to optimise children and young people’s health. The 5 key strategic highlighted in The Aberdeenshire Children’s Services Plan 2017 – 2020 (Early Years, Mental Health, Children with a Disability, Substance Misuse and Wellbeing and Corporate Parenting) set out a wide range of actions which are likely to make a significant contribution to the ambitions set out in this Action Plan. ABERDEENSHIRE PRINCIPLES Our approach to tackling Child Poverty focusses on tackling the root causes and building people’s capabilities through income maximisation, employability, improving quality of life, helping families manage the impacts of poverty and promoting positive life chances. It is important the voices of those with lived experienced are not just heard but their views construct future strategies and action plan as these families are key to deliver the 4 overarching goals which are highlighted in this plan. These are:

• Preventing children on the margins of poverty falling into poverty. • Reducing the number of children living in poverty by moving those in poverty out of poverty. • Protecting children living in poverty from its most adverse effects. • Enabling children to live a poverty-free adult life.

The plan includes actions that in some cases contribute to more than one of the above overarching goals. RESOURCING THE DELIVERY OF THE ACTION PLAN It is anticipated that some of the ambitions set out in this action plan can be met from within existing resources where changes to the way in which services are delivered can be made at no additional cost to partner organisations. At a local level, funding opportunities such as Fairer Scotland/Aberdeenshire and ESF funding will be explored where appropriate. The continuation of partnership working, where resources and budgets are shared, will ensure actions within this plan are achieved. In addition to partnership budgets, the Scottish Government’s Delivery Plan Every Child, Every Chance highlights a range of funding opportunities which will come on stream during the life of the plan. Opportunities to access these funding streams will be explored as appropriate.

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1. Preventing children on the margins of poverty falling into poverty

Action

Policy context/need(s) addressed and links to key outcomes in other

strategic plans

Lead and key contact

Timescale

Anticipated outcomes

Priority target groups Targets and progress Key performance measures

1.1 Engage and recruit people with experience of poverty in establishing appropriate mechanisms such as an online expert panel to ensure their voices are heard in developing programmes, policies and commissioning services.

All Aberdeenshire CPP partners are committed to further improving engagement with communities. Engagement with communities is a requirement of LOIPs.

Aberdeenshire Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Board. Aberdeenshire Council Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Coordinator.

Establish online forum – December 2019. Review annually.

Strategic planning and service delivery informed by lived experience of poverty. Reduced stigma felt by those living in poverty by ensuring they are valued and have an active role in reducing poverty. Those living in poverty, who participate in the expert panel, will become digitally included, develop a range of skills and improve household income.

• Lone parents; • Families where a member

of the household is disabled;

• Families with 3 or more children;

• Families where youngest child is under 1;

• Minority Ethnic families; • Mothers aged under 25; • Working poor; • Low income families

living in rural and remote areas.

As a pilot, 30 families will be recruited to develop an online expert panel. Each family will be given support to ensure the barriers to participate in this forum will be reduced. The families will be supported by a Child Poverty worker.

Number of families and children who participate on the panel. Number of policies, action plans and consultations which the families and children give their views on. Number of co-developed services which are commissioned to reduce Child Poverty. Feedback from families and children which will evidence positive outcomes from participating in this panel. % of household income which has been increased as a result of being digitally included.

1.2 Improve practitioner awareness of Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire and action to address Child Poverty through the development and delivery of a range of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities including Cost of The School Day sessions. 1.2.1 Explore opportunities to embed Poverty/Child Poverty awareness training within the context of existing CPD opportunities as outlined in the Children’s Services Plan; Community Learning & Development Plan; Financial Inclusion Partnership Plan, ADP Strategic Plan and the Aberdeenshire Employability Partnership Plan 1.2.2 Further improve public understanding of Child Poverty by delivering community-based workshop sessions. Develop and implement a communications and public engagement plan.

Variable practitioner awareness/understanding of Poverty/Child Poverty. Some evidence of negative attitudes and stigmatising practice from local and national research. Evidence from Aberdeenshire Citizens Panel of variable awareness and understanding of Child Poverty among Aberdeenshire public.

Promotion of opportunities through the GIRFEC website and other appropriate mechanisms NHS Grampian & Aberdeenshire Council Corporate Comms teams.

Develop a range of CPD opportunities and community-based workshops throughout 2019. Review & update annually .

Improved practitioner awareness of Poverty/Child Poverty and action to address it. Partners commitment to ensure Poverty & Inequalities are addressed within their establishments and CPD programmes. Reduction in stigma as those with lived experience will inform future practice.

• Lone parents; • Families where a member

of the household is disabled;

• Families with 3 or more children;

• Families where youngest child is under 1;

• Minority Ethnic families; • Mothers aged under 25; • Working poor; • Low income families


12 courses/workshops to be delivered to CPP partners per year. Initial workshop delivered in Stonehaven Cluster. Cost of the School day training will be rolled out to all 17 School Clusters by 2021.

Number of organisations that participate in Child Poverty CPD opportunities. Number of practitioners that participate in Child Poverty CPD opportunities. Number of pledges from schools to change practices and reduce stigma around child poverty Change in public attitudes to child poverty from a repetition of Aberdeenshire Citizen’s Panel Child Poverty survey

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1.3 Maximising the uptake of free school meals and school clothing grants to eligible families by regularly reviewing uptake and reducing barriers to accessing this support. 1.3.1 Consult with schools to identify a range of effective measures that can be implemented in Aberdeenshire to reduce the inequalities gap which is felt by low income families. Pupil Equity Fund funding can address child poverty in Aberdeenshire. 1.3.2 Review promotion of Education Maintenance Allowance which provides financial support to eligible young people from low income households.

Families living in Poverty report that the financial cost of the school day can adversely impact on family budgets. Strong evidence that the delivery of a coordinated range of actions can reduce the cost of the school day for low income families. Pupil Equity Funding to have a positive impact on Child Poverty.

Aberdeenshire Council ASSIT. Aberdeenshire Council Education & Children’s Services.

Annual review. Review of Pilot scheme to enhance free school meals allocation to be completed by May 2019

Maximisation of household incomes. Improved health and well-being, including improved mental health and well-being. Improved concentration and ability to achieve and attain.

• Lone parents. • Families where a

member of the household is disabled.

• Families with 3 or more children.

• Minority Ethnic families. • Mothers aged under 25. • Working poor • Low income families


New minimum school clothing grant payment has been set at £100 per child and is paid directly to families by Aberdeenshire Council. Pilot scheme has been undertaken in 6 Academies to increase daily allowance to cover a free school breakfast in addition to free school lunch. This ended in March 2019 and the evidence of impact from the pilot will be used by schools to consider extending the scheme for the duration of PEF. One parent noted that “I suffer from depression & anxiety knowing that my children are getting breakfast and lunch really gives me a sense of relief, thank you” -

Aberdeenshire Council data on –

• The uptake of school clothing grant. • Increase uptake of children receiving

free school meals. • Uptake of Education Maintenance

Allowance. Number of children & young people who have benefited from Pupil Equity Fund initiatives aimed at reducing inequality.

1.4 Develop mechanisms and appropriate care pathways within Midwifery, Health Visiting and pre-school childcare services to provide signposting for pregnant women and families with young children to specialist money and welfare advice. 1.4.1 Ensure the Universal Health Visiting Pathway, the further extension of the Family Nurse Partnership, Making Every Opportunity Count MEOC), the Neonatal Expenses Fund and Parenting Programmes maximise opportunities to provide support and appropriate signposting to mothers/families in or at risk of poverty. 1.4.2 Promotion of Scottish Government’s online and face to face Financial Health Checks

Increasing household income is a key way in which families can be prevented from moving into poverty and supported to get out of poverty, improving life choices and opportunities. Scottish Government’s national child poverty delivery plan, Every Child, Every Chance, highlights the important role Midwives, Health Visitors and pre-school childcare services can play in maximising household income. Financial Health Check Guarantee for low income families with children. The Best Start Grant is a new grant which will be introduced from Dec

NHS Grampian Aberdeenshire HSCP. Aberdeenshire’s CABs

Awareness raising sessions delivered for the New Best Start Grant summer 2018. April 2019 Reviewed every 6 months

Improved awareness of welfare advice and income maximisation support available. Increase household income from social security benefits and other support.




• Minority Ethnic families. • Mothers aged under 25. • Working poor • Low income families


NHSG and Aberdeenshire HSCP Income Maximisation Pathways to be developed in line with requirements of Scottish Government Director Letter (2018) 17 to NHS Boards. Reporting from NHSG and AHSCP regarding further development of the Family Nurse Partnership and promotion of the neonatal expenses fund. Health 4 Work Pilot project provided welfare & money advice service to families within the Peterhead & Fraserburgh Area Citizen Advice Scotland have secured funding to enable the CAB’s within

Number of training/ awareness sessions Number of partners participated in awareness sessions NHSG Data on referrals to Income maximisation services. Number of pregnant women and families supported through Health 4 Work. Number of clients signposted to the Citizens Advice Service from NHSG Midwifery/Health Visiting Services. Number of Financial Health Checks delivered through the Citizens Advice Service contract.

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Ensuring the uptake of the Best Start Grant and improve the uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers.

2018 providing eligible families with £600 on the birth of their first child and £300 on the birth of any subsequent children, plus two further payments of £250 per child around the time of nursery and a child starting school. There is no limit on the number of children in a family who can be supported by BSG. Uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers across Grampian is one of the lowest in Scotland. Local action can improve the uptake of this key support.

Scottish Social Security unit

December 2018 Reviewed every 6 months

Aberdeenshire to deliver Financial Health Checks to low income families. Awareness sessions was delivered to partners including Midwives and Health Visitors Health 4 Work pilot has developed an approach which increases accessibility and reduces stigma through basing welfare rights/ money advisers within primary care settings. This project is being reviewed however it is anticipated that this model will be rolled out across Aberdeenshire

Number of Best Start Grants Increase uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers Number of families supported through the roll out of this approach.

2. Reducing the number of children living in poverty by moving those in poverty out of poverty

Action

Policy context/ need(s) addressed and links to key outcomes in other strategic plans


Timescale



2.1 Increase household income of low-income families by developing and implementing a comprehensive benefit take up campaign.

Increasing household income is a key way in which families can be prevented from moving into poverty and supported to get out of poverty, improving life choices and opportunities. An estimated 2803 low income households in Aberdeenshire have at least one child living in poverty.

Aberdeenshire Financial Inclusion Partnership Aberdeenshire Council Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Coordinator.

Review data annually

Increased household income for those living in poverty and at highest risk of poverty.

• Lone Parents. • Families where a


• Families with 3 or more children

• Minority ethnic families. • Families where youngest

child is under 1. • Mothers aged under 25. • Working poor • Low income families


Regular training and awareness sessions are delivered to partners. In 2018 the sessions were – Universal Credit Best Start Grant National Money & Debt Conference.

NOMIS Official Labour Market Statistics Trend Data on Out of Work Benefits. Number of Best Start Grants Increase uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers Number of families supported through the partnership to increase the uptake of benefits. Client financial gain for those families supported by the partnership.

2.2 Explore opportunities to providers of affordable credit in Aberdeenshire.

Families in poverty find it difficult to access affordable credit from traditional banks and lending institutions. By growing the affordable credit sector, more parents will be able to access affordable credit when they need it, reducing the problems caused by low and insecure incomes. Individuals/families living in poverty pay more for essential goods and services (known as the poverty premium) because they have limited choices.

Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Board

By March 2020.

Improved financial security for low income families. Reduced household costs.







Aberdeenshire is taking part in a research project – “Carnegie UK Trust Affordable Credit research” This research will start in June 2019 and will identify and explore affordable credit solutions for Aberdeenshire

Number of social lenders within Aberdeenshire.

2.3 Explore a system of basic income which could be piloted in rural Aberdeenshire

Increasing household income is a keyway in which families can be prevented from moving into poverty and supported to get out of poverty,

Aberdeenshire Financial Inclusion Partnership

Improved health and wellbeing for benefit claimants, as well as those in

• Lone Parents. • Families where a


There is a number of pilots being delivered within and out with Scotland which could

Client financial gain for those families supported by the trial

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v. June 2019

improving life choices and opportunities.

Aberdeenshire Council Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Coordinator

their care including children and young people. Improved financial security for low income families. Reduce household costs Increase up take of benefits.

• Families with 3 or more children




inform and develop a project targeting at rural & remote families where costs are highest. The research on affordable credit will inform the trial as to where this would have most impact.

Number of families supported through the trial and the outcomes for those families in relation to housing, employment, income, up take of benefits.

3. Protecting children living in poverty from its most adverse effects

Action



Timescale



3.1 Ensure income maximisation, money advice and welfare rights services are accessible, including in rural and remote areas. Embed income maximisation and welfare rights support within services people living in poverty already use e.g. Primary Care services, Schools etc

The rurality of Aberdeenshire presents a challenge in delivering services and support where and when needed.

Financial Inclusion Partnership. Aberdeenshire Council Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Coordinator.

Review existing models September 2019.

Increased income from social security benefits. Improved access to support on budgeting, managing debt and welfare rights.







Health 4 Work Pilot Project have informed future practice and additional funding has been secured to roll out this model to other Primary Care Settings throughout 2019/20. Ensure clients are aware of all benefits and supported to access those they are entitled to including Discretionary Housing Payment.

Number of families supported through the roll out of this approach. Number of families supported to increase the uptake of benefits. Client financial gain for those families supported by this model.

3.2 Improve support for families experiencing food poverty, including addressing food insecurity during school holidays. Improve support for families experiencing fuel poverty, including increasing targeted referrals for home energy grants support.

Poverty impacts on family’s ability to afford to feed the family and heat the home. There are 2556 children and young people in Aberdeenshire currently take up free school meals. School staff have reported that some young people are not having any hot meals over the weekend in term time therefore the school holidays can be a crisis time for low income families There is limited support out with term time for those children and young people. There is an increased use of foodbanks over the school holidays. Aberdeenshire has a high level of households within the rural and remote areas that have high fuel costs due to the availability of cost-effective options From Statistics published in the Scottish Housing Condition Survey (SHSC 2017) it

Aberdeenshire Council Education & Children Services Local Community Planning Partnerships. Local Learning Partnerships. Health & Social Care Partnerships. Aberdeenshire Financial Inclusion Partnership

Review of existing programmes and highlight good practice June 2019 Annual review Annual review to identify areas which require additional support.

Improved health and well-being. Reduced household costs.






living in rural and remote areas

Pilot programme to engage at risk families has been delivered in Fraserburgh, project evaluation will inform future programmes. There are a number of community kitchens and summer holiday programmes some of which also include confidence to cook family sessions which can be develop & increase within priority geographical areas. To increase engagement with communities experiencing fuel poverty a pilot project has been developed, supported by ESF

Number of families using foodbanks Number of holiday programmes Number of children & young people attending holiday programmes. Number of families that report an increase in food skills. Number of families that received support to reduce fuel costs The amount of money saved by families after receiving energy advice.

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showed that, at a local authority level, 35% of all households in Aberdeenshire are fuel poor and 15% are in extreme fuel poverty.

funding. The Energy Champions project empower local people with the knowledge & skills to reduce fuel poverty in their local communities. 35 Energy Champions are to be trained. 86 households to be supported to reduce household bills. This project will be evaluated and inform future programmes.

3.3 Ensure local transport strategies including Grampian Health & Transport Action Plan reflects the needs of children and families living in poverty and develop new solutions to the transport issues that people/families on low incomes face. This includes transport for out of school activities and services for primary and secondary pupils is available

The importance of transport availability in relation to accessing essential services, training and employment is widely documented. For parents and carers direct and indirect transport costs are a significant component of many households’ expenditure. Transport policy has an important role to play in addressing child poverty and through its impact on both household income, improving access to employment, education, goods and services. Transport policy has an important role to play in addressing child poverty by improving access to extra-curricular school sport

Aberdeenshire Council/ NESTRANS. NHS Grampian. Community based transport projects.

Review impact of the strategy 2019

Improved availability of affordable and accessible transport for families on low income. Improved social mobility and engagement with employment market in Aberdeenshire.

A working group on ‘Tackling Inequality’ is meeting as part of the National Transport Strategy Review and has a strong focus on socio-economic factors linked to transport affordability and accessibility. The outcome of this group will inform targets and future development. The recent changes to bus times & routes has reduced public transport has resulted in a reduction of employability opportunities.

Number of low-income families participating in transport projects.

3.3 Improve access to services aimed at pupils to improve physical and mental well-being of children and young people experiencing poverty. Including mental health services in each Academy and Primary School cluster.

The rurality of Aberdeenshire presents a challenge in delivering services and support where and when needed. Poverty impacts on the physical health of young people and reduces opportunities to participate in a range of activities including organised sport There is evidence of stigmatising practice and negative attitudes to poverty and this can impact on the mental health of young people and lead to a lack of confidence.

Aberdeenshire Council /NESTRANS NHS Grampian; community based mental health providers such as Pillar Kincardine

Ongoing with 6 monthly reviews

Improved health and wellbeing for children and young people







Mental health counselling available in each Academy and primary school cluster; Transport available so that children in rural areas can participate in extra-curricular activities;

Increased number of children and young people from target groups participating in extra-curricular activities Number of children and young people from target groups having regular access to a mental health counsellor

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4. Enabling children to live a poverty-free adult life

Action



Timescale



4.1 Reduce in work poverty by developing and implementing an in-work poverty strategy in partnership with local employers to increase the number of local businesses who are Living Wage employers.

Increased labour market participation has not fully translated into improved financial security, partly due to rising levels of in-work poverty and underemployment rates remaining high. Payment of Living Wage can reduce the risk of in-work poverty. Work does not guarantee protection from poverty for everyone and poor working conditions and pay can be just as detrimental to health for some as unemployment. Good quality, well paid employment is the best route out of poverty and reduces the risk of families falling into poverty.

Aberdeenshire Employability Partnership. Aberdeenshire Council NHS Grampian

Partners to explore the process of becoming a living wage employer. Partners to commence necessary work for accreditation from 2019/20.

Income from employment increased. Improved working conditions. Improved employment conditions for families on low incomes







There are national targets to increase the number of living wage employers which will inform local action. A development worker employed by the Poverty Alliance is progressing this agenda in the North East. A number of partners that deliver services have been accredited as living wage employers. This includes third sector partners such as Aberdeen Foyer. Discussions are ongoing in relation to Aberdeenshire Council becoming accredited as a living wage employer

Number of Living Wage employers who operate within Aberdeenshire

4.2 Encourage all businesses that are delivering services which have been procured by Aberdeenshire CPP to be living wage employers with a diverse workforce which has no gender pay gap. The maximisation of community benefit clauses in procurement will have a positive impact on reducing poverty & inequalities

Increased labour market participation has not fully translated into improved financial security, partly due to rising levels of in-work poverty and underemployment rates remaining high. Work does not guarantee protection from poverty for everyone and poor working conditions and pay can be just as detrimental to health as unemployment. Good quality, well paid employment is the best route out of poverty and reduces the risk of families falling into poverty.

Aberdeenshire Council Employability Coordinator. Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City/ Aberdeenshire Council procurement team.

Ongoing from 2019/20.

Income from employment increased. Improved working conditions. Reduced unintended inequalities caused by service commissioning







Guidance has been developed by the procurement team to encourage organisations to recognise the benefit of living wage, reducing food poverty, increasing employability opportunities, reducing fuel / child poverty.

Number of businesses paying the living wage. Number of living wage employers Number of employability opportunities delivered through procured services.

4.4 Ensure community-based support is person-centred, providing support for parents to address their barriers to work, which might include health support, money advice, or motivational support. Provide appropriate support to address in-work poverty by targeting support to help parents already in jobs to remain active in the

Obtaining and maintaining employment can be improved through enhanced confidence, skills and qualifications.

Aberdeenshire Employability Partnership. Health 4 Work Partnership. Aberdeenshire Financial Inclusion Partnership Aberdeenshire Learning Partnership

Reviewed Annually Review of partnership project May 2019

Increased income from employment. Improved employability prospects. Improved confidence in engaging with services. Increase the engagement of families through integrated services







Employability programmes have integrated money advice and budgeting skills to ensure sustained employment. Aberdeenshire Employablity partnership have developed a new website to support employers, those seeking employment or those who wish to

Number of employers that have been engaged with. Number of parents supported to increase their employability Number of parents that secured sustained employment Number of training / employability programmes delivered across Aberdeenshire.

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workplace and gain progression in their career.

at a community level.

continue to develop information on what support is available and how to access it. https://employmentconnect.org.uk/ A range of employability programmes and training courses have been developed to match the opportunities developed by new business to the area. Review of previous partnership projects will inform future service delivery.

4.5 Ensure the strategic approach to improve digital access and skills in Aberdeenshire addresses the needs of low-income families.

Families are required to be on line and have access to digital tools so they can secure benefits, housing, homework ,employment and a range of services. Growing evidence that limited digital access and high cost of digital access can further exclude and stigmatise families living in poverty or at risk of poverty.

Aberdeenshire Council Library service. Local Learning Partnerships Local Community Planning Partnerships Employablity & Financial Inclusion Partnership

Partnership review needs annually

Improved engagement with wider society. Improved employability prospects. Improved engagement with support services.







Aberdeenshire Council has developed a digital support document that outlines where at a local level can people access free digital skills, tools and support. A number of partners support families to access free internet and supports digital skills through drop in sessions and 1-1 home visits. Out of hour services are required as an area of development

Number of digital sessions Number of families supported to access digital services The amount of money saved by families as a result of accessing on line services Outcomes of digital sessions – Employment, access services, benefits.

4.6 Ensure strategies and action plans that related to housing, prevention of homelessness; the prevention of childhood accidents; parental substance misuse; supporting the needs of the Criminal Justice population; parenting and mental health can reduce the inequalities gap and further improve quality of life and life chances for children and their families living in poverty.

Action to close the inequalities gap and support improved quality of life is likely to contribute to children young people living a poverty free life in adulthood.

Aberdeenshire Community Planning Board Aberdeenshire Council – Rapid Rehousing ADP Community Safety Partnership. Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. Police Scotland

Annual review of strategies and action plans. Health 4 Work review June 2019/

A range of broad-based activity in place to reduce inequalities and improve life chances and quality of life.







Health 4 Work Pilot Partnership project pulled together a range of partners and services to ensure poverty & inequalities was reduced and employability , health and income was improved. The outcome of the evaluation will impact on future service delivery. The key worker model and warm handovers are 2 elements that will be rolled out to other projects.

Number of partnership projects developed using an integrated approach. Number of partners that operate a warm handover to services Number of referrals made across partners Number of families supported to access additional services.

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Appendix 3

Aberdeenshire – Local Child Poverty Action Report, feedback & areas of Improvement or Development

The report highlights significant commitment to tackling child poverty in Aberdeenshire, not only from Local Authority and Health Board but from across Community Planning Partnership. Tackling Child Poverty is also Local Outcome Improvement Priority outcome which highlights the commitment from the wider partnership.

Very clear focus on the targets and has made a comment in the report of eradicating child poverty in Aberdeenshire by 2030.

A huge amount that is positive in the report, including interesting and innovative practice. Consideration has been given to a wide range of highly relevant levers such as transport and the role of public bodies as employers and anchor institutions.

It’s evident from the assessment of poverty in Aberdeenshire that there has been involvement and communication with families experiencing poverty. Has this been via ‘Tackling Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire: Lessons from Local Voices’. The Lived Experience Online Forum has been highlighted as innovative practice which others at a national level can learn from. This project will be followed with interested at a national level.

Aberdeenshire has reflected the Poverty Commission’s main recommendations which are outlined in their report - https://povertyinequality.scot/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Poverty-and-Inequality-Commission-review-of-the-local-child-poverty-action-reports.pdf

Examples of good practice and policy areas which should be expanded on as they are of interest to other areas

Work to maximise uptake of frees school meals and the additional breakfast allowance.

The work around cost of the school day and changes that have been implemented.

The creation of a specific child poverty engagement post to support the online forum.

Carnegie Trust Affordable Credit Research outcomes. Ensuring local transport strategies including Grampian Health & Transport

Action Plan reflects the needs of children and families living in poverty and develop new solutions to the transport issues that people/families on low incomes face.

Potential areas for future consideration:

Sign-off by Grampian NHS and Aberdeenshire Council Chief Exec of the Local Child Poverty Action Report (LCPAR) is strongly recommended. Introduction or endorsement from Chief Officers or Political Leaders will demonstrate and strengthen the commitment Aberdeenshire has made to reducing Child Poverty. The report should describe the local arrangements for

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https://povertyinequality.scot/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Poverty-and-Inequality-Commission-review-of-the-local-child-poverty-action-reports.pdf

https://povertyinequality.scot/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Poverty-and-Inequality-Commission-review-of-the-local-child-poverty-action-reports.pdf

the effective leadership and coordination of delivery for the child poverty action plan.

Explore and describe more fully the initiatives which have been identified as innovative to include- how has this been delivered in practice? Do we know what impact it is having? There is a lot others could learn from much of this work.

Actions should be clearer as some are slightly vague and read more like objectives than action.

A balance of actions led by the health board and those from the local authority or the wider partnership is required within the report.

Wider dissemination of LCPARs is encouraged at a local level in addition to publication on NHS, Council and Community Planning websites and on the Knowledge Hub.

Most of the actions list all the priority groups as benefiting from the actions. The narrative should demonstrate a further understanding of the needs/experiences of key priority groups and the barriers they face in relation to e.g. accessing services, employment and learning. This might be through data collection ,disaggregating data by priority group, or having a clear understanding of the obstacles that particular group face and the steps that are being taken to overcome those.

There are some policy areas / potential levers that aren’t touched on in much detail in the report. There is no expectation that every policy area be addressed in every report however the Poverty and Inequality Commission suggests that childcare and housing should have an improved focus. There is no expectation that Aberdeenshire should have solved this by June 2020 however highlighting they are on the radar for future reports and what steps will be put in place to strengthen these areas will be welcomed.

Aberdeenshire’s report sets a high-level target of eradicating child poverty in Aberdeenshire by June 2030. This is great as it is ambitious and sets out a clear direction of travel. In addition, setting targets over which Community Planning Partners have more control over might be useful in terms of showing impact. These could be the uptake of childcare amongst low income families, uptake of advice amongst families, employees receiving the living wage, affordable housing for families, reduction in arrears for families which are likely to contribute to a long-term reduction in child poverty.

A partnership approach is encouraged, and the report does refer to partners . There should be an indicate on how specific partners will be involved and what is likely to be achieved through their involvement.

Feedback acknowledges that partnerships will have used evidence and data in their planning and delivery. Partnerships are encouraged within future reports to outline how they have used this data / evidenced and what has been achieved.

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1

Reducing Child Poverty

Overarching goals:

A. Preventing children on the margins of poverty falling into poverty B. Reducing the number of children living in poverty by moving those in poverty out of poverty C. Protecting Children living in poverty from its most adverse effects D. Enabling children to live a poverty-free adult life

Key themes: 1. Participation and Engagement Link to drivers of child poverty: Reducing Household Costs

Action Code

Action Description Due Date Partners and Services

Latest Note Date

Latest Note

A.01 Engage and recruit people with experience of poverty in establishing appropriate mechanisms such as an online expert panel to ensure their voices are heard in developing programmes, policies and commissioning services.

30-Apr-2022

Third Sector Agencies

Aberdeenshire Council

Tackling Poverty & Inequality Group

12 Feb 2020

Poverty Engagement Worker appointed and has recruited families from across Aberdeenshire. The families represent the target groups highlighted within the Local Action Reports. The breakdown of the employment status of those involved is below.

Aberdeenshire Reducing Child Poverty – Update Report February 2020

APPENDIX 4Item: 12

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2

Online forum now live and hosted within Our Aberdeenshire. Community based engagement sessions will take place in the more remote areas of Aberdeenshire to ensure a wide range of parents can have their voice heard.

Mechanism to share feedback being developed.

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3

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

A.02 Improve practitioner awareness of Child Poverty in Aberdeenshire and action to address Child Poverty through the development and delivery of a range of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, including Cost of The School Day sessions.

30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire Council – Community Learning & Development (CLD)

12 Feb 2020

Senior Community Learning and Development Workers have started to deliver Cost of the School Day events in their areas. These events focus on understanding what poverty is and, not only, costs linked to school but also costs in the community and the impact of these. The session also discusses good practice, challenges and barriers. The events are open to practitioners, elected members and members of the community. Events have so far been held in Marr, Formartine and Kincardine and Mearns. Kemnay Network events in February. Further dates to be confirmed.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

A.03 Explore opportunities to embed Poverty/Child Poverty awareness training within the context of existing CPD opportunities as outlined in the Children’s Services Plan; Community Learning & Development Plan; Financial Inclusion Partnership Plan, ADP Strategic Plan and the Aberdeenshire Employability Partnership Plan.

Further improve public understanding of Child Poverty by

30-Apr-2022 Social Security Scotland


CLD

Corporate Community Planning Team

Tackling Poverty &

12 Feb 2020

Engagement with services and partners to identify pathways to link to this action. Representation at meetings and groups across Aberdeenshire.

Undertake a repeated Citizens’ Panel survey in 2020 to obtain data to see if there has been a change in perception of those experiencing poverty. (Previous survey was undertaken in 2018).

Links to 02 action – Cost of the School Day sessions. These are for practitioners, public and elected members and representatives from community groups.

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delivering community-based workshop sessions. Develop and implement a communications and public engagement plan.

Inequality Group

Key themes: 2. Health & Wellbeing Link to drivers of child poverty: Maximising income from social security benefits

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

A.08 Develop mechanisms and appropriate care pathways within Midwifery, Health Visiting and pre-school childcare services to provide signposting for pregnant women and families with young children to specialist money and welfare advice.

30-Apr-2022 NHS Grampian

Third Sector

Tackling Poverty & Inequality Group

06-Jan-2020

Antenatal financial inclusion pathwaysGeneric email and data required had been set up with Aberdeenshire Citizens’ Advice Bureau. NHS Grampian (NHSG) Information Governance have requested further information on Pathway and how referral information and data will be shared. NHSG has provided feedback on how other boards have progressed this and highlighted that much of the groundwork has already been done as the same principal applies as with GPs referring to Link Workers. There are some concerns around consent for passing information from NHS to 3rd sector partners, in that it has been suggested that midwives/health visitors may be required to read out T&Cs by simply asking for consent. NHSG will check whether there is a tick box function in BadgerNet for Best Start. Health visiting and Midwifery teams feel that they

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would benefit from face to face group training around the Pathway. This could provide a potential opportunity to tie in Making every Opportunity Count (MeOC). A webpage cannot be developed at the moment as the NHS Intranet is being revamped and no new web pages will be developed. No timeline for this at the moment.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

A.09 Ensure the Universal Health Visiting Pathway, the further extension of the Family Nurse Partnership, Making Every Opportunity Count (MEOC), the Neonatal Expenses Fund and Parenting Programmes maximise opportunities to provide support and appropriate signposting to mothers/families in or at risk of poverty.

30-Apr-2022 NHS Grampian 06-Jan-2020

No further progress on Family Nurse Partnership programme at present

Universal Health Visiting Services – There have been challenges getting Midwifery and Health visiting to engage due to staff shortages. Work has been done with them around the financial pathway and healthy start. NHSG attended a Professional Development session with Health Visitors in June 2019 to discuss how conversations are taking place, and how these are recorded. This will provide assurance that these conversations are taking place and will articulate the process in which data is gathered.

Neonatal Expenses Fund – All parents whose baby has been admitted to the Neonatal Unit are provided with the information they require in regard to the Neonatal Expenses Fund. NHSG have liaised with the clinical management structure, a form has been

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included within the universal information pack provided on admission. The aspiration for the future is to build this within the wider programme. If available, data on uptake to be included.

Healthier, Wealthier Children Funding – Income maximisation funding allocation 2019/20 Directors letter has been received confirming North of Scotland will receive £65K which is roughly expected to translate to £8k this year for NHSG. Decision required on what to do with the money this year and a report on the impact of the spend of that money on the action plan. Consideration was given to the development of a crisis help app. Similar to the one in Moray.’. developed by NHS Tayside to provide information to people experiencing money worries. Concerns were raised that ongoing maintenance may incur additional recurring costs. The group agreed that app. development would not be the best use of funding and that money would be better utilised for a more sustainable purpose.

Making every Opportunity Count (MeOC) – The aspiration was that MeOC be the framework by which conversations could be had about Financial Inclusion, Best Start, Healthy Start etc. It was agreed that the ethos and principles of the MeOC approach be reflected in the annual Child Poverty Action Report, that this be used as the starting point to provide structure to the report incorporating everything being delivered.

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Work ongoing on the above actions will be further progressed before the end of 2019/20.

Key themes: 3. School and Community Link to drivers of child poverty: Reducing Household Costs

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

.A.05 Maximising the uptake of free school meals (FSM) and school clothing grants to eligible families by regularly reviewing uptake and reducing barriers to accessing this support.

Pupil Equity Fund( PEF) funding is funding which is allocated to schools to close the poverty-related attainment gap. Some of the activities and programmes that are funded using PEF within schools can also contribute to reducing child poverty.

30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire Council

Tackling Poverty and Inequality Group

Social Security Scotland

Education and Children’s Services

CLD

12 Feb 2020

The Aberdeenshire Support & Advice Team directly populate the SEEMIS system with the Free School Meals (FSM) entitlement flag reducing the need for each individual school to update their own records. This has ensured that the relevant credit is available on the pupils online account / catering system promptly. Head Teachers handbooks were updated with the process as it was established some schools were unsure about how the scheme operates. In addition, all key admin staff were advised about the process and options for applying.

Potential families eligible are picked up when an application for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction is made. In addition, applicants who are not eligible to claim for Housing Benefit of Council Tax Reduction can make a stand-alone application.

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A pilot scheme has been undertaken in 6 Academies to increase the allowance for those entitled to free school meals to include a breakfast allowance. Pilot ended in March 2019 and the evidence of impact from the pilot was used by 13 Academies to implement this scheme. The Academies have used their schools budget to cover the additional allowance, some have also used their Pupil Equity Fund

Fraserburgh Local Plan - Booster Project With the help of CLD and Academy staff recruit pupils to take part in a mini public process and recruit parents with pupils entitled to FSM to participate in the mini public process. Raise awareness among parents and academy students of the breakfast allowance and lunch vouchers. To raise awareness of the FSM offer to pupils and increase the number of pupils making use of the breakfast allowance and lunch voucher. To break down barriers the FSM system creates for some families. Outputs from project:

1. Increase in the uptake of FSM – breakfast and lunch

2. Decrease in the number of pupils arriving late for school

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

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A.06 Consult with schools to identify a range of effective measures that can be implemented in Aberdeenshire to reduce the inequalities gap which is felt by low income families.


Tackling Poverty and Inequality Group

Education and Children’s Services

Northern Alliance

06 Feb 2020

Aberdeenshire Council has agreed initial priorities supported by the Northern Alliance and linking to our Reducing Child Poverty actions to their closing the poverty linked attainment gap outcomes:

We aim to better define the poverty within Aberdeenshire that prevents children and young people achieving their full potential. This will require a better understanding of rural poverty as well as promoting the issue of child poverty across all communities within the local authority control and beyond. We aim to demonstrate that any barriers to children’s learning once fully understood can be eliminated/reduced by a strategically planned and locally delivered, partnership approach

We will measure the impact of our work both informally (by regular feedback from all stakeholders) and formally by measuring attainment data including; attendance and exclusions data, BGE progression by Quintile, Breadth and Depth by end of S5 by Quintile, average tariff scores by end of S5 by SIMD, leavers with more than 1 level 6 qualification by Quintile, and leavers entering a positive destination by Quintile. We will also formally evaluate PEF interventions.

Aberdeenshire Council have initially accepted the Northern Alliance supporting aims 1&2 and partial of aim 4. https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/our-priorities/reducing-child-poverty/

Action Action Description Due Date Partners and Latest Latest Note

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Code Services Note Date

A.07 Review promotion of Education Maintenance Allowance which provides financial support to eligible young people from low income households.


Education and Children Services

17 Jan 2020

New minimum school clothing grant payment has been set at £100 per child and is paid directly to families by Aberdeenshire Council.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

C.02 Improve support for families experiencing food poverty, including addressing food insecurity during school holidays.


NHS Grampian

Department of Work & Pensions (DWP)

Third Sector

12 Feb 2020

FormartineCommunity Learning and Development (CLD) and Community Learning Officers arranged a breakfast club to address the issue of children not having breakfast prior to the school day but the bus timetables didn’t really work for this.  The money going on the card earlier in the day was implemented. There is a Conversation Cafe; held in Sim Gardens, the sheltered housing complex in Turriff, the first Tuesday of each month, 10-12 and there is food from Tesco available for people to take, also helps with isolation.

There is a below the radar emergency food parcel arrangement in Turriff and the Community Planning Officer for Formartine is working with Citizens' Advice and CLD to further this.

The Family resource Centre in Turriff also provides provisions for people, which isn’t just food, they do

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nappies etc. too.

Kincardine & MearnsThe Fareshare project being run by CFine in partnership with CLD and Mearns Area partnership; the food is provided by CFine and is delivered to the Burgh buildings in Laurencekirk.

Local community groups, primary school and health visitors currently access the food and distribute to their community. Currently the project benefits around 250 people in the area between sessions. Additionally, this service is to be extended to Portlethen serving the community and surrounding area.

Latest meeting of Alleviating Poverty sub-group – 12 Feb 2020. Third Sector, Aberdeenshire Council and NHS partners are members of the group sharing practice and linking to work together to deliver services and access to food and care products. Presentation from Aberdeenshire Council Housing Service.

Garioch - Garioch Community Kitchen (GCK)We have been fortunate to receive £5800 in funding to allow us to deliver 14 Family Kitchen sessions during the school holidays over Easter, Summer and October with 332 attending (119 adults and 213 children). These sessions provide families with a hot meal, which they cook together, physical exercise for the children to take part in as well as information and

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health talks for the adults. These have been very well received and delivered in Port Elphinstone, GCK Inverurie as well as Kemnay. The GCK will look to deliver this again this coming year and are looking to role this out to Insch in addition to the existing areas.

After School Junior Cooking courses have delivered 23 classes past year and can offer funded spaces on these classes, they are continuing this year. We also offer one off children's classes throughout the holidays. Since April we have had 244 under 5’s either through the kitchen or at an outreach session and 858 young people.

Have offered various income generating classes such as: Indian Cookery, Italian, Vegetarian, Xmas Gifts, pickling and Preserves as well as our Birthday parties for children. We will continue these on a rolling basis as well as looking at Gluten Free cookery this year.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

C.05 Improve access to services aimed at pupils to improve physical and mental well-being of children and young people experiencing poverty. Including mental health services in each Academy and Primary School cluster.

30-Apr-2022 Education and Children’s Services

17 Jan 2020

Contact to be made with Education and Children’s Services, Educational Psychology Service to learn of work to support this action.


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C.04 Ensure local transport strategies including Grampian Health & Transport Action Plan reflects the needs of children and families living in poverty and develop new solutions to the transport issues that people/families on low incomes face. This includes ensuring transport for out of school activities and services for primary and secondary pupils is available.

30-Apr-2022 NESTRANS


Transport Services

Tackling Poverty and Inequality

HSCP

07 Feb 2020

Meeting with Transport, TP&I Coordinator, H&SCP and Corporate Community Planning. National Transport Strategy published 05 Feb 2020. Regional Strategy being developed, led by NESTRANS. Supporting this will be a local delivery plan. These need to ensure they link to National Outcomes to reduce inequalities that exist around transport to make sure it is affordable, easy to use and allows for fair access. Aim to improve links across the development of the delivery plan and reducing child poverty actions was agreed.

Key themes: 4. Skills and Employability Link to drivers of child poverty: Increase Income from Employment

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

D.01 Reduce in work poverty by developing and implementing an in-work poverty strategy in partnership with local employers to increase the number of local businesses who are Living Wage employers.

30-Apr-2022 HSCP


Criminal Justice


17 Jan 2020

The report ‘Towards a Fairer Aberdeenshire’ https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Towards-a-Fairer-Aberdeenshire-Report.pdf has been developed to outline the impact of the Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Strategic group, which covers the whole of Aberdeenshire. There are a range of projects which have benefited the Banff and Buchan Communities. Two of these projects, that have supported people to

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https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Towards-a-Fairer-Aberdeenshire-Report.pdf



14

Third Sector address inequalities and improve their outcomes are:Health 4 Work - a partnership project that supported those with a medical condition to secure and sustain employment through identifying and meeting the clients’ needs. This was a pilot project, delivered within Fraserburgh and Peterhead which supported 677 clients to improve their outcomes, including 167 sustaining employment which is one pathway out of poverty. The feedback from clients gave the partners the evidence to change shape of future practice in Information and Advice Services and Criminal Justice Early Intervention Provision has been informed by the lessons learned and person outcomes within the Health 4 Work Project.

The Lend a Hand Project is managed through People First in Fraserburgh. This project supports adults with learning difficulties to access services, including income maximisation. The funding is used to cover a part time Welfare Rights Worker, who has worked with 24 clients across the Banff & Buchan Area to increase their household income, securing anadditional £24,806 for the project participants.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

.D.02 Encourage all businesses that are delivering services which have been procured by Aberdeenshire Council and other Community Planning partner to be living wage


Tackling Poverty and

17 Jan 2020

The Council considers the delivery of high quality public services to be inextricably linked with workforces that are well-rewarded, well-motivated, well-led, have access to appropriate opportunities for training and skills development, recognise and

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employers with a diverse workforce which has no gender pay gap.

In Aberdeenshire Council considers Community Benefit Clauses on contracts over 4 million. These clauses already highlight fair working practices and encourages business to have a positive impact on reducing poverty & inequalities through a range of programmes including supporting work placements and apprenticeships.

Inequality

NHS Grampian

Aberdeenshire Employability Partnership

respect diversity and are involved in some key decision making affecting them.

In order to ensure the highest standards of service quality in all contracted work all contractors are asked to demonstrate a positive approach to fair work practices include such things as: A fair and equal pay policy that includes a

commitment to supporting the Living Wage, including, for example being a Living Wage Accredited Employer;

Clear managerial responsibility to nurture talent and help individuals fulfil their potential, including for example, a strong commitment to Modern Apprenticeships and the development of Scotland’s young workforce;

Promoting equality of opportunity and developing a workforce which reflects thepopulation of Scotland in terms of characteristics such as age, gender, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership and race (including gypsy travellers). The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with a ‘protected characteristic’. Organisational policies (including but not limited to recruitment) should ideally account for and respect all protected characteristics;

Support for learning and development; Stability of employment and hours of work, and

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avoiding exploitative employment practices, including for example no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts; and

Flexible working (including for example practices such as flexi-time and career breaks) and support for family friendly working and wider work life balance.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

D.03 Ensure community-based support is person-centred, providing support for parents to address their barriers to work, which might include health support, money advice, or motivational

30-Apr-2022 Tackling Poverty and Inequality

Employability Partnership

17 Jan 2020

The Scottish Government has introduced a New Parent Support Fund to support parents to progress and secure employment which will reduce Child Poverty. The target groups are lone parents, person with a disability, families with 3+ children, children under one year old and parents under 25 years old. The amount of funding which has been for Aberdeenshire is £134,000 per year starting 2020/2021.The funding has been set up to support those families that are not in employment and address the working poor with a breakdown of 35% of the funding to support access into employment and 65% of the funding to address in work poverty.

This funding will enhance existing provision such as the community hubs and address any gaps.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

D.05 Ensure the strategic approach to 30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire 17 Jan Connect with Library & CLD teams to gather

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improve digital access and skills in Aberdeenshire addresses the needs of low-income families.

Council CLD / Library service Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action. Employability Partnership

2020 information to support this action. Community Hubs have been developed in Peterhead, Huntly, Fraserburgh & Banff which increase access to digital support. Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA) support a number of community-based projects across Aberdeenshire to increase digital skills

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

D.04 Provide appropriate support to address in-work poverty by targeting support to help parents already in jobs to remain active in the workplace and gain progression in their career.


HSCP

NHS Grampian


Employability Partnership

Skills Development Scotland

17 Jan 2020

Links to D.01 projects and outcomes. Next steps to work with Tackling Poverty and Inequality Group to identify future projects and sustainable support.


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D.06 Ensure strategies and action related to housing, prevention of homelessness; the prevention of childhood accidents; parental substance misuse; supporting the needs of the Criminal Justice population; parenting and mental health can reduce the inequalities gap and further improve quality of life and life chances for children and their families living in poverty.

30-Apr-2022 Aberdeenshire Council CCP Board Third Sector Criminal JusticeHousing Services Social Security Scotland DWP Skills Development Scotland

17 Jan 2020

The development of a Child Poverty Working group to support this action plan will ensure all relevant partners are involved in contributing to reducing effects of child poverty through links with their planning and service provision.

Key themes: 5. Social Security and Advisory Services Link to drivers of child poverty: Maximising income from social security benefits

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

A.10 Promotion of Scottish Government’s online and face-to-face Financial Health Checks. Ensuring the uptake of the Best Start Grant and improve the uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers.

30-Apr-2022 HSCP

CAB

Social Security Scotland

17 Jan 2020

Social Security Scotland staff for Aberdeenshire will be based at Fraserburgh Business Centre and looking at outreach options. Partnership links have been established to ensure community-based outreach can be delivered from the summer of 2020.

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Applications for Best Start Grants were authorised for Aberdeenshire. Sept 2019 67% Payment to: Amount:Pregnancy and baby £173,700Early learning £118,250School age £80,000Best Start Foods £1,985TOTAL £373,935

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

B.01 Increase household income of low-income families by developing and implementing a comprehensive benefit take-up campaign.

30-Apr-2022 Social Security Scotland


Financial Inclusion Partnership

17 Jan 2020

Progress has been made recruiting a team to cover Aberdeenshire and the proposed benefit roll outs. At present Social Security Scotland delivered a range of benefits including the Best Start Grants, Carers Allowance and Funeral Supplement. Disability benefits will be rolled out summer 2020.

The team that will be covering Aberdeenshire will be based in the Business Centre, Fraserburgh. There will also be a community-based outreach service developed across the area.

The team leader has been put in place and the full team will be in place for 2020


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B.02 Explore opportunities to providers of affordable credit in Aberdeenshire.

30-Apr-2022 Tackling Poverty and Inequalities


17 Jan 2020

Local Affordable CreditOver 6,000 people across Aberdeenshire are accessing high cost credit. Mostly small loans for paying bills, buying a new cooker, etc. There is a need to promote some lenders who have lower interest rates.

Carnegie Trust paid for research and have suggested a joint meeting to brief members/ partners that work in Aberdeen, Moray and Aberdeenshire. Currently waiting for outcome of research to inform next steps.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

B.03 Explore a system of basic income which could be piloted in rural Aberdeenshire.



17 Jan 2020

Project to be scoped to support this action, 2020.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

C.01 Ensure income maximisation, money advice and welfare rights services are accessible, including in rural and remote areas. Embed income maximisation and welfare


Social Security

17 Jan 2020

Faithlie Centre, Saltoun Square, will open January 2020. This is a Community building which will offer range of services. The proposal is to deliver out of hours for services targeting working families. The funding will be used for additional staff to cover

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rights support within services that people living in poverty already use e.g. Primary Care services, Schools, etc.

Scotland

HSCP

Financial Inclusion Partnership

Customer Service, employability, digital skills and using warm handovers, will link into the Specialist Link Workers in GP Surgeries and other services.

New Information & Advice Service Framework has been implemented with additional posts to be recruited to be based within GPs across Aberdeenshire.

Action Code


Latest Note Date

Latest Note

C.03 Improve support for families experiencing fuel poverty, including increasing targeted referrals for home energy grants support.

30-Apr-2022 Third Sector



Housing Services

SCARF

Financial Inclusion Partnership.

06 Jan 2020

National movement, new strategy pending and legislation. Challenge in reducing in next 5 years across rural Aberdeenshire.

Working with SCARF and individuals.

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Appendix 5

Comments from Area Committees

Comments & Views per Area

Banff & Buchan Area 28.01.2020

• Members were encouraged by the relative stability of the figures relating to child poverty and asked to be kept up to date with these figures as they changed. They recognised that the figures may be distorted if childcare costs were not taken into consideration. They appreciated that figures and date on the local area would be more readily available next year and the real impact of the service on families would become more apparent. They recognised that in-work poverty is a major problem and the impact of Universal Credit should be emphasised.

• Members fully supported the work reported in relation to the Information and Advice Services in Banff and Buchan. They supported the approach of working within GP Practices and expressed an interest in any briefing on difficulties of recruitment.

• Disappointment was expressed that there was no reference to raising family aspirations and ambitions, and stressed the importance of involving young people from all backgrounds in positive youth groups like the uniformed organisations and church groups and asked that a more formal approach be adopted to engage children from poorer backgrounds.

• The work being done in Secondary School in relation to School Meal Allowances, considered whether this could be cascaded to primary schools so that when young people come up to secondary level, they were not disadvantaged. They were keen for work to continue in the primary schools during the summer holidays.

• Members highlighted their support for the projects which had been developed to provide positive opportunities especially for people with medical conditions and adults with learning difficulties.

• Members requested that more information on local issues be provided in future reports with plans for next steps in addition to the work already done.

• A question was raised around Health 4 Work – asking about those who had not gained employment, what happened to them. Not all of the clients secured employment but other positive outcomes were achieved through the project in relation to benefits advice, support to employers and improved health & wellbeing.

Buchan Area 04.02.2020

• Acknowledged the BAC’s continuing support to the Communities Committee in relation to the progress made towards the Local Child Poverty Action Report.

• Requested that the following areas of concern be relayed to the Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Group:

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➢ The main drivers of child poverty still remain – Employment, Household Costs and Social Security; and it is essential that a social hub within Peterhead is created to assist where possible in regenerating the town; it is therefore essential that there be no reduction in funding for this type of project,

➢ the fact that there is now a permanent foodbank in Peterhead highlights the level of poverty within the town,

➢ having noted the child poverty figures for the Buchan Wards within the report, that these be compared against Scotland-wide figures and the findings provided to local Members, and

➢ transportation is a major issue within Central Buchan, and having noted that a pilot project is being undertaken by Buchan Dial-A-Bus, that the findings of this pilot be fed back to local Members

Formartine 03.03.2020

• Recognition that there is difficulty tracking data when national data sets

change from previous year.

• Asked for more detail of local projects and work. Partnership work with

NESCOL at the Community Campus and Aberdeen Foyer in relation to

employability and course access for those experiencing in-work poverty.

• The Committee advised of Trusts and Grants available to support reducing

child poverty work.

• This was an interesting report and that Formartine were going to host a

poverty workshop. It was proposed that feedback from the lived experience

forum is shared prior to this event to help shape discussion and following

actions.

• Concerns were raised about rural transport for families. Shetland has put in

place a number of interventions to overcome similar challenges which has

been highlighted as good practice. Working is ongoing with colleagues from

transport to link in with the development of their local delivery plan. The

Blinked Project which is piloting in Buchan area, will be evaluated and the

findings will be shared and inform future planning.

• Families have raised the suggestion using their local libraries as a point of

contact and to support potential access to food. Libraries are supportive of the

idea to expand their services and perhaps become a collection point. This

idea should be explored.

• Cost of the School Day sessions was highlighted as a positive way to raise

awareness of issues and costs for families that may not have been

considered. These were seen as positive sessions which are being rolled out

across schools and in community groups.

Garioch 28.02.2020

• Asked how service is being met since no longer working with Gordon Rural

Action. Contract now with Kincardine and Mearns Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Looking at extending to outreach services.

• Suggested we share Directory of Services with Elected Members.

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• Welcomed the work of the Garioch Community Kitchen projects.

• Concerns raised about the impact of national budget decisions impacting on

local services and budgets and the increase in Council Tax.

• Queried the information sharing and consent between third sector partners

and NHS. This has now been resolved, a pathway in place and working group

has been set up.

• Question - Were all areas supported by Holiday Hunger programmes?

Committee were advised that there were some gaps across areas.

• Welcomed the lived experience approach.

• Concerns about how we meet the priority ‘Enabling children to live poverty

free in adult life’ with current benefits system. In work poverty is an issue and

we are working with partners to support and raise awareness and identify

those most at risk.

• Requested an update on Welfare Rights Workers based in GP practices. How

would an Aberdeenshire resident get access if being seen by services in

Aberdeen City? Link Workers would have information required to signpost to

Aberdeenshire Services. HSCP have identified areas with the most need for

these workers to be based.

• Asked what was being done in schools? How can we maximise the full

potential to improve attainment linked to poverty? Cost of the School Day

sessions rolled out across schools. Secondary Schools funding into Free

School Meals – Pupil Equity Fund, evidence that access to food earlier in the

day is helping attendance. Work also being done through Community Kitchen

and recycling uniform.

Kincardine & Mearns 11.02.2020

• Welcomed the report and work being carried out. • Suggest it would be helpful to have more updates of the action plan instead of

pending updates. • Suggest definition of poverty should feature at the beginning of the report. • Suggest the table containing national figures could reflect more localised

breakdown of figures. • Suggest the use of the term relative poverty rather than poverty, • Suggest further work and support in prevention of relative poverty, and • Acknowledged the benefit of attending workshops with those that have lived

experienced.

Marr 18.02.2020

• Welcomed the report and work that is being done.

• Noted the need to ensure that support is given to assist people in work to be able to

uptake further training opportunities

• Noted that in-work poverty is one of the largest groups being targeted;

• Welcomed the success of the pilot scheme for school breakfast clubs that has been

rolled out in 13 academies in Aberdeenshire.

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