Justine Womack, Public Health Consultant, will be in attendance to discuss local child poverty. Information will be used to inform the Child Poverty Strategy Implementation Plan.
Minutes:
Justine Womack, Public Health Consultant, and Kate Blackburn, Speciality Registrar in Public Health, were in attendance to deliver a presentation on Child Poverty Community Area Profiles.
A definition of child poverty was provided to those in attendance. Child poverty was defined as “The proportion of children living in families within the UK that are either in receipt of out-of-work benefits or in receipt of tax credits with a reported income which is less than 60 per cent of national median income”. The national median income was £26,500, and 60% of this was £15,900.
It was noted that a total of 17% (2.3million) children were living in poverty. This figure was one of the highest for the industrialised world.
The Wiltshire Child Poverty Strategy aimed to eradicate child poverty by 2020. Two focuses for government were children living in workless households and the educational attainment of children.
It was also noted that children growing up in poverty also suffered from poorer health outcomes, were more exposed to crime, and were failing to reach their full potential which created a cycle of future poverty.
A number of correlations were listed relating to Child Poverty. As the income of a household increased, so does a child’s readiness for school and their early language ability. Whilst as the income of a household decreases the instances of hyperactivity and conduct problems increase.
The local child poverty picture for Marlborough was explained. There were 235 children in poverty within the Marlborough community area, a percentage of 7.8% which was better than the average and a 0.7% decrease since 2006. Some areas in Wiltshire were significantly higher than the national average. It was noted that Marlborough had a high proportion of poverty within working households (29.8%). The Key Stage 4 free school meal attainment gap was also high, at a level of 62.7%.
Areas where Marlborough was significantly lower than the Wiltshire average included: children in poverty aged 0-4 (29.8%); the unemployment rate across all families (5.6%); and children aged 0-9 living in socially rented homes (16.1%).
Four key areas identified as being where solutions could be found were:
1. Employment and adult skills,
2. Financial support to help families (especially early years),
3. Housing neighbourhoods,
4. Education, health, and families.
Early years were noted as key years for childhood development. Neglect was explained as having a significantly detrimental effect on the development of an early year child’s brain. A healthy pregnancy and maternal bond were also important.
A number of programmes promoting emotional attachment were listed:
• Baby Steps – antenatal programme for vulnerable first time parents
• Family Nurse Partnership – home visiting programme for teenage parents having their first child
• Healthy Child Programme 0-5
• Parenting programme
• Health promotion activities through Children’s Centres
Two key health issues were noted as smoking and childhood obesity. To help tackle the effects of smoking areas could encourage people to avoid smoking in and around play areas. To address childhood obesity programmes to help families identified as overweight could be promoted, along with healthy food in schools. Promotion of healthy environments could also assist, such as promoting walking and avoiding fast food.
Figures quoted were noted as coming from the Department for Work and Pensions and were quoted at a national level. Trends dated back to 2006, Marlborough has been reducing since date, whereas more variance could be seen across other areas in Wiltshire.