The Area Board will receive a presentation on Reducing Child Poverty in Wiltshire and Shaping the Future of Children’s Centres.
Justine Womack, Public Health Consultant on Child Poverty, and Debbie Hirons, Project Manager on Shaping the Future of Children’s Centres, will be in attendance to deliver the presentation.
Minutes:
Justine Womack, Public Health Consultant on Child Poverty, and Debbie Hirons, Project Manager on Shaping the Future of Children’s Centres, were in attendance to provide a presentation.
There were many ways available to prevent child poverty and mitigate its impacts. Justine Womack had been visiting various areas across Wiltshire to provide information on how the issue related to their population and detail ways to work together and prevent and reduce the impact of child poverty.
Children defined as in poverty included those in households with less than 60 per cent of the national median income. The national median income was £26,500, and 60% of this was £15,900.
Wiltshire had a lower portion of child poverty in relation to the rest of the country. In 2012 a total of 10.6% of children in Wiltshire were recorded as in poverty.
Effects on children living in child poverty included bullying, negative effects on their sleep, study, and health. Children would also worry a lot about their family.
The local picture in Malmesbury regarding child poverty was outlined. A total of 290 children in the Malmesbury community area were in poverty, this was a 1.7% decrease since 2006 to 6.3%. Higher rates of child poverty were seen in older age groups: 11 to 15 and 16 to 19 year olds.
Overall child poverty in Malmesbury was significantly lower than the Wiltshire average:
• Children in poverty who were aged 0-4 28.1% (Wiltshire 35.1%)
• Children in poverty who were aged 5-10 28.1% (Wiltshire 32.5%)
• Children living in unemployed households 4.7% (Wiltshire 8.4%)
• Children aged 0-9 living in socially rented homes 14.5% (20.3%)
• Children aged 10-18 living in socially rented homes 12.6% (18.7%)
• Unemployment rate, all families 4.7% (Wiltshire 7.1%)
• Key Stage 2 free school meal attainment gap -1.3% (Wiltshire 20.7%)
Four factors which impacted on preventing and mitigating child poverty were described: employment and adult skills; financial support; house and neighbourhoods; education, health, and family. Education, health, and family was described as an especially important area.
Early intervention in the age range 0 to 5 years old was described as crucial. Family development in these years was critical to ensuring that children got the best start and healthy brain development.
The impact of smoking on children was noted. A total of 17.2 per cent of adults in Wiltshire were smokers compared to 25.9% of routine and manual workers and 14% of pregnant women.
Two actions that local areas could take to help improve the health and wellbeing of children were listed. Smoke-free playgrounds could be set up to reduce the impact of second-hand smoke and the normalisation of smoking. It was also advised that local areas could investigate the issue of fast-food locations near schools and the promotion of sugary sweets located by cash registers in shops.
Debbie Hirons explained that 30 Designated Sure Start Children's Centres had been created between 2006 and 2011. One was located in each community area with additional centres in areas with a higher population. The centres were available to support good early child development and school readiness; raise parenting aspirations and improve parenting skills; and improve child and family health and life chances. Centres were located in areas of deprivation.
Children’s centre services in Wiltshire were delivered by four of voluntary and community sector organisations, the contracts for these would finish in June 2016.
The new contract would aim to maximise support for families living in the most deprived areas whilst retaining countywide service coverage. As Wiltshire Council had less funding to deliver these services it needed to ensure that the money spent has the greatest positive impact on young children’s development.
It was proposed that four clusters be created across Wiltshire: one for the North, South, East, and West. Services would be delivered across these areas in the building and out in the areas. Locations had been chosen based on levels of deprivation.
The aim of the scheme was to refocus current resources and deliver them to the wider communities. More focus would be on delivering services to communities than the building itself.
The Children’s Centre in Malmesbury would no longer be a Children’s Centre. It would however be ensured that existing services are retained and delivered.
A report regarding the redesign of children’s centres would be going to Cabinet on 15 December 2015, and was planned to go out for tender in January 2016.
In response to a question it was noted that the families in need had been identified and that links with the health services had been strengthened. It was confirmed that services would be delivered from within the Malmesbury community area.
It was explained that the expanding population of the area had been factored in, including housing developments. Services would be delivered from the campus building if development work on it went ahead, with the aim of providing 2 days regularly per week. This balance between campus and service outreach had been used in Salisbury with good feedback.