Memorandum submitted by One Plus
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Government strategy to tackle poverty is a cross
cutting issue that is dispersed across several policy areas, such
as education, health, social security, employment, social work
and housing, and spans both devolved and reserved policy areas
of the Scottish and UK Governments. This document forms a submission
to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry into
Poverty in Scotland.
A family's access to resources is principally
reliant on their earned income and/or state benefits. These are
to a great extent affected by Westminster macro-policies in relation
to the economy, employment and income redistribution. There are
four broad goals of the government's strategy to tackle family
poverty and social exclusion. Increasing employment opportunities
for those outside the labour market is a key plank of this approach.
(1)
— "Work for those who can",
helping parents participate in the labour market. This includes
targets of an 80% employment rate and reaching 70% of LP's into
work.
— Financial support for families, with
more support for those who need it most.
— Excellent public services that improve
children's life chances and break cycles of deprivation.
— Support for parents in their parenting
role so they can guide their children through life transitions.
A range of policies support the UK government's
policy goals directed at families: Making Work Pay (Tax Credits,
Minimum Wage, welfare to work initiatives and work/life balance
policies); Giving Children the Best Start (Child Benefit &
Child Tax Credits, Childcare and Education initiatives often delivered
through the Scottish Parliament) and savings and asset-ownership
policies (2)
The poverty and social inclusion policies of
the Scottish Executive have a great deal in common with those
of the UK Parliament that apply to the UK as a whole. However,
devolution means that Scottish policy has the potential for divergence
from that in Westminster. Relevant anti-poverty agendas include:
Closing the Opportunity Gap; Workforce Plus; The Scottish Childcare
Strategy; Working for Families Initiatives; Early Education for
three year and four year olds; Sure Start Services; (3)
The economic position of families strongly affects
the present and future welfare of children. Whether a family is
able to meet the material needs of children depends more on whether
it has income from work than directly on whether there are two
parents. However, the much greater amount of time that lone parents
spend out of paid work means that they are more often caught in
a "Hardship Trap". Today's high level of child poverty
is likely to have continuing negative effects on families as the
present generation grows up. Equally, any measures that successfully
address child poverty, especially by giving more households access
to employment, are likely to have wide-ranging effects in the
years ahead, that go beyond the improvement of the immediate welfare
of children living in poverty.
1.2 One Plus
One Plus is a vibrant, independent organisation
which employs over 600 people and delivers new opportunities to
Lone Parents and others facing disadvantage. One Plus works in
partnership in over 100 projects offering advice and support,
providing training, employment and care-based services while contributing
to the regeneration of local communities. Lone Parent and user
involvement is central to the recognition of One Plus as a leading
lone parent organisation and a key participant in Glasgow and
Scotland's social economy.
One Plus Initiatives Include:
Services
— Advice and counselling for parents
and children
— Initiatives around health
— Support for lone parent groups
— Daycare, Out of School Care &
Sitter Services
— Social Care and Family Support Services
— Employment in Admin, Childcare, Playwork,
Social Care and Family Support.
Learning Services
— Initiatives around literacy and numeracy
— Flexible open learning and e-learning
— Personal and Social Development
— Pre-vocational, core skills and ICT
training
— Training in Childcare, Play work,
Social Care, and Community Work to SVQ Level II or III.
Employment Services
— Sustainable Employment Service.
Development and Policy Services
— Information and on-line services
— Lone Parent Helpline Service
— Campaigning and Policy Work
— Developing new services and initiatives
within the social economy.
2. PROFILE OF
ONE PARENT
FAMILIES
2.1 In Scotland
— There are 151,484 lone parents, 25%
of families, and 93% women, with around 257,500 children (4)
— Over 82,100 lone parents claim Income
Support or Incapacity Benefits. Of these, 14,700 are in receipt
of IB or SDB (5)
— In 78% of the 200 most deprived areas
across Scotland lone parent families make up over 50% of families
living in these areas. Lone Parents are 52% of families in the
poorest 10% of areas in Scotland but are only 9% in the 10% least
deprived. See chart 1 below (6)
Chart 1
— 66% of lone parent families in Scotland
live on an income of less than £15,000 compared to 11% of
two parent families (7)
— Only 26,200 Lone Parents in Scotland
benefit from the childcare element of tax credits. The average
payment is £46.79 (8)
2.2 In Glasgow
— There are 27,900 Lone Parents, 46.4%
of families (9)
— Scottish Executive analysts have
ranked areas of Glasgow where more than 50% of all families are
lone parents families. There are 113 data zones in Glasgow where
lone parents make up 50% or more of all families. Analysts have
also included the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)
ranking which shows a clear link between deprivation and areas
with high proportions of lone parents. 88 (78%) of these 113 data
zones are within the 200 most deprived areas of Scotland as measured
by the SIMD (10)
— Over 18,500 of Glasgow's Lone Parents
claim Income Support or Incapacity Benefits. Of these around 4,100
claim IB or SDB (11)
— Lone parents are 61.7% of all households
with dependent children in Glasgow (GHA) social housing. (12)
2.3 Poverty in One Parent Families
2.3.1 Poverty outcomes for different family
types
The following data reflects the poverty outcomes
for different family types in Scotland. Most of the workless households
in income poverty are sick, disabled or lone parents.
Table 1
|
| Household work status | Household type
| Individuals in income poverty
| Proportion who are in income poverty
|
|
| Workless households | Unemployed
| 90,000 | 75%
|
| Workless long-term sick or disabled
| 200,000 | 55%
|
| Workless lone parent
| 180,000 | 75%
|
| Working, but low-paid, households | Part-time work only
| 130,000 | 35%
|
| Some full-time work
| 150,000 | 5%
|
| Pensioners | Not claiming Pension Credit
| 60,000 | 60%
|
| Claiming Pension Credit
| 140,000 | 15%
|
|
| Total | | 950,000
| 20% |
|
Almost half of all (both workless and working) lone parents
are in income poverty, almost three times the rate for couples
with children. A major reason for this is the high levels of Lone
Parent worklessness: around half are working and half are not.
(13)
2.3.2 Income Levels
In terms of income level, 66% of lone parent families in
Scotland live on an income of less than £15,000 compared
to 11% of two parent families. (14)
2.4 Lone Parent Employment
2.4.1 Percentage of female lone parents in Employment (15)
|
| UK | 56.6%
|
| Scotland | 49% (71% of women in two parent households)
|
| Glasgow | 35%
|
| Pollock | 33% (13% f/t 20% p/t)
|
| Easterhouse | 28% (8% f/t 20% p/t)
|
| Govan | 24% (11% f/t 13% p/t)
|
|
2.4.2 Worklessness Rates Amongst Lone Parents by LA area
Lone parents are concentrated in areas of deprivation (33%
live in the most deprived 15% of areas), but rates of worklessness
are much higher among the lone parent population in areas of deprivation
than in the area as a whole (figure below). This suggests that
although being a lone parent is a barrier to employment in itself,
problems are compounded for those living in deprived areas. Glasgow
City has the highest proportion of lone parents in its population
(over 30%). Dundee, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire also have
concentrations of over 20% and 44.6% of the lone parent population
reside in the 7 CtOG target A local authorities. See chart 2 below
(16)
Chart 2
3. WHAT HAS
CHANGED?
One Plus has taken part in research into how Lone Parent's
lives in Scotland have changed over the last seven years, since
the Scottish Executive was established.(17) We asked 20 Lone Parents
who are involved with One Plus about the important issues facing
them. We also asked whether their life had changed for the better
or for the worse since 1999.
The group agreed that although some factors had improved
since 1999 such as provision of green space, other factors such
as barriers to employment had remained the same with little improvement
despite retraining for employment. This was identified a key pressing
issue for Lone Parents. The transition to work was mentioned as
a key factor which had prevented things from improving for Lone
Parents. This was mainly focused around financial barriers to
work such as childcare provision being expensive and inaccessible
and in—work costs such as school meals. This was despite
participants being offered employment.
"I am stuck with an education I can't use because
of problems such as childcare"
"In East Kilbride the cheapest nursery for me was
£29 a day"
"It's the unexpected costs that are the nail in the
coffin—less help with rent and things like school meals!"
On the whole the group felt with the exception of one participant
that shopping facilities had improved. One participant argued
that shops were lacking in their area. It was felt generally though
that shopping facilities had improved since 1999. There was the
development of more shopping venues of larger supermarkets which
enabled people to get goods cheaper and in addition that there
are now more out of town shopping centres. It was felt that some
centres were difficult to get to as were targeted at people that
could drive. There was also concern that larger supermarkets led
to closure of smaller shopping venues.
Public transport was felt by the group to be improving but
there were still concerns by the group in relation to the cost
of the transport system in Glasgow. One participant had previously
lived in London and found the Glasgow system of public transport
to be more expensive than that of the system in London. It was
felt to be a positive that there are more 24 hours buses as this
enabled the avoidance of expensive taxi's in travel at night.
Schools were identified as in some ways having improved for
people since 1999. In relation to this some schools now run breakfast
clubs which was seen as positive change in helping children improve
their health particularly in relation to diet. It was felt schools
offering unhealthy food at lunches led to children choosing unhealthy
food.
It felt that there was an increase in the number of communities
with community committees since 1999 which some of the participants
of the group had been involved with them. Other community work
dedicated to improving the environment within communities was
also cited as improving by some participants who had been involved
in the process.
In relation to debt it was felt by the group that things
had worsened since 1999 in that there was a rise in the number
of companies trying to give credit this is a concern in that it
leads to debt. The group's discussion focused around companies
targeting poorer people this was felt to be immoral. It was recognised
that for some people there was no option in that there are often
difficulties in rent not being covered by benefits and they were
often forced to go into debt. It was seen as some lone parents
as a basic fact of life being in debt. Stress was also recognised
as being a factor in life's for those in higher paid jobs with
one participant pointing out stress was relative to individuals
situations.
In terms of stress and depression a lack of support was highlighted
as a concern for the group with many of the group citing personal
experiences for this area. It was felt that mental heath services
although it was recognised there are some available, were inadequately
advertised in terms of what is available and where.
"I think the majority of the stress going on is people
in low paid jobs and people in high paid jobs its one extreme
to the other"
"there's so many people suffering mental health problems".
4. LONE PARENTS
AND POVERTY:
THE CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS
4.1 Overview
One Plus has consulted Lone Parents on issues around poverty
and social exclusion using feedback from case studies, questionnaires,
focus groups and conferences.
Key themes were identified and the consultations reinforced
the view that there are many complex factors that impinge on an
individual Lone Parents situation ranging from:
— High level of economic disadvantage amongst those
out of work
— Debt and financial exclusion
— Access to training and education to improve skills/employability
— Financial insecurity in an out of employment
— High and increasing housing and childcare costs
— Low pay-high turnover economy
— Access to information, advice and support from
"trusted intermediaries"
All of these issues are interconnected and cannot be seen
in isolation.
4.2 The Barriers
Lone Parents face a range of barriers. These tend to have
a cumulative impact, with many lone parents facing three or more
of these barriers as reasons for not being able to work. To facilitate
the discussion around the issues which trap lone parents in poverty
it is useful to group the barriers they face according to three
broad areas. An individual Lone Parents situation very much depends
on: Personal Attributes; Personal Circumstances and Structural
Aspects.
4.2.1 Personal Attributes. (Self-esteem, confidence, essential,
key and vocational skills levels, work experience.)
Many lone parents experience emotional barriers. Some find
it hard to reconcile a caring role in the absence of a partner
with paid employment and are reluctant to leave their children.
Some lone parents entered lone parenthood after fleeing disruptive
or even violent relationships that have had an impact on self-esteem,
self-belief and self-worth.
Confidence is also affected by lack of up to date work skills
or experience and a lack of suitable qualifications.
Personal attributes, ie the possession of skills and personal
qualities such as motivation and flexibility have long been seen
as key to escaping poverty. Essential skills, key skills and vocational
skills levels are critical areas for improvement, especially literacy
and numeracy. Lone Parents tend to have fewer skills and educational
qualifications.(18)
"Being at home is not valued. There is pressure on
lone parents to return to work. Once your youngest child reaches
12, JC+ calls you in for an interview every six months. Parents
should not be forced to return to work—bringing up children
is an important job."
4.2.2 Personal Circumstances. Affecting poverty (access
to transport, childcare, caring responsibilities, health, isolation,
benefits trap, debt, poverty.)
Many lone parents express fear that in-work costs
mean they will be financially worse off in work. In order to work,
lone parents must balance variable elements of income such as
wages, tax credits, in-work benefits, any maintenance received
and housing benefit. In addition, any gains made by working must
take into account the costs of childcare and work expenses such
as transport and having to pay for school meals.
Childcare is a one of the largest barriers facing
lone parents considering entering the labour market. A recent
focus group held by One Plus heard that many parents reported
not being able to find childcare when they wanted it. Many reported
that it was for work-related reasons that they wanted childcare.
Shortages are particularly acute in deprived areas. Many actively
looking for work said the scarcity or cost of childcare was stopping
them getting a job. The pressure is greater for those who planned
to start looking for work in the next few months.
"I would prefer to work part-time and be able to contribute.
But I was offered only two days a week in a nursery—14 hours
only. This doesn't reach the threshold at which tax credits kick
in (16 hours) so I did not qualify. This meant I could not take
the job."
"If I worked full-time I would have to rely on a private
nursery which costs £586 per month and then use After School
Club for my other child."
"You need to build in travel time to get to work,
so you end up paying childcare on both work-time and travel time."
"Child Tax Credit now covers 80% of childcare costs,
but I am still paying £180 per month, which is a quarter
of my wages."
"The need to pay up-front for childcare is difficult."
"State-run nurseries still ask people on benefits
to give £2.50 for the Toy Fund. In theory it is voluntary,
but there is pressure eg an envelope with your child's name on
it for you to put your contribution in. You are asked to pay eight
weeks ahead."
"In Glasgow a lot of money is going into pre-school,
but there is still a lack of places. The supply is not located
where people are."
"I had to leave my training course because of the
lack of childcare."
"The After School club is full and there is a waiting
list."
"There is no childcare cover to give you time to complete
application forms."
"Extended hours are needed. (One Plus nurseries
offer 8 am to 6 pm.)"
"If you have more than one child, you usually need
a patchwork of provision involving nursery, childminder, out of
school care—up to five people can be involved and more than
one agency."
"In school holidays, lone parents have to pay for
additional childcare or, if you take time off, you have to pay
for the nursery place you do not use."
"Private study—colleges give students work to
do in own time, but you need childcare. Lack of availability."
"Out of school club does not do one-day provision,
which is sometimes all I need. There is high demand and a waiting
list."
Debt is a serious issue for many lone parents. In
relation to this issues it was felt that it was unfair of lending
agencies to target people in poorer areas particularly "doorstep
lenders". Door-stop lenders often charge 85% interest. These
agencies offer loans at extremely high interest rates and provide
too much temptation for those in poorer areas. Council tax was
argued to be high whether participants worked or not and it was
thought that the systems way of dealing with people who didn't
pay was ineffective and added to debt issues.
"They come round offering cash on the spot. If you
are in dire traits and need quick cash... to buy clothes for children
or carpets for your home... , it's hard to resist, even though
you know you'll end up paying back much more than you borrowed.
After the initial loan, they offer to top it up, so you end up
always in debt to them.
"When they come round to collect there is always more
than one person—it feels intimidating. If you are one day
late they phone."
"They only go to poor areas. They offer to take it
off your benefits."
"I managed to stay clear of door-stop lenders for
two years, because I knew it would not help me. But a situation
arose and I needed cash and I ended up borrowing again."
4.2.3 Structural Aspects/Managing the Labour Market.
(Availability of employment opportunities near to where Lone Parents
live/government interventions).
The Benefits system and its inflexibility is a key
barrier for Lone Parents. The "poverty trap" caused
by the interaction of the tax and benefit systems affects many
Lone Parents. To tackle poverty, welfare benefits must be adequate
for both children and adults. Currently, measured against the
recognised poverty line, they are not. Recent research from CPAG
found the benefit level of income for a Lone Parent with two children
to be around £116 a month less than the poverty line (19)
The longer someone is on benefit & subject to hardship the
more likely it is that low-self esteem, ill health and debt problems
will intensify. The hardship trap is itself a barrier to training,
employment or education. Many lone parents experience a cocktail
of hardship, poor health and low self-esteem, which builds up
often insurmountable barriers to work. The first step in restoring
hope for the future and the sense of well being essential to supporting
Lone Parents into paid work, is to improve present benefit levels.
"Being poor is drinking enough water every day, all
day long to feel `full,' three days before benefit day."
"I've known hardship, but I always knew it could be
worse. There is one thing—I know where I came from, and
I never want to return there with my children."
Hardship reduces morale and acts as a barrier to achieving
the kind of optimism and forward planning that organisations such
as One Plus aims to facilitate through Personal Development &
Mentoring initiatives. Research suggests that substantially higher
benefit levels are required in order for Lone Parents to enjoy
an acceptable standard of living, which would provide a securer
foundation from which to move on.
"Making Work Pay"—where employment
is located, in-work costs (housing, childcare, school meals)—is
a key issue for lone parents. Research shows the majority of Lone
parents live in areas where there is a shortage of jobs. Navigating
transitions from benefit to work can form serious barriers to
Lone Parents moving into and staying in employment.
The infrastructure for the provision of fuel to our
poorest families is seriously flawed. Direct debit payment methods
for gas and electricity are the cheapest option but can cause
a crisis if fuel companies claw back outstanding payments . Many
of our poorest families have pre-payment meters.
"My benefits were £83. When I owed them money,
Scottish Power agreed to take £57, which left me with almost
nothing for food etc. The company can take what they want."
"They made a mistake that caused me to be overdrawn
at the bank—the bank charges totalled £37, but the
company only paid £10 compensation."
"My average bill is £160-200 per month. If you
can't afford to pay the bill, they put in a pre-payment meter.
With a meter, even if you're not using it, the meter clicks over
to record a charge. When I left benefit to move into work, I asked
for a payment card for weekly payments. Scottish Gas insisted
that I cleared the large bill I had outstanding before they would
give me the card. This meant I had to go into debt."
Financial institutions are not in tune with the governments
strategy to eradicate child poverty and increase employment for
Lone Parents to 70%. In relation to bank charges One Plus feels
that it is unacceptable that charges could be taken out of people
benefits leaving them short of essential money. Budgeting schemes
could be more effective at helping people deal with money situations.
It is difficult to save when on benefits providing no safeguard
for emergencies.
"The benefits agency, income support and child tax
credits offices all suggested that I open a basic bank account—benefit
cheques can sometimes go missing in the post. I applied for a
basic bank account with Lloyds TSB but they refused to open one
because I have too many defaults, and too much bad debt due to
my current financial situation."
5. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
This section covers three main areas of relevant policy which
includes: welfare reform; the cities strategy and WorkForce Plus.
5.1 New Deal for Welfare: Empowering People to Work
One Plus welcomes the recognition that there are often a
variety of pre-employment stages that lone parents need to take
before they enter paid work, and the idea of a pathway into work
rather than a single entry point.(20) Through many years of experience
One Plus has developed a model, which demonstrates that providing
a continuum of support and training creates pathways to sustainable
employment. "The Training and Employment Continuum"
links together group-based pre-vocational training, vocational
training and employment, as well as access to specialist advice,
and a range of support including travel, childcare, mentoring,
aftercare and in work support.
5.2 DWP Cities Strategy
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2006/jul/fmc080-270706.asp
Lone parents are a key target group for government welfare
to work policies. Glasgow has a particular need to focus on one
parent families because of their high representation in the poorest
areas of Glasgow. Scottish Executive analysts have ranked areas
of Glasgow where more than 50% of all families are lone parents
families. There are 113 data zones in Glasgow where lone parents
make up 50% or more of all families. Researchers have also included
the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) ranking, which
shows a clear link between deprivation and areas with high proportions
of lone parents. 88 (78%) of these 113 data zones are within the
200 most deprived areas of Scotland as measured by the SIMD. There
are a total of 6505 data zones in Scotland and the lowest ranking
of these 113 is 795. (21)
Lone parents furthest from the Labour Market do not easily
fit a model which is target driven based on short-term into work
outcomes. Measures of Distance Travelled are required to be agreed
by funders to enable a common set of indicators, which delivery
agencies can work to. Without increased support for lone parents
increasing benefit conditionality will put children at risk and
increase hardship and poverty. Pressurising Lone Parents into
work without boosting their skills or career prospects can lock
them into dead-end jobs and entrenched poverty.
5.3 Workforce Plus
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/06/12094904/0
A target has been set of helping a further 66,000 individuals,
in seven local government areas, to move from benefits to work
by 2010. This is the sum of local targets agreed with the seven
areas, and represents a 26% reduction in benefit claimants in
those areas. The SE has a shared target to eradicate child poverty
by 2020. The Workforce Plus document says " by March 2008,
the aim is to increase by 15,000 the number of parents from disadvantaged
areas and groups entering or moving towards employment, by removing
childcare barriers, thus supporting the UK target of 70% of lone
parents being in employment by 2010." (21)
The achievement of these targets would be facilitated by
the participation of specialist lone parent organisations such
as One Plus who can offer a holistic approach and a continuum
of services to lone parents and their children. Monitoring and
review of Lone Parent specific targets across all local partnerships
will be important in measuring the success or otherwise of local
strategies.
The Scottish Childcare Strategy aims to provide affordable, accessible,
good quality childcare in every neighbourhood, supported by Childcare
strategy funding from the Executive to local authorities. Childcare
has an important role to play in labour market growth and family
prosperity by helping people back into work or training as well
as supporting childcare businesses. The Working for Families programme
supplements this with further support for parents in disadvantaged
areas and groups. The childcare element of working tax credit
aims to support those on a low income to get the affordable and
flexible childcare they require. Many practitioners in the field
of childcare argue that the Scottish Childcare Strategy needs
to be re- visited to ensure it meets the needs of non-working
as well as working parents.
6. RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Service Delivery Focus
6.1.1 Employability—Prioritising Specific Groups
of Lone Parents
There are at least three broad groups of lone parents on
Income Support:
— Those who are job ready but have not made the
decision to work;
— Those who face some barriers to employment but
with the right support and development might be encouraged to
take up employment or enter the New Deal for Lone Parents; and
— Those who face multiple barriers to employment
and are the least confident about moving off benefit.
It may be useful to set priorities or to target a specific
group of lone parents.
6.1.2 Stages of intervention
As lone parents move from simply coping with life to work
readiness, they progress through different stages. While each
stage differs depending on the individual's background and circumstances,
there are three that are particularly relevant to Lone Parent
Employability.
In response service delivery should offer an holistic, integrated
response, which is based on an understanding of the complex factors,
associated with an individual Lone Parent's capacity to obtain
and sustain employment.
6.2 National Programmes (UK/Scottish)
6.2.1 Range of support Services
Overall there should be improved access to realistic activities
and proven services that have the confidence of Lone Parents and
which have the capacity to engage and support at each stage, including
post employment. However many Lone Parents prefer to have the
support of a trusted intermediary. In many cases the voluntary
sector will be best placed to provide the sort of personalised
support that expanded programmes will require.
6.2.2 Work Related Activity
There should be a recognition that there are often a variety
of pre-employment stages that lone parents need to take before
they enter paid work, and the idea of a pathway into work rather
than a single entry point.
6.2.3 Workforce Plus & City Strategy & ESF Funding
Lone parents are a key target group for government welfare
to work policies. Glasgow has a particular need to focus on one
parent families because of their high representation in the poorest
areas of Glasgow.
There is a significant contribution to a variety of programmes
through ESF funding. ESF funding withdrawal will leave a major
funding gap for some of the key social economy organisations involved
in employability services. This should be addressed by the Scottish
Executive.
6.3 Benefits System/In-Work Costs
6.3.1 Individualization of benefits and taxation would
help move forward the strategy to support Lone Parents into employment.
6.3.2 Lone Parents need to have a stable income during
the transition into sustainable employment.
6.3.3 Local/City initiatives to subsidise in-work costs
should be offered financial support from central government.
6.3.4 Housing Benefit should be adapted to support those
moving from welfare to work. The design and delivery of Housing
Benefit and how it interacts with Tax Credits should be reformed
to provide immediate and reliable support for all those on Income
Support and low income, including those with mortgages.
Housing benefit for full-time students should be simplified.
Housing costs are one of the key issues raised by Lone Parent
students who aim to improve their qualifications and therefore
access to higher paid employment.
6.4 Childcare
Childcare costs and availability issues must be addressed
immediately by the Scottish Executive if lone parents are to find
social inclusion and economic independence. Accessible and affordable
childcare is central to a strategy to end child poverty. Continued
investment in affordable, flexible childcare and the development
of the childcare workforce will be crucial for any strategy to
support Lone Parents into employment.Childcare should also be
available for lone parents who wish to take up training or continue
their education before returning to work.
6.5 Training & Education
Education and training access is the route to economic independence
and a means of breaking the poverty cycle. Lone Parents face a
range of barriers to further and higher education—the financial
impact is often insurmountable as is the lack of childcare.
6.6 Employability
Programmes to support confidence-building of lone parents
are a vital stepping stone to help lone parents rebuild their
confidence in themselves and their ability to support their families
into the future.
More investment in sustainability is required to ensure employment,
which is sustainable for Lone Parents. We require a more medium/long
term approach to aftercare and in-work support, which offers a
one to one caseworker approach provided by trusted intermediaries.
6.7 Employment & Work Life Balance
Renew efforts to improve women's pay, access to childcare
and family friendly employment which can also help future parents
to thrive in the labour market.
6.8 Health
The fact that most lone parents are women is important to
understanding why so many one parent families are poor.
Lone parents fall into a "hardship trap" which
means they suffer severe hardship, poor housing, and in the end
ill health This in turn leads to low self-esteem, a lack of confidence
and isolation, which are barriers to training, education and employment
opportunities. It is of some consequence that one parent families
are one of the groups most vulnerable to poverty. The introduction
of welfare benefits which offered a decent standard of living
would help the improve the poorest families health.
6.9 Housing
Lone Parents have often experienced overcrowded accommodation
or has been forced into more insecure, expensive and poor quality
privately rented housing. But acquiring a tenancy is only the
first hurdle.
Housing provision for lone parents must address housing list
allocation, social housing allocation and affordability, if lone
parents are to have the security of tenure so fundamental to all
individuals and families.
6.10 Information & Advice
Access to specialist advice when needed before and after
entry to employment. This should include information about relevant
skills training, financial advice about debt or benefit entitlements,
childcare and information about sources of help for people with
housing difficulties.
7. CONCLUSIONS—A POSITIVE
POLICY AGENDA
One Plus has long campaigned for the development of a comprehensive
family policy with a funding package which supports families no
matter their shape or composition. Poverty affects the lives of
many lone parents and limits the life choices of their children.
Tackling this requires both resources and commitment. There is
a growing recognition by policy makers that lone parents face
significant barriers in escaping the poverty trap. While many
combine paid and unpaid work, the alternative of specialising
in the unpaid work of caring for children and others should be
a viable and valued option. Any vision for the future should provide
genuine choice to parents as to whether to stay at home with their
children or take up employment with the guarantee of affordable
high quality childcare.
Lone parents are twice as likely to "cycle" between
work and welfare and therefore the issue of sustainable employment
and aftercare are crucial. This brings to light the complex issue
of the interaction between "care work" and paid employment
and "time and income poverty" Understanding better how
to enable this crucial interaction is key to achieving the child
poverty target and enabling lone parents into sustainable employment.
A move towards an individual worker/carer model has the potential
to effectively address the barriers to employment of the most
disadvantaged families. One Plus is committed to working with
others to develop positive policies that address the issues faced
by lone parents.
One Plus
October 2006
8. SOURCES
1. DWP. Opportunity for All: the seventh annual report (2005),
updates government progress on a broad range of indicators. It
is available at Opportunity for All 2005.
2. HM Treasury. Child Poverty Review. 2004. Available at Child
Poverty Review 2004.
3. Closing the Opportunity Gap. Scottish Executive 12 July
2004; Workforce Plus an Employability Framework for Scotland,
Scottish Executive 2006; Workforce Plus 2006.
4. 2001 Census.
5. DWP (August 2005) Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
6. Scottish Executive, "Scotland's People Annual Report,
SHHS 2005", (2006) and GROS, 2001 Census.
7. Scottish Executive (2006) op cite.
8. HM Revenue & Customs " Tax Credit Statistics April
2006 .
9. GCC (December 04) Glasgow's Housing Strategy Investment
Priorities 2003-08.
10. DWP (August 2005) op cite.
11. GCC (December 04) op cite.
12. Scottish Executive (2006 ) op cite.
13. NPI, Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Scotland
December 2005. Estimates based on the Households below Average
Income dataset, DWP.
14. Scotland's People Annual Report, SHHS 2005, Scottish Executive
2006.
15. Scottish Executive (2006 ) op cite.
16. J Able and G Scott, Employability Framework for Scotland,
Final Report, Workstream: Workless client groups,Scottish Poverty
Information Unit, Scottish Executive (March 2005).
17. One Plus (September 2006) Focus Group data for Poverty
Audit Consortium & JRF.
18.
19. CPAG.
20. A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work DWP,
January 2006 http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/legislation_green_paper.asp.
21. Scottish Executive "Workforce Plus" 2006 WorkForce
Plus.
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