The reform of public services can make a tremendous impact on the lives of rural people. Often reform brings real improvement to the way in which services are delivered and to the choice which people can exercise. This report highlights the need for public service reform to be seen through a ‘rural lens’ and particularly by those who are commissioning services and allocating resources.

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10 November 2008
© Commission for Rural Communities

How realistic is the government’s pledge to end child poverty by 2020? The strategy is hugely ambitious and progress has stalled. This Round-up draws on the findings of seven reports about how to take forward different aspects of a child poverty strategy; examines the impact of current policy; and suggests what is needed to ensure the target is met.

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10 November 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The New Policy Institute has produced its 2008 edition of indicators of poverty and social exclusion in Scotland, providing a comprehensive analysis of trends and differences between groups. Based on the latest available data, its starting point is that, while child and pensioner poverty in Scotland has fallen over the last decade, poverty among working-age adults has remained the same.

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10 November 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Quarterly analysis of the 28,000 or so expressions of voluntary activity (essentially voluntary organisations) in Wales, including by classification (46 categories, 21 forums, and coverage (national, regional, local).

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10 November 2008
© WCVA

An overview and analysis of current policy approaches that support incomes of parents who are unable to work, focusing on maternity, short-term sickness and unemployment and on issues surrounding disability and caring. The report describes the current strengths and weaknesses in policy provision to combat child poverty when parental employment is constrained and is a timely analysis given the approaching 2010 deadline for halving child poverty from 1999 levels. The analysis uses original and unique tax-benefit modelling of current provision across a range of low-paid and out-of-work family profiles. The main contents of the report are: An introductory overview of the policy trade-offs involved in determining ability and inability to work; Analysis of current provisions for maternity and how far it protects families against child poverty; Analysis of the current provisions for short-term sickness and periods ‘between jobs’ that are relevant to most low-paid parents, particularly those with constrained employment from ill health/ disability; Analysis of current provisions for those parents with limitations of their capacity to work, on those with disabilities and parents who care for disabled partners/ children. The report concludes with a series of policy recommendations and options:http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2270-unemployment-poverty-parents.pdf

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7 November 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

NICVA is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to agree to develop a White Paper on the relationship between government and voluntary and community organisations, and to begin a deliberative process on what this might mean. White Papers are issued by government and lay out policy, or proposed action, on a topic of current concern. Although a White Paper may on occasion be a consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. Most other parts of these islands have issued White Papers or other legislative frameworks codifying relationships with the voluntary and community sector. Examples of these are contained within the report. NICVA believes that a White Paper would be a useful method of defining and clarifying these relationship in Northern Ireland. Download the full report on NICVA’s call for a White Paper:http://www.communityni.org/uploads/docs/WhitePaper.doc

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7 November 2008
© NICVA

An examination of community involvement in the governance of local services, with an emphasis on the role of public officials. The role played by public officials in community engagement has important effects on the extent to which community views can influence local services. This study explores the experiences and views of public officials, comparing a local authority, a police service and a Primary Care Trust in one part of London.Download full report: http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2248-governance-community-engagement.pdf

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30 October 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

CRC have been asked by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to provide regular reports about the impacts of the economic downturn on rural businesses, employment and households. These reports will help enable the rural voice and needs to be put to the National Economic Council set up by the Prime Minister in October. CRC are inviting rural and economic organisations, local and sub-regional authorities and partnerships, companies, professional and trade associations, housing and support groups operating in rural England to help us have a constant source of evidence. We’ve already been able to reflect your evidence and experience in our first ‘Credit Crunch’ report on the implications of the ‘credit crunch’ on rural communities. The findings form part of a report for Government, led by Professor Michael Parkinson. Download our contribution to the report to government: http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/Recession%20&%20CC%20report%20211008.pdf

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4 November 2008
© Commission for Rural Communities

The Carnegie Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society has two projects to engage voluntary organisations in the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity, in particular groups that have a social rather than environmental focus. ‘Climate change and resource scarcity: A discussion paper for non-environmental civil society groups’ can be downloaded (pdf, 204KB): http://democracy.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/files/Climate_Change_and_Resource_Scarcity_Paper%20%282%29.pdf

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04 November 2008
© VoluntaryNews

The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit has today published ‘Getting On, Getting Ahead,’ which analyses the evidence base on social mobility. ‘Getting On, Getting Ahead, a discussion paper analysing the trends and drivers of social mobility’ is based on independent academic research and identifies key trends and drivers of social mobility, finds that social mobility remained broadly stable since 1970. The evidence since 2000 suggests it may start to rise in future.
 
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03 November 2008
© Cabinet Office