The Government is committed to contracting out delivery of welfare to work programmes and paying providers for getting participants into sustained employment. The main political parties concur that such a ‘welfare market’ will lead to service innovation, improved accountability, better job outcomes, and better customer service and value for money, referring to the success of similar reform in countries like Australia and the Netherlands. This study examines particular lessons from these programmes for this country. The research: Dan Finn, University of Portsmouth. Download: http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2306-welfare-unemployment-services.pdf

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18 November 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The JRF’s recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern ’social evils’ on the theme of ‘individualism’. Neal Lawson discusses why we are less happy and why our lives feel more out of control than ever before, despite gaining many individual liberties. Author: Neal Lawson, Chair of Compass and Research Fellow at the Global Policy Institute, London Metropolitan University. Download: http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/pdf/2286.pdf

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18 November 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Today sees the launch of respectme’s new campaign, ‘You can make a difference’. Children and young people need and value good role models in their lives, and it’s the people that they see every day that can make a difference. They need adults in their lives who will notice when something’s not right and take the time to talk to them, and to be someone they can turn to when they need help. ‘You can make a difference’, reinforces this message and our supporting resources provide adults with the practical skills to help them do this.

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17 November 2008
© RespectMe

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

In NCVO’s 90th year, our flagship Annual Conference will examine how uncertain economic times and a potential change in government presents us with many challenges, but also with opportunities. Join us to explore the voluntary and community sector’s role within civil society and to identify those issues which will matter most to the people and communities we work with in the future. Date: Wednesday 18 February 2009. Time: 10am to 4:45pm. Venue: The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SD.

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5 November 2008
© NCVO

Anti-poverty campaigners have urged caution over claims that social mobility is on the rise for the first time in 30 years. A government report published this week said the social background of teenagers is now less important in determining educational achievement and income than it was in 1970. It found that ‘positive changes’ began in 2000 after three decades of stagnation in which children were unable to overtake their parents on the social ladder. The findings suggest some of the government’s key initiatives of recent years, such as Sure Start and inner-city academies, may be having an impact and that further planned spending on childcare and early years will be effective. But the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) argued the report used a narrow definition of social mobility that was restricted to employment outcomes. Kate Green, chief executive of CPAG, told New Start: ‘Those unable to access work should not be left socially excluded and their lives must be taken into account too. ‘Comparisons with wealthy countries that have greater social mobility than the UK make clear that it’s the gap between rich and poor in the UK that is at the root of low social mobility. We have to narrow this gap to succeed in creating the fair country we want.
This needs government to make the moral case for an end to Britain’s culture of inequality, which has not only left those at the bottom in financial crisis for years, but now has our whole economy in crisis. ‘The chancellor must start by making the investment needed to halve child poverty by 2010 as part of the economic rescue package in the pre-budget report.’

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6 November 2008
© NewStart

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

Charities and voluntary organisations that work with vulnerable families are to get a funding boost of 16 million pounds from the government. The Department for Children, Schools and Families announced 16 million pounds funding as part of the third round of the Parenting Fund that gives financial support to voluntary sector projects that help vulnerable families. Charities and voluntary organisations will be able to apply for funding from the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI) that manages the fund. Honor Rhodes, director of development at the FPI said: “The first two rounds showed us all how much can be achieved by the voluntary sector, working in such imaginative ways with families who are troubled by a wide range of difficulties. “This new fund will allow fresh ideas for effective work with families to be tested. We are looking forward to seeing lots of applications, some projects will develop services for children affected by violence and we are really delighted that the importance of the parental couple relationship is identified as a key concern.”

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3 November 2008
© Children and Young People Bulletin

The JRF’s recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern ’social evils’ on the theme of ‘the absence of society’. Zygmunt Bauman argues that these ‘ills’ are products of the withdrawal of the traditional conception of ’society’ and are rooted in the way of life of today’s individualised society of consumers. Download: www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/pdf/2284.pdf

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21 October 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

A charity has welcomed a move by the government to fund ten new sexual assault referral centres to give victims advice. Rape Crisis fully supports the scheme which will also fund a team of experts with £100,000, in addition to the £1.6 million pledged to build the centres. Victims will be provided with medical help, counselling, forensic examinations and advice on giving evidence anonymously. A Rape Crisis spokesperson said sexual assault referral centres are an important element in allowing victims of rape to access medical and forensic support. “The provision of a team of experts to engage with key local partners is a forward step in enabling all areas of the county to offer these services,” the source added. Currently there are 22 sexual assault referral centres and ten grants of up to £75,000 a year available for an area interested in starting a centre. A survey of 1,007 women by Rape Crisis reveals one in four women have experienced rape or attempted rape.

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13 October 2008
© CAF