Information Bulletin

Summary of News and Publications from the Week ending 16 August 2013

JRF Activity
Publication - What makes effective place-based working? Lessons from JRF's Bradford programme.

Poverty
The unemployment rate in the UK was unchanged in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the first, at 7.8% with 2.51 million people unemployed. The unemployment rate for 16 to 24 year olds rose by 0.7% to 21.4% for April to June 2013 from the first quarter. The number of people unemployed for 12 months or more increased by 3.1% compared to the same time last year. In wales the unemployment rate remained at 8.2%, Scotlands fell 0.1% to 7.2% while in Northern Ireland, the rate fell by 0.7% to7.5%. A new Institute for Public Policy Research report defines full employment, sets out a vision for what it could look like in the UK and considers its potential benefits. A job for everyone: What should full employment mean in 21st century Britain? Income for households claiming benefit in England will be on average 1,615 a year lower (31 a week) by 2015/16 as a result of welfare reforms, excluding Universal Credit, according to a report by Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion and published by the Local Government Association. 59% of all welfare reform reductions fall on households where somebody works. Includes maps showing average losses in specific locations. The local impacts of welfare reform: An assessment of cumulative impacts and mitigations. Public sector workers in London should be paid the living wage, along with workers delivering public sector contracts and sub-contracts, according to the Community Investment Coalition. In published evidence to the London Assembly investigation into low pay, it also recommends research to quantify the impacts of high cost credit on individuals and the state. Based on interviews with 500 parents and 500 children in London, 42% of parents said they had cut back on the amount of food bought over the last year and 9% of children reported they sometimes or often go to bed feeling hungry. Parents supported the idea of buying food from supermarkets close to use by dates, which would otherwise be disposed of, and packages of ingredients from supermarkets to make healthy meals. The research was conducted by Ipsos Mori for the Greater London Authority 'Child Hunger in London Understanding Food Poverty in the Capital'. A new paper examines the association between parental income and outcomes such as childrens IQ and school performance, self esteem and behavioural problems and risk of obesity. It compares the relative importance of the adverse family characteristics and home environments of low income children in accounting for different outcomes. Understanding the Relationship Between Parental Income and Multiple Child Outcomes: A decomposition analysis, CASEpaper 129, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (London School of Economics)

Place
The way the private rented sector (PRS) is enforced needs to be strengthened, but new regulations should be avoided, recommends a new report from the Centre for London in its review of the capitals PRS. It also calls for incentives for landlords to invest in the upkeep of their properties and provide a better standard of accommodation. Stressed: a review of Londons private rental sector. Although house building starts rose by 6% in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the first, the split between private and social housing is uneven. Private housing starts grew by 7% from the previous quarter, but social housing starts fell by 3%. Although the latest official figures show overall house prices across the UK are recovering, increasing by 3.1% in the last year, analysis by the Independent suggest the north south divide is widening. House prices rose by 8.1% in London, but fell by 0.9% in Scotland, 0.4% in Northern Ireland and 0.2% in Yorkshire and Humber. The Governments Help to Buy scheme may result in driving up house prices due to a shortage of suitable properties, according to economists. Official homelessness statistics for England show that the total number of cases of homelessness prevention or relief increased by 2% from 2011 to 2012, with prevention cases increasing by 4%, and cases of relief falling by 13%.

An Ageing Society
The International Longevity Centre has launched a Commission on Ageing and the Voluntary Sector, which aims to draw together existing research, consult the sector through a series of events and work with voluntary organisations to investigate how the sector can take a lead in adapting to an ageing population. The Commission is being chaired by Lynne Berry and a final report with recommendations for the future will be published. See also Blog by Lynne Berry. This report uses case studies of a range of local housing with care models, all in the social sector, which aim to improve health and well-being for older residents. The case studies illustrate some of the issues, challenges and risks associated in developing and managing such initiatives and the learning from these. Housing with Care for Older People, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland. The Northern Ireland Executive has published a report summarising the findings of a consultation on the future of adult care and support. Issues raised by respondents to the consultation included: the unfairness of existing arrangements for paying for long-term care; the need to focus more on preventative services; and the need to promote independence. Who Cares? The Future of Adult Care and Support in Northern Ireland: Consultation Analysis Report. See also press release. In a survey by KPMG, only 12% of 1,000 NHS patients said they were very confident about meeting their long-term care needs. 54% agree that taxes should rise to pay for care. In long-term care, 74% of respondents felt that healthcare teams changed too frequently to ensure quality of care and quality of life.

One in five older people spend time volunteering for two or more charities, according to research for the Royal Voluntary Service. The average age of RVSs 40,000 volunteers is 62 and 46% of older people volunteer to feel a sense a purpose. We need to do more about ageing with autism Guardian Social Care Network article.

This Information Bulletin is produced on a weekly basis as an update for staff at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) for the purposes of their work it is not intended to be comprehensive but represents a selection of news and reports appearing in the last week. The items contained in this Bulletin are for information only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the JRF and JRHT.