Information Bulletin

Summary of News and Publications from the Week ending 1 November 2013

JRF Activity
Report - A review of devolved approaches to child poverty.

Poverty
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics on families and households show that of the 26.4 million households in the UK, 29% consist of one person and 20% of four or more people. There are 1.9 million lone parents with dependent children, a relatively small rise from 1.8 million in 2003. The fastest growing group were households of two or more families, which have grown by 39% since 2003, but households of more than one family still only account for 1% of all households. A new report from the ACEVO and the Shaw Trust examines how the voluntary sector can best contribute to the work programme. It recommends that voluntary organisations play a leading role in future and sets out issues for voluntary sector providers to consider when negotiating and evaluating, plus suggested refinements to client categorisation and provider payment models. The UK is falling behind many of its European neighbours on health indicators such as womens life expectancy, where it trails Spain, Italy and Cyprus and mortality rates for children under 5, where the Czech Republic, Greece and Slovenia all have better records. The findings are from a report from the World Health Organisation. Read the full report. Also, Guardian Interactive map public health in the UK and how it compares with the rest of Europe Article from William Bain, the Labour MP for Glasgow North East, who led a debate on Low Pay and the Future of the National Minimum Wage in Parliament this week. He believes politicians should consider changing the remit of the Low Pay Commission and should adopt a sector by sector approach to raising minimum pay rates, to tackle the erosion of its value. The leader of York City Council interviewed in the Guardian, talks about people on average earnings being priced out of the city. Through Young Eyes, a survey of 2,000 children by the Childrens Society to mark the launch of the first Childrens Commission on Poverty, reveals that over half the children living in poverty say their home is too cold and a quarter live in homes with damp or mould. The commission will consist of a panel of children and young people aged 12 to 19 who will help lead an 18 month investigation into child poverty in in the UK. CPAG film which tackles misleading stereotypes of people who receive benefits It Could Be You. The Social Market Foundations Family Fortunes report examines the extent of intergenerational support in low-income families, or bank of Mum and Dad. 52% of people surveyed, who have a low income, said they had received financial support as an adult from their parents, with 73% receiving support of 2,000 or less in the past 5 years.

The CAB has registered a 64% rise in enquiries from jobseekers regarding sanctions, describing the system as excessively harsh and badly implemented. From July to September this year, Citizens Advice Bureaux across the country dealt with 3,895 issues with sanctions for Jobseekers Allowance. The timetable for rolling out Personal Independence Payments has been delayed, because claimants have not been assessed in time. From this week, existing claimants with a disability whose condition had changed were due to apply for and transfer to PIP. This will now only apply to current claimants in Wales, the East and West Midlands and East Anglia.

Place
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a consultation on the proposed changes to rent policy for social housing which would come into force in April 2015. The closing date for responses is 24 December 2013. Proposals include basing the annual increase on the Consumer Price Index instead of the Retail Price Index, removing the flexibility available to landlords to increase weekly social rents each year by an additional 2, above the increase in formula rent. Although repossessions are reported to have fallen sharply, the north south divide has widened - there are 33% more repossessions in the north than the south compared to 14% more in 2007, according to figures from chartered surveyors e.surv. Ed Davey used his annual energy statement to announce plans to make switching between energy companies quicker and easier to make sure the best deals were not just open to the internet savvy. He also suggested ideas to introduce quicker ways of switching tariffs with the same supplier and an annual competitiveness check on energy providers. There are also plans to use the Big Energy Saving Network of volunteers to help vulnerable people who find switching difficult. A report from the Public Accounts Committee strongly criticises the Department for Communities and Local Government for not being able to demonstrate whether the New Homes Bonus, to incentivise house building, is working. The committee says that no evaluation is in place and there is no credible data on which to judge the scheme. Their report recommends collecting comparative data from local authorities for evaluation purposes and possible adjustments to incentives such as a premium for homes exceeding standard energy efficiency requirements. House prices in England and Wales rose by an average of 3.4% in the year to September, and by 1.5% in September compared to August, say new figures from the Land Registry. Over the last 12 months, the largest regional increase has been in London at 9.3%, while the biggest monthly increase was in the North East at 2.7%. The Residential Landlords Association has commissioned and published an independent review of the proposals from Shelter to introduce 5 year tenants contracts. The report, written by Professor Michael Ball of Reading University, claims that that landlords would face higher risks and lower returns, it would undermine the recent growth in the private rented sector and accommodation shortages would grow. Read the full report. The Northern Ireland Housing Minister has named six pilot areas for regeneration. The aim is to use housing intervention as a catalyst for local regeneration along with social, economic and physical interventions by Government departments, the Housing Executive, Housing Associations, local communities and key statutory and voluntary agencies to create more sustainable communities.

An Ageing Society
Although comprehensive data is not always available regarding the age breakdown of deaths from flooding, heatwaves, cold snaps, air pollution and storm events, there is increasing evidence to suggest most fatalities occur in vulnerable older people. An blog by Gary Haq of the University of York, argues that older people should be encouraged to take part in environmental volunteering, because their knowledge of the local environment could help them to play a key role developing local environmental protection strategies. A survey on homecare by the Guardian and Department of Health polled over 1,400 people on their attitudes to care. 46% of people said they had a positive experience with individual care staff compared to 15% who reported negative experiences. 39% complained that their experience of how local authorities assessed their needs and arranged care was poor or very poor. The Commission for the Voluntary Sector & Ageing has announced that it has officially begun its enquiry into how voluntary organisations in England can prepare for and adapt to an ageing society in the next 20 years. The commission will draw together existing research, consult with the sector through events, and work with voluntary organisations to develop ideas about how the sector can lead the way in adapting to an ageing population. Initial findings are to be published in March 2014, an interim report in the run up to the 2015 general election and a final report and recommendations later on. Lack of housing choice is a turn-off for older people looking to downsize? Asks Hannah Fearn in the Guardian. 30% of people over 75, who were surveyed in a recent poll for the Royal Voluntary Service, say they only have a conversation with their nearest neighbours once or twice a month or less often, and 11% say they never have a conversation. Fewer than 10% of people aged 65 and over in the UK are aware that strokes can be brought on by the cold in winter, with only 14% recognising that the cold can impact on heart attacks, according to a survey by Age UK. The survey also showed that an estimated three million people aged 65 and over in the UK are concerned about staying warm in their own home this winter. 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.