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The state of play: disadvantage, play and children's well-being
- Author:
- SUTTON Liz
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 7(4), October 2008, pp.537-549.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
There is little research that explicitly compares the lives of children from different social backgrounds, particularly with regard to their freedom, safety, and use of public space. Drawing on the findings of a participatory research project with 42 children from different socio-economic backgrounds in England, this article shows how and why children's play differs depending on their social background. It also highlights the importance of street play in the lives of disadvantaged children, arguing that they engage in street play as a consequence of having less space and fewer alternatives, and yet their opportunities for play are further restricted due to local development and community ‘policing’. The article calls for the safeguarding of open public space, and an increased recognition of the importance and value of street play. Finally, it points out the contradictions in government policy regarding children's play and well-being.
A child's eye view
- Author:
- SUTTON Liz
- Journal article citation:
- Poverty, 126, Winter 2006, pp.8-11.
- Publisher:
- Child Poverty Action Group
The author describes a recent research project by the Centre for Research in Social Policy which sought to find out how children from different socio-economic groups perceive and experience social difference. Forty-two children, aged 8 to 13 took part in group discussions. Nineteen from a disadvantaged housing association estate and twenty-three from a fee-paying independent school. The results found that all children identified relationships and activities as more important to them than material circumstances. Despite their different backgrounds, both also emphasised the importance of education, free time, favourite things, and friends and families in their lives.
Transport and getting around in later life
- Authors:
- SUTTON Liz, HILL Katherine
- Publisher:
- Loughborough University. Centre for Research in Social Policy
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 14p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Loughborough
Getting out and about is important to older people’s independence, access to services and social networks. Transport is a key factor in preventing social exclusion and enabling older people to play a role in their communities. This project involved in-depth interviews with people (aged 65-84 at the first interview) 2 years apart to explore their changing needs and resources as they moved through later life. The research took a holistic approach to demonstrate the range of different structural, social and individual resources that people drew on to help manage. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the findings that relate to older people’s access to a range of transport and the impact that being able to use transport (or not) can have on their wider well-being. The findings contribute to policies concerning the independence and participation of older people in society. The paper examines changes in various aspects of older people’s transport use including: public transport use; car driving; and mobility scooter use.
Managing finances in later life
- Authors:
- HILL Katherine, SUTTON Liz
- Publisher:
- Loughborough University. Centre for Research in Social Policy
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 16p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Loughborough
Progress has been made in reducing pensioner poverty, however, around a third of pensioners do not claim the benefits they are entitled to. Older people have less opportunity to increase their income through paid work and have been particularly affected by rising energy and food prices and reduced income from savings. This project involved in-depth interviews with people (aged 65-84 at the first interview) 2 years apart to explore their changing needs and resources as they moved through later life. The research took a holistic approach to demonstrate the range of different structural, social and individual resources that people drew on to help them manage. The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings that relate to how older people manage their finances and the interplay between finances and other formal and informal resources. This summary highlights the implications for policies surrounding older people’s financial well-being, benefit receipt and take up rates, and access to financial services and information. The paper examines the impact of changes in older people’s financial circumstances including: what helps or hinders older people in managing their finances; how access to resources can protect against the impact of or help to manage financial change; the difference made by benefit receipt; the effect of personal budgeting skills and attitudes to money/spending; and the need for information and support.
Housing transitions: older people's changing housing needs
- Authors:
- HILL Katherine, SUTTON Liz
- Publisher:
- University of Loughborough. Centre for Research in Social Policy
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 20p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Loughborough
The home environment becomes of greater importance to older people in later life, especially if their health or mobility deteriorates. This project involved in-depth interviews with people (aged 65-84 at the first interview) 2 years apart to explore their changing needs and resources as they moved through later life. The research took a holistic approach to demonstrate the range of different structural, social and individual resources that people drew on to help manage their changing needs. The purpose of this paper was to focus on the findings that relate to older people remaining in, or moving from, their home in later life. This summary highlights the implications for housing information and options, home adaptations and the appropriateness of housing in relation to older people’s well-being and independence. The paper examines changes in older people’s home circumstances including: the experience and impact of moving; the factors that help or hinder moving; adaptations, alterations, and refurbishments; and changes in warden service.
Staying safe: the implications for youth work of every child matters
- Authors:
- FRANCE Alan, SUTTON Liz
- Publisher:
- National Youth Agency
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 17p.
- Place of publication:
- Leicester
Focuses on the making a positive contribution and staying safe strands of Every Child Matters. The paper also provides an overview of relevant Government policy, draw on academic research evidence and considers the contribution youth work makes to delivering services for young people across the local authorities.
A child's-eye view of social difference
- Authors:
- SUTTON Liz, et al
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 42p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- York
This participatory study explores children's views of social difference, with children guiding the research focus themselves. The children came from contrasting socio-economic backgrounds, 19 from a disadvantaged housing estate and 23 from an independent, fee-paying school. The research aims to raise awareness about social difference from a child's perspective and to inform Government strategies to eradicate poverty and social exclusion.
The cost of a child in the twenty-first century
- Authors:
- HIRSH Donald, SUTTON Liz, BECKHELLING Jacqueline
- Publisher:
- Child Poverty Action Group
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 56p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report examines the cost of raising a child, based on what parents themselves agree to be an acceptable standard of living in the UK today. It analyses how much it costs to provide children with a minimum level of participation in society, as well as catering for their needs in terms of food, clothes and shelter. Using the minimum income standard research for 2012, a calculation of the cost of children considers how much the addition of each child increases the family’s budget. On average, the first child in a couple costs £89 a week and the second child £81 a week, not including housing and childcare costs. The basic cost of bringing up each child from birth to age 18 is estimated at between £73,000 and £94,000, but for working families who require childcare the cost is between £110,000 and £160,000. Comparing the cost of a child with the child-related benefits that parents receive shows that, for most families, they fall short. As a new welfare system is introduced, it is important to be clear about what families need to meet minimum needs, as well as the potential hardship that may ensue if they fail to do so. In addition, the measured cost of a child has been rising in recent years, partly because of specific inflationary pressures on certain costs and partly because of changes in what items families need.
Managing resources in later life: older people's experience of change and continuity
- Authors:
- HILL Katherine, SUTTON Liz, COX Lynne
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 71p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- York
In this research report the ways in which older people plan, use and value their resources as they move through later life was explored through in-depth interviews with people aged 65-84 years. Participants were followed up after two years in order to investigate their changing needs. It was found that older people have available a diverse range of personal, social, structural, economic and psychological resources to draw upon. The complexity of the individual lives studied, and the efforts being made to remain independent, were also revealed. The report highlights how, for older people, the degree of dependence is socially determined by the resources available to them. The researchers suggest that policy makers need to address how best to deliver information and support to those in most need, as well as some who resist admitting that need.
Returning to normality: substance users’ work histories and perceptions of work during and after recovery
- Authors:
- CEBULLA Andreas, SMITH Noel, SUTTON Liz
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 34(7), October 2004, pp.1045-1054.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
New service provisions designed to improve the employment prospects of former substance users will enhance the roles and responsibilities of Drug Action Teams (DATs), Jobcentre Plus offices and other providers and co-ordinators of support services for substance users. This paper discusses the findings of a study of 30 current and former drug and alcohol users, exploring past substance use histories and current employment aspirations. The research informs new policy initiatives designed to assist substance users’ entry or return to work. Differences in present perceptions of work-readiness were observed, which reflected users’ perceptions of the nature of their addiction. The attribution of blame for the substance dependency to either ‘the drug’ or the individual’s psychology was a critical influence on users’ work-readiness assessments. Work was perceived to benefit recovery from substance dependency. The evidence suggests that substance users’ return to work might be helped by their staged (re-) introduction to the labour market as well as encouraging the primary labour market to employ (more) recovering substance users. The research highlighted the need for joint working between employment services and DATs to help substance users into work and to support their recovery. It also highlighted the need for mutual understanding and recognition of each collaborator’s expertise.