This report explores the rates, persistence and depth of poverty in families with babies and pre-school children in the UK. The report includes analysis by the JosephRowntreeFoundation on the extent of the problem, which found that 1.3 million children under five in the UK are living in poverty. The report also sets out findings from a survey of 1,400 families living on low incomes in the UK
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report explores the rates, persistence and depth of poverty in families with babies and pre-school children in the UK. The report includes analysis by the JosephRowntreeFoundation on the extent of the problem, which found that 1.3 million children under five in the UK are living in poverty. The report also sets out findings from a survey of 1,400 families living on low incomes in the UK, including: 52% said that housing conditions had a negative impact on their child's development or health, 47% of racial minority families with a child under 5 are in poverty and 55% of single parent families with a child under 5 are in poverty; 43% respondents said they don't live somewhere that meets their family's needs and 52% said that they do not live somewhere that has enough space for their family. Recommendations for the UK government include: fund early years support services and support services for new parents and invest in affordable quality childcare.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
babies, poverty, pre-school children, families, low income, child development, single parent families, black and minority ethnic people, child care, housing, service provision;
This report explores how housing impacts on work incentives, and opportunities to progress in work, for those in and around poverty. It highlights a well-entrenched work ethic among people who are likely to command only modest wages, and the multiple disincentives they face arising from the cost of housing, transport and childcare. The report shows that: investing in neighbourhoods can reinforce positive social networks and provide a secure basis for employment; affordable transport is a critical constraint on employment - there is a clear need to review public transport routes and subsidise individual commuting costs; more secure tenancies would improve people’s willingness to move, and lower rents would provide a much clearer financial incentive to work; and childcare availability and affordability is a key barrier to employment.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report explores how housing impacts on work incentives, and opportunities to progress in work, for those in and around poverty. It highlights a well-entrenched work ethic among people who are likely to command only modest wages, and the multiple disincentives they face arising from the cost of housing, transport and childcare. The report shows that: investing in neighbourhoods can reinforce positive social networks and provide a secure basis for employment; affordable transport is a critical constraint on employment - there is a clear need to review public transport routes and subsidise individual commuting costs; more secure tenancies would improve people’s willingness to move, and lower rents would provide a much clearer financial incentive to work; and childcare availability and affordability is a key barrier to employment.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This paper focuses on the impact of high-quality early education and effective early intervention, which can act as protective factors for children against the negative effects of poverty. It also highlights how access to flexible, affordable childcare can reduce pressures on family income and help parents work, train or study. The report finds that the current UK childcare system falls short of fulfilling its potential to help reduce the effects of poverty on children: it does not allow children access to childcare of the standard required to improve developmental outcomes; families in areas of low parental employment are less likely to have access to flexible childcare; and support with childcare costs does not work well for parents with low incomes. The report calls for an anti-poverty childcare system which maximises on quality and removes the barriers of affordability and access to parents on low incomes and calls on the Government to set out clearly its aims for childcare and build a funding system to meet those aims.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This paper focuses on the impact of high-quality early education and effective early intervention, which can act as protective factors for children against the negative effects of poverty. It also highlights how access to flexible, affordable childcare can reduce pressures on family income and help parents work, train or study. The report finds that the current UK childcare system falls short of fulfilling its potential to help reduce the effects of poverty on children: it does not allow children access to childcare of the standard required to improve developmental outcomes; families in areas of low parental employment are less likely to have access to flexible childcare; and support with childcare costs does not work well for parents with low incomes. The report calls for an anti-poverty childcare system which maximises on quality and removes the barriers of affordability and access to parents on low incomes and calls on the Government to set out clearly its aims for childcare and build a funding system to meet those aims.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
child care, poverty, access to services, children, low income, unemployment, government policy;
This report presents qualitative and quantitative research with low-income Caribbean, Pakistani and Somali people on their experiences and preferences in relation to balancing work and care. It focuses on three caring scenarios: caring for children, caring for disabled children and caring for older people. Research methods comprised of a literature review, a 1200 person survey on informal care among ethnic minorities, 60 related interviews on informal caring, 42 interviews on childcare in these three communities (including 10 among families caring for a disabled child). The findings are discussed under four main themes: access to employment; the role of cultural or religious beliefs in influencing attitudes to caring and formal care services; the availability of information and advice. and the impact of Universal Credit and other benefit changes. Key findings note that discrimination is a key barrier in balancing work and care and that benefit changes are likely to make it more difficult for low-income ethnic minorities to balance work and care. Many Pakistani and Somali families were also unaware of free child care provision; . The research did not find generic attitudes towards 'caring' within and across minority groups.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report presents qualitative and quantitative research with low-income Caribbean, Pakistani and Somali people on their experiences and preferences in relation to balancing work and care. It focuses on three caring scenarios: caring for children, caring for disabled children and caring for older people. Research methods comprised of a literature review, a 1200 person survey on informal care among ethnic minorities, 60 related interviews on informal caring, 42 interviews on childcare in these three communities (including 10 among families caring for a disabled child). The findings are discussed under four main themes: access to employment; the role of cultural or religious beliefs in influencing attitudes to caring and formal care services; the availability of information and advice. and the impact of Universal Credit and other benefit changes. Key findings note that discrimination is a key barrier in balancing work and care and that benefit changes are likely to make it more difficult for low-income ethnic minorities to balance work and care. Many Pakistani and Somali families were also unaware of free child care provision; . The research did not find generic attitudes towards 'caring' within and across minority groups.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
black and minority ethnic people, African Caribbean people, South Asian people, child care, carers, low income, ethnicity, access to services, employment, child day care, children, informal care, cultural identity, older people, religious beliefs, benefits, poverty;
Summarises the key findings of qualitative and quantitative research with low-income Caribbean, Pakistani and Somali people on their experiences and preferences of balancing work and care. It focuses on three caring scenarios: caring for children, caring for disabled children and caring for older people. Research methods included a literature review, a 1200 person survey on informal care among ethnic minorities, 60 related interviews on informal caring, 42 interviews on childcare in these three communities (including 10 among families caring for a disabled child). The findings are discussed under four main themes: access to employment; the role of cultural or religious beliefs in influencing attitudes to caring and formal care services; the availability of information and advice. and the impact of Universal Credit and other benefit changes. Key findings note that discrimination is a key barrier in balancing work and care and that benefit changes are likely to make it more difficult for low-income ethnic minorities to balance work and care. Many Pakistani and Somali families were also unaware of free child care provision; . The research did not find generic attitudes towards 'caring' within and across minority groups.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Summarises the key findings of qualitative and quantitative research with low-income Caribbean, Pakistani and Somali people on their experiences and preferences of balancing work and care. It focuses on three caring scenarios: caring for children, caring for disabled children and caring for older people. Research methods included a literature review, a 1200 person survey on informal care among ethnic minorities, 60 related interviews on informal caring, 42 interviews on childcare in these three communities (including 10 among families caring for a disabled child). The findings are discussed under four main themes: access to employment; the role of cultural or religious beliefs in influencing attitudes to caring and formal care services; the availability of information and advice. and the impact of Universal Credit and other benefit changes. Key findings note that discrimination is a key barrier in balancing work and care and that benefit changes are likely to make it more difficult for low-income ethnic minorities to balance work and care. Many Pakistani and Somali families were also unaware of free child care provision; . The research did not find generic attitudes towards 'caring' within and across minority groups.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
African Caribbean people, South Asian people, ethnicity, low income, carers, access to services, employment, benefits, black and minority ethnic people, child care, child day care, older people, cultural identity, informal care, religious beliefs, poverty;
This study aims to increase understanding about the reasons for disadvantaged parents moving in and out of paid work. The study included qualitative interviews with 33 disadvantaged parents across Scotland, quantitative analysis of a database of over 12,000 unemployed parents who had been supported by the Working for Families programme in Scotland, focus groups held with 27 professionals from 10 local authorities in Scotland, and in-depth interviews with 3 managers. The report examines how the birth of a child or a relationship breakdown combined with a decrease in household income can lead many into poverty. It discusses how parents remain in low pay/no pay cycles due to low pay and lack of job flexibility, lack of suitable childcare, the operation and level of benefits and tax credits, debt, low confidence and obstacles to education. It is shown that mothers are less likely to get work if they lack qualifications, have been out of employment for longer, have more or younger children, and are under 19 or over 45. Recommendations are made and policy implications discussed. The authors comment that escaping poverty and the low pay/no pay cycle requires better paid jobs, more suitable and affordable childcare, a more responsive benefit and tax credit system and effective holistic support.
This study aims to increase understanding about the reasons for disadvantaged parents moving in and out of paid work. The study included qualitative interviews with 33 disadvantaged parents across Scotland, quantitative analysis of a database of over 12,000 unemployed parents who had been supported by the Working for Families programme in Scotland, focus groups held with 27 professionals from 10 local authorities in Scotland, and in-depth interviews with 3 managers. The report examines how the birth of a child or a relationship breakdown combined with a decrease in household income can lead many into poverty. It discusses how parents remain in low pay/no pay cycles due to low pay and lack of job flexibility, lack of suitable childcare, the operation and level of benefits and tax credits, debt, low confidence and obstacles to education. It is shown that mothers are less likely to get work if they lack qualifications, have been out of employment for longer, have more or younger children, and are under 19 or over 45. Recommendations are made and policy implications discussed. The authors comment that escaping poverty and the low pay/no pay cycle requires better paid jobs, more suitable and affordable childcare, a more responsive benefit and tax credit system and effective holistic support.
Subject terms:
interpersonal relationships, life style, low income, mothers, needs, parents, poverty, self-esteem, social exclusion, unemployment, user views, benefits, child care, conditions of employment, debt, education, educational performance, employment, fathers;
Drawing on detailed interviews with residents in deprived neighbourhoods across Britain, this report reflects on the validity of policy assumptions about why people do not have jobs and the benefits of employment for individual and family life. It explores four key themes: how workless residents perceive the availability of work in a recession, the quality of available jobs and the experience of work, the impact of work on family life and how workless parents feel about returning to work, including access to and affordability of childcare, and the potential for training, education and skills development to help workless people enter the labour market or secure better jobs. It uses data from qualitative interviews with residents from 6 neighbourhoods in England, Scotland and Wales, undertaken in 2008 and 2009. The research showed that there are a number of areas where policy assumptions are not borne out by the experiences of residents, and the report concludes by identifying the implications of this research for broad policy agendas including welfare reform, poverty, regeneration and social mobility.
Drawing on detailed interviews with residents in deprived neighbourhoods across Britain, this report reflects on the validity of policy assumptions about why people do not have jobs and the benefits of employment for individual and family life. It explores four key themes: how workless residents perceive the availability of work in a recession, the quality of available jobs and the experience of work, the impact of work on family life and how workless parents feel about returning to work, including access to and affordability of childcare, and the potential for training, education and skills development to help workless people enter the labour market or secure better jobs. It uses data from qualitative interviews with residents from 6 neighbourhoods in England, Scotland and Wales, undertaken in 2008 and 2009. The research showed that there are a number of areas where policy assumptions are not borne out by the experiences of residents, and the report concludes by identifying the implications of this research for broad policy agendas including welfare reform, poverty, regeneration and social mobility.
Subject terms:
labour market, policy formulation, poverty, regeneration, social exclusion, social policy, unemployment, training, welfare state, child care, families, employment, government policy;
Time and money are two key constraints on what people can achieve. The income constraint is widely recognised by policy-makers and social scientists in their concern with poverty. Proposed solutions often focus on getting people into paid work, but this risks ignoring the demands people may have on their time. This study looks at individuals who are significantly limited by time and income constraints: those who could escape income poverty only by incurring time poverty, or vice versa. The study was based mainly on analysis of the UK Time Use Survey (TUS) 2000, run by the Office for National Statistics. TUS is a nationally representative sample; the sub-sample used for the analysis in this study were 6,782 people of working age who completed a diary.
Time and money are two key constraints on what people can achieve. The income constraint is widely recognised by policy-makers and social scientists in their concern with poverty. Proposed solutions often focus on getting people into paid work, but this risks ignoring the demands people may have on their time. This study looks at individuals who are significantly limited by time and income constraints: those who could escape income poverty only by incurring time poverty, or vice versa. The study was based mainly on analysis of the UK Time Use Survey (TUS) 2000, run by the Office for National Statistics. TUS is a nationally representative sample; the sub-sample used for the analysis in this study were 6,782 people of working age who completed a diary.
An assessment of the critical role of childcare policies in ending child poverty by 2020. Over the past 10 years, great strides have been made in improving childcare, but more must be done to improve quality and to make childcare more affordable and available to the most disadvantaged groups. This report sets out how, with further improvements, childcare policy can continue to play a key role not just in reducing poverty for today's children, but also in improving outcomes and preventing poverty for the next generation.
An assessment of the critical role of childcare policies in ending child poverty by 2020. Over the past 10 years, great strides have been made in improving childcare, but more must be done to improve quality and to make childcare more affordable and available to the most disadvantaged groups. This report sets out how, with further improvements, childcare policy can continue to play a key role not just in reducing poverty for today's children, but also in improving outcomes and preventing poverty for the next generation.
An examination of the contribution that childcare might make to ending child poverty. This short paper examines the contribution that childcare might make to ending child poverty. The paper focuses on childcare policy specifically in England as, despite sharing key aspects with the English model, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate strategies.
An examination of the contribution that childcare might make to ending child poverty. This short paper examines the contribution that childcare might make to ending child poverty. The paper focuses on childcare policy specifically in England as, despite sharing key aspects with the English model, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate strategies.
Subject terms:
poverty, child care, child support, children, families;