Examines policy and practice in Scotland and makes recommendations about how to tackle poverty among all ethnic groups. Overall, poverty is higher among ethnic minority groups than within the white majority population. The paper suggests that despite the clear overlap between the aims of the equalities and anti-poverty policy agendas there is a lack of integration between them. It finds that people from ethnic minority communities with good qualifications face greater barriers to finding work which matches their qualifications, compared with the majority white population. The paper concludes that forthcoming devolution of powers to Scotland could provide the Scottish government, local authorities and others with important new levers with which to tackle poverty and inequality across all ethnicities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Examines policy and practice in Scotland and makes recommendations about how to tackle poverty among all ethnic groups. Overall, poverty is higher among ethnic minority groups than within the white majority population. The paper suggests that despite the clear overlap between the aims of the equalities and anti-poverty policy agendas there is a lack of integration between them. It finds that people from ethnic minority communities with good qualifications face greater barriers to finding work which matches their qualifications, compared with the majority white population. The paper concludes that forthcoming devolution of powers to Scotland could provide the Scottish government, local authorities and others with important new levers with which to tackle poverty and inequality across all ethnicities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
poverty, ethnicity, black and minority ethnic people, equal opportunities, racial discrimination, employment;
This paper puts forward a set of recommendations for local authorities designed to support education-to-work transitions for ethnic minority youth, drawing on examples of best practice in Bristol, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets. There are three main advantages of local initiatives over national ones: they tend to be more accountable, more targeted to local demographics, and more sensitive to local employers. The recommendations comprise three areas: encouraging employers to recruit a more diverse workforce (demand side); working with employers and young people to broker opportunities (co-ordination); and providing tailored support to ethnic minority young people (supply side). They include proposals to increase transparency about the ethnic composition of the local authority workforce and to encourage local contractors to do the same; to set up employer/ apprenticeship hubs with ethnic minority targets; and to support targeted provision for ethnic minority graduates looking to find work.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This paper puts forward a set of recommendations for local authorities designed to support education-to-work transitions for ethnic minority youth, drawing on examples of best practice in Bristol, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets. There are three main advantages of local initiatives over national ones: they tend to be more accountable, more targeted to local demographics, and more sensitive to local employers. The recommendations comprise three areas: encouraging employers to recruit a more diverse workforce (demand side); working with employers and young people to broker opportunities (co-ordination); and providing tailored support to ethnic minority young people (supply side). They include proposals to increase transparency about the ethnic composition of the local authority workforce and to encourage local contractors to do the same; to set up employer/ apprenticeship hubs with ethnic minority targets; and to support targeted provision for ethnic minority graduates looking to find work.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
black and minority ethnic people, young people, education, employment, equal opportunities, racial equality, case studies, local authorities, intervention;
This solution paper focuses on a selection of mainstream initiatives that have played an important role in supporting young people’s transitions into work and may help address the disparities in labour market outcomes that young people from ethnic minorities experience. It sets out a series of recommendations for improving support, offering a more effective route out of poverty and preventing later labour market disadvantage. The paper makes the case for strategies tailored to local priorities and needs, backed up by clearer accountability, further resources, and monitoring at national level. It suggests that Youth Transition Partnerships should be established, bringing together key local actors, with a remit to tackle ethnic and socio-economic disparities. As there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of targeted employment initiatives for ethnic minority groups the paper recommends that the government commit to funding robust evaluations of such initiatives over the longer term. In addition, it argues that there should be an independent review of careers guidance policy accompanied by a commitment from government to provide dedicated funding so that schools can deliver quality careers services. The paper concludes that the National Apprenticeship Service should continue to take the lead in raising awareness of apprenticeships, with initiatives targeting ethnic minority young people and their parents.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This solution paper focuses on a selection of mainstream initiatives that have played an important role in supporting young people’s transitions into work and may help address the disparities in labour market outcomes that young people from ethnic minorities experience. It sets out a series of recommendations for improving support, offering a more effective route out of poverty and preventing later labour market disadvantage. The paper makes the case for strategies tailored to local priorities and needs, backed up by clearer accountability, further resources, and monitoring at national level. It suggests that Youth Transition Partnerships should be established, bringing together key local actors, with a remit to tackle ethnic and socio-economic disparities. As there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of targeted employment initiatives for ethnic minority groups the paper recommends that the government commit to funding robust evaluations of such initiatives over the longer term. In addition, it argues that there should be an independent review of careers guidance policy accompanied by a commitment from government to provide dedicated funding so that schools can deliver quality careers services. The paper concludes that the National Apprenticeship Service should continue to take the lead in raising awareness of apprenticeships, with initiatives targeting ethnic minority young people and their parents.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
young people, black and minority ethnic people, ethnicity, employment, equal opportunities, case studies, intervention, outcomes;
The UK witnessed a dramatic growth in income inequality in the 1980s, and since then the level of inequality has increased further, though at a slower rate. This report reviews the evidence about the impact of inequality to investigate whether income inequality should be a matter of concern. It pays particular attention to the evidence and arguments put forward in 'The Spirit Level' by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (2009). It also considers the points made in various critiques of this work as well as the broader peer-reviewed literature. The research examines: whether or not there is a link between income inequality and health and social problems; who might be most affected by income inequality; and other possible impacts of income inequality, for example, on the economy. The main conclusion is that both individual income and income inequality make a difference to health and social problems, and that both issues need to be tackled. A range of policy mechanisms could be used to do this, ranging from redistribution through the tax and benefit system to innovative income and wealth policies, stronger public services and a greater focus on equal opportunities.
The UK witnessed a dramatic growth in income inequality in the 1980s, and since then the level of inequality has increased further, though at a slower rate. This report reviews the evidence about the impact of inequality to investigate whether income inequality should be a matter of concern. It pays particular attention to the evidence and arguments put forward in 'The Spirit Level' by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (2009). It also considers the points made in various critiques of this work as well as the broader peer-reviewed literature. The research examines: whether or not there is a link between income inequality and health and social problems; who might be most affected by income inequality; and other possible impacts of income inequality, for example, on the economy. The main conclusion is that both individual income and income inequality make a difference to health and social problems, and that both issues need to be tackled. A range of policy mechanisms could be used to do this, ranging from redistribution through the tax and benefit system to innovative income and wealth policies, stronger public services and a greater focus on equal opportunities.
Subject terms:
income, poverty, social policy, social problems, socioeconomic groups, equal opportunities, health;
The UK witnessed a dramatic growth in income inequality in the 1980s, and since then the level of inequality has increased further, though at a slower rate. This report summary reviews the evidence about the impact of inequality to investigate whether income inequality should be a matter of concern. It pays particular attention to the evidence and arguments put forward in 'The Spirit Level' by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (2009). It also considers the points made in various critiques of this work as well as the broader peer-reviewed literature. The research examines: whether or not there is a link between income inequality and health and social problems; who might be most affected by income inequality; and other possible impacts of income inequality, for example, on the economy. The main conclusion is that both individual income and income inequality make a difference to health and social problems, and that both issues need to be tackled. A range of policy mechanisms could be used to do this, ranging from redistribution through the tax and benefit system to innovative income and wealth policies, stronger public services and a greater focus on equal opportunities.
The UK witnessed a dramatic growth in income inequality in the 1980s, and since then the level of inequality has increased further, though at a slower rate. This report summary reviews the evidence about the impact of inequality to investigate whether income inequality should be a matter of concern. It pays particular attention to the evidence and arguments put forward in 'The Spirit Level' by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (2009). It also considers the points made in various critiques of this work as well as the broader peer-reviewed literature. The research examines: whether or not there is a link between income inequality and health and social problems; who might be most affected by income inequality; and other possible impacts of income inequality, for example, on the economy. The main conclusion is that both individual income and income inequality make a difference to health and social problems, and that both issues need to be tackled. A range of policy mechanisms could be used to do this, ranging from redistribution through the tax and benefit system to innovative income and wealth policies, stronger public services and a greater focus on equal opportunities.
Subject terms:
income, poverty, social policy, social problems, socioeconomic groups, equal opportunities, health;
Scoping work was carried out in 2010 in preparation for a new JosephRowntreeFoundation programme focusing specifically on understanding how poverty and ethnicity interact. This paper draws together the findings of reviews and studies commissioned to feed into the scoping research, which focused on areas with an impact on whether and how people experience poverty and on underlying issues
Scoping work was carried out in 2010 in preparation for a new JosephRowntreeFoundation programme focusing specifically on understanding how poverty and ethnicity interact. This paper draws together the findings of reviews and studies commissioned to feed into the scoping research, which focused on areas with an impact on whether and how people experience poverty and on underlying issues: education, work, unpaid caring, social networks, the role of places, and inequality within ethnic groups. It summarises current evidence on poverty and ethnicity in these areas and identifies key gaps in knowledge and understanding in relation to tackling poverty. It highlights the importance of 'intersectionality', noting that in order to understand how ethnicity affects people's experiences and outcomes it is also necessary to consider other aspects of identity such as gender, age, religion, disability, health and location. It also reports that outcomes for individuals come from the interaction of 2 broad sets of factors: informal processes and wider structures. It concludes by identifying 4 areas for further investigation: the changing ways in which families across ethnicities manage caring and earning, how ethnicity affects in-work poverty, how social networks are linked to escaping from poverty, and the influence of the places people live and work in. A second phase of research will run from 2011 to 2015.
Subject terms:
poverty, social networks, carers, black and minority ethnic people, cultural identity, education, employment, environment, equal opportunities, ethnicity;
This review considers the needs and situations of older people with high support needs from different equality groups, and the barriers they commonly face in service provision. It adopts a ‘capability-based’ approach to equality, analysing older people with high support needs from different equality groups and highlighting relevant debates associated to equality and diversity. It summarises from existing evidence the profile, needs and experiences of older people with high support needs, in terms of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation and poverty. It also highlights key debates related to the equality and diversity of this group and suggests ways in which the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s programme ‘A Better Life’ might contribute to them. The review draws on reports, abstracts, articles and statistics and conversations with 13 experts working across the range of equality strands in policy, research and practice. It also presents a separate annotated list of projects, initiatives, networks and organisations which have particular interests, expertise and activities relating to equality and diversity and older people with high support needs.
This review considers the needs and situations of older people with high support needs from different equality groups, and the barriers they commonly face in service provision. It adopts a ‘capability-based’ approach to equality, analysing older people with high support needs from different equality groups and highlighting relevant debates associated to equality and diversity. It summarises from existing evidence the profile, needs and experiences of older people with high support needs, in terms of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation and poverty. It also highlights key debates related to the equality and diversity of this group and suggests ways in which the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s programme ‘A Better Life’ might contribute to them. The review draws on reports, abstracts, articles and statistics and conversations with 13 experts working across the range of equality strands in policy, research and practice. It also presents a separate annotated list of projects, initiatives, networks and organisations which have particular interests, expertise and activities relating to equality and diversity and older people with high support needs.
Subject terms:
LGBT people, needs, older people, poverty, religious beliefs, social care provision, black and minority ethnic people, diversity, disabilities, equal opportunities, gender, complex needs;
Eight research projects about Muslim women, Pakistani Muslim young men, recent migrants to Bradford and life on former council estates, were undertaken by the JosephRowntreeFoundation as part of a 10 year programme to improve life in Bradford in the context of the challenges of poverty and social and economic division. Summarising the findings of these projects, this paper notes that overall
Eight research projects about Muslim women, Pakistani Muslim young men, recent migrants to Bradford and life on former council estates, were undertaken by the JosephRowntreeFoundation as part of a 10 year programme to improve life in Bradford in the context of the challenges of poverty and social and economic division. Summarising the findings of these projects, this paper notes that overall there is a large degree of commonality in the lives and experiences of those with different ethnicities, religions and cultures, and calls for more recognition and promotion of these common life experiences as one approach to challenging suspicion among people of different backgrounds. It asserts that an alternative narrative is needed which focuses on issues of poverty, inequality and powerlessness and that this has the potential to unite the residents of social housing estates and inner cities, regardless of ethnic origin, class, culture or religion.
Subject terms:
housing estates, inner cities, Islam, Muslims, poverty, religions, social exclusion, social inclusion, social networks, black and minority ethnic people, community development, diversity, equal opportunities, ethnicity;
The 2001 UK Census data can be useful in monitoring both employee profiles and applicants' data, especially for discrimination by gender or ethnic origin. The availability of this Census data, with its extended range of questions, has created a new opportunity for employers to compare their own statistics with the pool of qualified applicants. However, problems in accessing data would need to be overcome before this could be a useful tool for employers. Use of Census data in monitoring is not guaranteed to show that discrimination is absent or present. It does raise questions about organisations' policies and can direct attention to the areas of their practice they need to consider in more detail.
The 2001 UK Census data can be useful in monitoring both employee profiles and applicants' data, especially for discrimination by gender or ethnic origin. The availability of this Census data, with its extended range of questions, has created a new opportunity for employers to compare their own statistics with the pool of qualified applicants. However, problems in accessing data would need to be overcome before this could be a useful tool for employers. Use of Census data in monitoring is not guaranteed to show that discrimination is absent or present. It does raise questions about organisations' policies and can direct attention to the areas of their practice they need to consider in more detail.
This report assesses existing research evidence on links between employee participation in organisational decision making, company performance and the quality of working life. The intention is to examine the value of different approaches to participation to employees, employers and the State. The report examines the different rationales for participation from economic, social justice and political perspectives. Through these perspectives, it identifies different approaches to the subject, with employers and neo-liberal interests broadly supporting individual and low influence approaches while employee bodies, such as trade unions and the European Union collective, favour more regulatory influences. The impact of new forms of participation, including high-involvement work systems and partnership, is also considered. Links between participation and equality at work, an element which is often overlooked in accounts of the subject, are also considered from perspectives of gender, work-life balance, age and disability. Finally, the report considers the policy implications and limitations of different approaches and suggests areas where policy developments could be undertaken. The report confirms that participation continues to be a contested area. It also suggests, however, that trade unions continue to have an important role in protecting and advancing the interests of employees and, in so doing, can contribute positively to organisational effectiveness.
This report assesses existing research evidence on links between employee participation in organisational decision making, company performance and the quality of working life. The intention is to examine the value of different approaches to participation to employees, employers and the State. The report examines the different rationales for participation from economic, social justice and political perspectives. Through these perspectives, it identifies different approaches to the subject, with employers and neo-liberal interests broadly supporting individual and low influence approaches while employee bodies, such as trade unions and the European Union collective, favour more regulatory influences. The impact of new forms of participation, including high-involvement work systems and partnership, is also considered. Links between participation and equality at work, an element which is often overlooked in accounts of the subject, are also considered from perspectives of gender, work-life balance, age and disability. Finally, the report considers the policy implications and limitations of different approaches and suggests areas where policy developments could be undertaken. The report confirms that participation continues to be a contested area. It also suggests, however, that trade unions continue to have an important role in protecting and advancing the interests of employees and, in so doing, can contribute positively to organisational effectiveness.