Employability Conference 18 June 2014 Tackling Inequalities Tackling Poverty Rhona McGrath Renfrewshire Council Tackling Poverty Programme Manager

The facts…. 19% children living in poverty Child poverty levels across Renfrewshire range from 7% to 31% 17% households in fuel poverty 16.4 years variation in male life expectancy 25.8% or 5798 children live in low income families 17,000 out of 82,000 households receive housing benefit Unemployment in Renfrewshire is higher than Scottish rate, but improving… Hospital discharges linked to alcohol 30% higher in Renfrewshire than Scottish rate 19.4% or 4360 children are living in workless households

Spread of Scotland’s 15% most income deprived datazones in Renfrewshire

Poverty Outcomes Renfrewshire Community Plan  Commitment that no more than 15% of children in any area will be living in poverty by 2023 Renfrewshire Council Plan  Commitment to reduce the causes and impact of poverty, particularly child poverty

T ackling Poverty Commission Focus on impact of poverty on children and families Community engagement Evidence based - develop recommendations on interventions that work Feed into a strategic corporate and community response

Tackling Poverty Commission – Key Themes Pockets maximisation of household income managing household finances, reducing expenditure, increasing financial awareness and capacity Prospects well-being and health - both physical and mental attainment, skills, ambition, education and ‘know how’ Places place, housing, support to communities

How can we prevent child poverty? Prevent How can we alleviate the impact of children living in poverty? Alleviate How can we provide families with sustainable routes to escape poverty? Escape How can we change attitudes towards families and children living in poverty? Attitudes What are the key national policies the Commission, the Council and its partners should seek to influence? Influence Key questions for the Commission