1. Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland Alex Young

2. Scottish and UK Parliament responsibilities Scottish Parliament Health Education Skills Housing UK Parliament Fiscal, economic and monetary Employment legislation Social Security

3. Early intervention and prevention Three key social policy frameworks address the causes of poverty and inequality: o Achieving our Potential - tackling poverty and income inequality o Early Years Framework - giving children the best start in life o Equally Well: Report of the Ministerial Taskforce on Health Inequalities

4. Universal entitlements Commitment to the Social Wage –Free prescriptions –Free personal care –Free tuition –Living Wage (Free School Meals)

5. Child Poverty in Scotland Relative poverty decreased substantially in the 90s and continues to fall, albeit at a lower rate However, The IFS estimates the relative child poverty rate in Scotland will increase significantly by 2020, rising to 22.7%. This would account for an additional 50,000 children in Scotland living in poverty.

6. Welfare Reform There have been significant delays to the roll out of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Do not anticipate any roll out beyond Inverness in Scotland before the UK General Election However, cultural changes, sanctions, claimant commitment, have been progressed

7. Welfare Reform impacts Scottish Government analysis published on 7 April 2014 estimates that the cumulative impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms over the six years to 2015-16 could result in the Scottish welfare bill being reduced by around £6 billion; it is estimated that over £1 billion relates directly to children in Scotland.

8. Ministerial Advisory Group In 2012 Ministers appointed the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty to advise on the strategy and annual reporting It meets two to three times a year, chaired by DFM, and includes the Minister for Housing and Welfare, Minister for Children and Young People, representatives of local authorities, health boards, children’s and anti-poverty organisations

9. Child Poverty Strategy revision Three key outcomes: 1.Maximising household resources. (Pockets) 2.Improving children’s wellbeing and life chances (Prospects) 3.Children from low income households live in well designed sustainable places (Places)

10. Prospects Best place in the world to grow up Focus on early intervention and prevention Early Years Framework emphasis on giving children, particularly those who are most disadvantaged, the best possible start in life

11. Prospects Children and Young People Act –Single planning approach for children need additional support –Single point of contact –Children’s Services Plans –Increase amount and flexibility of childcare

12. Prospects – specific actions £272 million (with local authorities, the NHS and other partners) Early Years Change Fund to improve children’s life chances Over 130,000 receive free school meals and from January 2015 P1-P3 children have the option of a free meal at school. Saving of around £330 per child if the pupil takes a meal every day

13. Prospects – specific actions Expanding nursery provision from 475 hours to a minimum of 600 hours. Expanding to 2 years olds in workless households from 2014, and to 2 year olds who would have been eligible for free school meals from 2015 STV Child Poverty Appeal match funded between 2011 and 2014 with £3.65m

14. Prospects – specific actions Communities and Families fund - £6 million in funding over 3 years (with Big Lottery) to help groups working with children aged under 8 £30m to support work with children, young people families and communities through £20m Third Sector Early Intervention Fund and £10m Strategic Funding Partnerships

15. Outcomes Framework MAG and stakeholders have consistently requested more robust reporting on impact of activities Outcomes framework focused around 3 Ps – map onto 3 long term outcomes –Maximising household resources (Pockets) –Improved life chances for children (Prospects) –Children grow up in sustainable places (Places) Articulates how we expect our activities will lead to outcomes Provides framework for monitoring and evaluation and structure for future annual reports

16. Outcome Intermediate outcomes Policies Maximising financial resources of families on low incomes Families on low incomes are managing finances appropriately and accessing all financial entitlements Households have the skills and motivation to access advice and manage finances; and knowledge about products, welfare rights and support services Maximised financial entitlements of families on low incomes Parents are in good quality, sustained employment in line with skills and ambitions Good quality employment is available Individuals have the skills and motivation to find and retain work Affordable, accessible and flexible childcare is available Financial capability and welfare rights advice/support Employability/Skills Strategy Economic growth policies Living Wage Childcare for employment and education Reduced household spend of families on low incomes Universal entitlements (social wage) Welfare reform mitigation Scottish Welfare Fund Fuel Poverty Programmes Free School Meals and funding for school activities

17. Outcome Intermediate outcomes Policies Improved life chances of children in poverty Children from low income households have improving levels of physical and mental health Children from low income households have improving relative levels of educational attainment, achieving their full potential Children from low income households experience social inclusion and display social competence Young people from low income backgrounds are in good quality sustained employment in line with skills and ambitions Emotional wellbeing Healthy lifestyles Early and high quality treatment High quality teaching and support targeted to needs and abilities Cognitive and emotional skills Children feel valued Skills and qualifications Availability of suitable work, inc apprenticeships and highly skilled work Motivation/aspirations Youth Employment Strategy Health Inequalities Educational Attainment, including FE/HE Resilient, stable, strong families providing supportive home environment Participation in positive activities/hobbies National Parenting Strategy Early Years Collaborative and Change Fund Parents engaged in childrens’ learning Access to professions Modern Apprenticeships

18. Outcome Intermediate outcomes Policies Children from low income households live in well designed sustainable places Children from low income households live in high quality sustainable housing Affordability, availability and security Sustainability and quality Housing that meets needs Children from low income households grow up in places that are economically sustainable Supportive, inclusive and engaged communities Accessible, affordable and high quality facilities and amenities Regeneration Strategy Housing Fuel Poverty Homelessness Accessible, effective local social services Children from low income households grow up in places that are socially sustainable Children from low income households grow up in places that are physically sustainable Communities protected and safe Quality buildings and spaces Strong local economies Learning opportunities and support in accessing economic opportunities Infrastructure, inc digital, that supports economic growth Quality housing and amenities reduce household costs (pockets) ; supportive communities, healthy homes, healthy and safe environments, quality services and facilities, and local economic opportunities improve physical and mental health, attainment, social inclusion and employment (prospects) outcomes Transport links Access to high quality affordable public transport

19. Today’s event Very keen to learn more about the impact of health inequalities on the outcomes in the strategy Interested in views on how best to deliver on the outcomes in the strategy Would appreciate specific examples of your activities which relate to the outcomes