A report said that the government's strategy against poverty and social exclusion had lost momentum, and was in urgent need of a major rethink. Out of 50 indicators of poverty and social exclusion, there had recently been a worsening in 9, mainly in the key areas of income and work. These had been offset by improvements in 7, chiefly related to primary education, premature death, and homelessness. The most serious setback was the increase of 200,000 children living in poverty in 2005-06 compared to the year before: as a result, there had been no sustained progress on child poverty for three years.
Source: Guy Palmer, Tom MacInnes and Peter Kenway, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion 2007, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | CPAG press release | NCH press release | Telegraph report | BBC report | FT report
Date: 2007-Dec
A report said that children living in poverty were more likely to suffer health and behavioural problems, get mixed up in street gangs, and experience bullying at school. Although children in deprived areas experienced more acute forms of poverty, those in more affluent neighbourhoods were more aware of their relative poverty, because middle-class parents had higher aspirations for their children.
Source: Sarah Gorin, Claire Dyson, Carol-Ann Hooper and Christie Cabral, Living with Hardship 24/7: The diverse experiences of families in poverty in England, Frank Buttle Trust (020 7828 7311)
Links: Report | Summary | NSPCC press release | Poverty article | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Nov
An article said that many problems associated with relative deprivation were more prevalent in more unequal societies. It summarized previously published evidence suggesting that this might be true of morbidity and mortality, obesity, teenage birth rates, mental illness, homicide, low trust, low social capital, hostility, and racism. It added new analyses which suggested that this was also true of poor educational performance among school children, the proportion of the population imprisoned, drug overdose mortality, and low social mobility.
Source: Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, 'The problems of relative deprivation: why some societies do better than others', Social Science & Medicine Volume 65 Issue 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
An article criticized the argument that the failure to meet the government's target for reducing child poverty was partly due to its success in generating economic growth. This argument missed wider problems embedded in recent trends in the household income distribution: for example, inequality measures sensitive to the distribution of income among those on low incomes suggested that the experience of those who remained poor might have worsened.
Source: Alvaro Angeriz and Shanti Chakravarty, 'Changing patterns of UK poverty, 1997-2004', Cambridge Journal of Economics, Volume 31 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
The government published annual indicators for 2007 which showed that: 600,000 fewer children were living in poverty compared to 1997; a fall in the number of children living in homes that did not meet the set standard of decency from 41 per cent to 23 per cent; 1.1 million fewer pensioners living in poverty; and an increase in the employment rates for many disadvantaged groups.
Source: Opportunity For All: Indicators Update 2007, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176)
Links: Report | DWP press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review included a new public service agreement aimed at reducing social exclusion among the most vulnerable adults. It was aimed at increasing the proportion of at-risk individuals in settled accommodation, and employment, education, or training.
Source: PSA Delivery Agreement 16: Increase the proportion of socially excluded adults in settled accommodation and employment, education or training, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558)
Date: 2007-Oct
A new book examined the history of debates over 'transmitted deprivation', and their relationship with recent initiatives on social exclusion. It highlighted the 'striking similarities' between the government's most recent attempts to tackle social exclusion and child poverty, and earlier debates.
Source: John Welshman, From Transmitted Deprivation to Social Exclusion: Policy, poverty, and parenting, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Sep
Researchers updated a report on poverty and social exclusion in Wales (published in 2005). Child poverty in Wales was around a quarter lower than in the late 1990s: but there had been no further progress in the previous two years, the rate stalling at around 28 per cent. There were more working-age adults in poverty than children and pensioners in poverty combined.
Source: Peter Kenway and Guy Palmer, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Wales 2007, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined four texts that addressed 'connectedness' in social relationships. It considered concepts of care and social capital, and how these were applied in policy and practice. It highlighted the importance of understandings deriving from these concepts in developing policies that supported well-being, reflected the significance of moral decision-making, and enabled the development of supportive networks.
Source: Marian Barnes and David Prior, 'Conceptualising connectedness: implications for policy and practice', Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
An article drew on two studies of social exclusion based in England to suggest that responsible engagement with the world could be seen as a feature of resilience. as well as a capacity to withstand difficulties.
Source: Anne Edwards, 'Working collaboratively to build resilience: a CHAT approach', Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
The government announced a policy review of families at risk of social exclusion. It published data showing that over 140,000 families were at risk, under five or more indicators of social exclusion. It said that these families needed more family-tailored support packages at 'critical moments'. The indicators included: living in a workless household; living in bad housing; parents having no qualifications; mother with mental health problems; and family income below 60 per cent of the median.
Source: Families At-Risk: Background on families with multiple disadvantages, Social Exclusion Task Force/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1234)
Links: Report | Cabinet Office press release | Regeneration & Renewal report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Mar
Researchers reviewed available sources on multi-dimensional disadvantage or severe forms of social exclusion characterized as 'deep exclusion'; recommended possibilities for secondary analysis of existing data sets to explore the dynamics of 'deep exclusion'; identified relevant gaps in the knowledge base; and recommended research strategies for filling such gaps.
Source: Ruth Levitas et al., The Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Social Exclusion, Social Exclusion Task Force/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1234)
Links: Report | Bristol University press release
Date: 2007-Feb
A new book examined views about what poverty was, and what should be done about it. It challenged many of the myths and stereotypes about poverty and about people living in poverty.
Source: Paul Spicker, The Idea of Poverty, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Jan