Issue - meetings

10 minutes / 5.15 – 5.25pm.

The Trust received a report that provided an overview of progress made with respect to the Child Poverty Strategy.

It was noted that the Delivery Plan was currently being refreshed by multi agency Working Group. This group had also been tasked with identifying how data and resources could be better utilised across the Partnership to achieve joint objectives.

The Trust discussed the impact the current financial climate was having upon parents and the need to increase awareness amongst this group of the Benefits available to them. This was particularly important to people from emerging communities who were vulnerable to loan sharks and other sources of unregulated credit.

It was noted that often people in financial difficulty, who had used loan sharks, were reluctant to come forward and inform the Police. Without a victim the Police were unable to prosecute offenders. The Trust was advised that the Police were undertaking a larger piece of work looking at the exploitation of immigrants and part of this would look at this area.

Concern was expressed at the capacity of the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) to offer the support and advice required with respect to financial problems at the current time. There was agreement that other means of getting information across to parents were required.

In response to a query the Trust was advised that the measure of poverty used was the Government’s definition which applied to any family in receipt of Benefits. Other measures included the number of children eligible for free school meals.

The Trust noted that good progress had been made with respect to reducing the gap in educational attainment for children living in poverty.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.