"Like many in Hackney, we are very concerned about the impact on the borough's most vulnerable residents of the recent cuts announced by the Government. The Government's own changes to Housing Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance, and other benefits are all likely to affect most those in need." Mary Cannon, CEN Chair
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Big Lottery Fund to offer an extra £50m to voluntary organisations
The Big Lottery Fund has announced that it is to award an extra £50m to voluntary organisations in the current financial year. The BLF, which is the voluntary sector's largest grant-maker, is increasing the annual budgets for its Reaching Communities and Awards for All programmes by £12m and £5m respectively
Dramatic increase predicted for child and working-age poverty
A new study undertaken by the Institute for Fiscal Studies – Child and working-age poverty from 2010 to 2020 – finds that, as a result of the Coalition's reforms:
• The number of children in relative poverty is forecast to rise from 2.6 million in 2009-2010 to 3.3 million by 2020-2021 (before housing costs), and the number of working-age adults in poverty from 5.7 million to 7.5 million by 2020-2021.
• Relative child poverty will rise from 20% to 24% by 2020-2021, the highest rate since 1999-2000 and considerably higher than the 10 per cent target in the Child Poverty Act.
• Absolute poverty will rise considerably in the next few years as earnings growth is forecast to be weak but inflation high.
Whilst Universal Credit is expected to reduce poverty, the effect of other government changes to personal taxes and state benefits will offset this.
How do current government polices impact on equalities issues?
Research commissioned by the North West Infrastructure Partnership, and carried out by the Centre of Local Economic Studies (CLES), has just been launched: it looks at the impact of current government policy on equalities and the specialist organisations that deliver to some of our most marginalised communities. The research concentrated on 15 issue-specific focus groups and involved over 250 VCS groups: the executive summary can be found here. The full report entitled "Open for All" will be available shortly from Voluntary Sector North West.
Government report published on the inquiry into regeneration
The government has published its report from the inquiry into regeneration calling for the Department for Communities and Local Government to produce a national strategy for regeneration, targeting the most deprived areas. Urban Forum submitted evidence to the Inquiry jointly with Voice4Change England.
Community organisers take up position
The first 47 people trained as Community Organisers have been recruited from 11 communities. The plan is for the Organisers to be trained from now until 2015 and they will be based in local groups, bringing people together around various local issues. It is hoped that the Organisers will be involved in assisting communities to take advantage of the Community First Fund. Locality has launched a website where you can find our nearest community organiser and your nearest host.
‘People power' removed from the Localism Bill
The House of Lords has removed the flagship 'local referendum' provision, which provided the community empowerment element from the Localism Bill, and have allowed voters to launch a local referendum on any local issue. "We have listened to the concerns over expense and have decided, with regard to towns, that the local referendums do not need to have a place within this Bill," said Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary-Under-Secretary of State. However, Hanham added that referendums have not been totally abandoned and still exist for council tax, right-to-build and neighbourhood planning, a cornerstone of the Bill. Full list of amendments here
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