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Word Economic Forum, World Social Forum, and the space in between

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

This week the World Economic Forum is taking in Davos in Switzerland.  And at the same time the World Social Forum is taking place in Belem in Brazil.  The WEF and the WSF are always billed as alternatives – but surely there’s a space in the middle where business leaders, government ministers and community activists can meet to see if – maybe - they actually have some shared concerns or common goals?  Or – perhaps – might have something to learn from each other?  Or even – say it quietly – might work together to solve the problems that are facing us all? 

Chain Reaction is all about building connections between social leaders.  Social leadership is not about what sector you work in or the models by which you deliver your work – voluntary organisation or for-profit business, social enterprise or public service.  Rather it is about the values that underpin your actions, your approach to the world, your awareness of the impact of your actions on others, and your willingness to engage in building a fairer, better society.  We believe that social leaders are everywhere, working across all sectors, enthusiastically collaborative, and driven by a set of shared values.   And, if we work together, we have the power to literally create a chain reaction of change.   

In November last year, we held the first Chain Reaction event. Over 1,000 people joined us over two days – they came from 17 countries, and included community activists, artists, social entrepreneurs, bloggers and techies with new tools to try out, business leaders (among others, CEOs from Royal Mail, BBC, IBM, CBI, BITC, Accenture) and a roll call of Ministers – including a 45 minute visit from the PM, Gordon Brown, who made Chain Reaction his next stop after the Economic Summit in Washington. Most excitingly, nearly 300 were aged under 21. 

This event has already resulted in ideas for change, practical actions and new networks, and we hope that it will grow into a movement for social change – enabling people to connect with eachother across the often specious barriers that divide us, supporting them to collaborate on new ways of addressing old problems, and encouraging them to commit to new ways of working together.  We want to grow a Davos for social change that engages people on the basis that we are all equal, we all have something to contribute, we all have the potential to achieve great things, and that we succeed when we work together.

Visit www.chain-reaction.org to find out more and to join us!

 

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Posted in Communication, Council on Social Action, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership | No Comments »

Ending Child Poverty: Making It Happen – Legislation consultation starts today

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

End Child Poverty - Keep The PromiseToday over 85 members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty  (including us at Community Links) call on the government to guarantee that forthcoming child poverty legislation is underpinned by a set of principles which will ensure major improvements to children’s life chances. 

We at Community Links have been working to tackle child poverty over thirty years – we recently produced a summary of our research detailing our practical work in east London. We welcome this legislation, which with sufficient investment by the government, could offer a solid framework for directing policy and resources. This could provide  a strong process for holding this and any future government on track to eradication of child poverty by 2020. However the Chancellor, as Minister responsible for the legislation, should not detract from the pressing need for government to invest the necessary resources to reach the interim target of halving child poverty by 2010.

Hilary Fisher, who’s the Director of the Campaign, told us, “It is crucial that the journey to 2020 has the best possible start. This Child Poverty Bill will only be as good as the resources committed to it. There is a pressing need for government to invest the £3bn necessary in this year’s Budget to keep their promise of halving child poverty by 2010 and help those families on the lowest incomes at such a difficult financial time. The legislation’s focus on 2020 should not detract from this.”

The consultation process for the legislation finishes on 11th March. So get involved. Find out more about the consultation.

You can also download a copy of the ECP principles. Please circulate them to your local MP and community groups.  

We helped put the Statement of Principles together, and they can be summarised as follows:
The child poverty legislation must:

  • Define the ‘eradication of child poverty’ and ensure the relative low income target is set at below 5%.
  • Place a duty ongovernment to publish annual progress reports.
  • Include a statutory duty on the UKfovernment to work with the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
  • Establish a clear process and timescale for the publication of the first and subsequent strategy documents on child poverty.
  • Specify interim dates by which steps or key milestones towards the 2020 goal should be achieved.
  • Ensure the process for formulating strategy is firmly linked to Government spending decisions
    Require ‘poverty-proofing’ of all policies at both national and local levels.
  • Establish a scrutiny body and engagement with stakeholders.

Sign up to the End Child Poverty Campaign

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Posted in Child Poverty, Informal Economy, Welfare | No Comments »

Recruitment: Financial Inclusion Champions – East and North London

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Money Shop on Barking Road, Canning Town, London, E16We’re recruiting for a Financial Inclusion Champion.   Are you interested in applying? Here’s some information about the post, and you can download the application pack.

The national Financial Inclusion Champions programme is intended to take forward the work of the Now Let’s Talk Money campaign, and is managed by the DWP as part of the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy and Financial Inclusion Fund.

The Financial Inclusion Champions in London will work across the region, and into the Thames Gateway, to build and coordinate partnerships to promote financial inclusion. In particular they will aim to stimulate the demand for, and in some cases increase the supply of, basic financial services for financially excluded people.

All Champions will work together in order to support the government’s financial inclusion policy.

Community Links is leading the development of the champions programme across East and parts of North London. This may also include some work in the Thames Gateway. The champion will work with senior stakeholders working at a local level to develop and promote financial inclusion services.

The partnership acknowledges that the work covers large geographical areas, and the team will strategically focus its work in priority areas, using a range of financial exclusion research as the basis. 

Download an application pack.

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Posted in Benefits, Child Poverty, Informal Economy, Regeneration, Welfare | No Comments »

The second reading of the Welfare Reform Bill: conceived in a boom world?

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

House of Commons Chamber: Speaker's tableThe Welfare Reform Bill had its second reading Yesterday at Westminster. Newly in post as Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Theresa May’s ability to succeed her predecessor and stand against James Purnell has been questioned by The Telegraph and by The Spectator. May raised concerns over lone parents and what exactly work related activity would consist of. She was joined by other MPs from all political backgrounds in highlighting the worry that sanctioning lone parents may dangerously increase the levels of child poverty.

 Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat questioned the strategic approach to the Bill describing it as not only skeletal but actually invertebrate. He too asked, “What happened after sanctions, would a child live in poverty as a result?”

There too was an overall consensus that benefits were too low. Last week Lynn Jones MP picked up on a letter submitted to the Guardian and quickly turned it into an Early Day Motion EDM543. John Mason MP worried that this would cause a disincentive to go back to work and called for “more conditional carrots such as increasing the minimum wage as part of a much needed joined up government approach” Despite tweaks to the current Bill there was little in the way of outright opposition. May described their policy as ‘progressive’ and supported the bill ‘on the condition that Purnell would not back track’ She went on to advise him that he ‘needed to stand firm’

Terry Rooney MP was one of only a few who got to the nitty gritty, the specifics of the reforms needed and in doing so illustrated his knowledge of the welfare system. He quite rightly drew attention to the dramatic reduction in money lost due to fraud in comparison to the continued levels of money lost due to error. Talking about the psychology of the recession Mr Rooney touched on creating a more flexible modern benefit system,  which is what we are campaigning for at Need NOT Greed, as a way to remove the reliance on cash-in-hand work. To maintain job retention he suggested a wage subsidy scheme and spoke of changes to the 16 hour rule, earning disregards and greater benefit take up. “We need to remove the barriers so providers can be more effective”

Even Conservative Charles Walker MP praised the Bill but was “worried that it may have come at the wrong time” and echoed Mr Rooney that “the barriers need to be removed and the complexities of the benefits system resolved.” He finished with ” For the most excluded the benefits are a safely net, a leg out of poverty. Some will never escape the benefits system and they must not be ignored but a civilised society must provide a route out.”

Almost all too harmonious, or at least until Frank Field  MP stepped in voicing his opposition to the Bill. “The Bill was conceived in a boom world and by the time it occurs it will be largely irrelevant to our constituents.” He suggested pulling the plug on current schemes and spending the money more effectively. Direct intervention was more favourable to Mr Field; community programmes for Young people offered real jobs for young people to go into and VAT cuts would be better spent on Job Seekers Allowance.

By the end it was difficult to assess where each party stood regarding Welfare Reform. What struck me the most was the uncertainty in the House. In an era of economic gloom it seemed that no one had the answers, but there were a lot of ‘what ifs’, ‘is the Bill suitable?’ Yet attending the Need NOT Greed focus groups it is very clear that people with first-hand experience of poverty, unemployment and benefits do have the answer, there are too many barriers and not enough incentives. Watch ‘Working what’s the point?‘

On February 24thwe will be launching the Need NOT Greed campaign at Westminster. Chaired by Terry Rooney MP there will be a discussion between MPs and people struggling on benefits to create a better understanding of the systematic traps, the fear and the policy changes needed to end dependency on benefits. Welfare Reform was developed in the boom, making it all the more necessary for government  to consult the experts, the individual in an era of unknown gloom.

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Posted in Benefits, Child Poverty, Informal Economy, Inspiration, Welfare | No Comments »

Volunteer Research Intern

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Help Wanted newpaper adlinksUK are recruiting for a volunteer ‘research’ intern.

Are you interested? please get in touch by sending your CV and a cover letter to Zoraida Colorado. Could you also please let your colleagues and friends know about this opportunity. Here’s the text of the advert:  

Volunteer Reserch Intern

Expenses paid. 2 months (Feb-March’09). 2-3 days a week. Based in Newham, London E16

LinksUK is the national team of Community Links, an innovative inner city charity running community-based projects in east London. LinksUK offers practitioner-led consultancy, training, research & policy development and a programme of publications, to policy makers, professionals and communities across the UK.

We are looking for a volunteer intern to conduct the initial research on a new Financial Inclusion Champions Project. The main task will be to identify and map organisations, key fora, partnerships and individuals in 11 boroughs in east and north London and two boroughs in the Thames Gateway region, who are delivering financial inclusion, money advice, and debt advice. For example, credit unions, micro-credit organisations, housing associations and banks.

The volunteer intern could be a recent graduate, a MA or PHD student. They must be enthusiastic and an effective communicator, with an interest in communities, regeneration and social policy issues, and a desire to work in the Voluntary & Community Sector. An intern will gain valuable work experience, skills and insights supporting our work.

Send CV and cover letter to Zoraida Colorado, Community Links, 105 Barking Road, London E16 4HQ or by email to zoraida.colorado@community-links.org . The closing date is 4th February 2009.   

Thanks

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Posted in Communication, Informal Economy, Research, Volunteering | No Comments »

Unemployment and the recession

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Job Centre plusThe full extent of rising unemployment has been announced today with the figures published by DWP.

Below is the text of a letter to which I am a signatory, published in today’s Guardian. We are calling for government action to protect those vulnerable members of our communities at risk of descent into poverty through unemployment.

 

If, as expected, unemployment rises to around 2 million today, many of the newly redundant workers will be shocked to discover the low level of benefits in the UK. A single person over 25 years old receives £60.50 per week, dropping to £47.95 for those under 25. The UK is near the bottom of the western European league table in comparative rates of unemployment benefit.

The gap between benefits and earnings has widened significantly over the past 30 years because jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) has increased at a rate below inflation. If it had increased in line with earnings, an unemployed person would receive in excess of £110 per week.

Politicians and government advisers argue that higher benefits would be a disincentive to work, but a wealth of evidence suggests that the descent into poverty has been a greater cause of economic inactivity. Benefit rates must be high enough to allow people to live a healthy lifestyle for physical and mental wellbeing. To achieve this, our long-term aim must be to substantially improve the miserly rates paid at present.

The government has rightly made a priority of increasing demand to maintain employment at as high a level as possible, and recognised the importance of measures that will have a speedy impact. Unemployed people, because of their low benefits, are particularly likely to spend any increases they receive as soon as they receive them – pound for pound, raising JSA levels will do more to fight off the recession than any other fiscal stimulus.

This is why the TUC has called for the government to respond to the lengthening dole queues by urgently raising JSA by £15 per week. We echo that call as the first stage of bringing dignity and respect to those thrown out of work by an economic crisis not of their making.

 
Brendan Barber general secretary, TUC, Mark Serwotka general secretary, PCS, John McDonnell MP, Colin Hampton National Unemployed Centres Combine, Eileen Devaney UK Coalition Against Poverty, Fiona Weir Gingerbread, Iman Achara British Black Anti-Poverty Network, Frances Dowds Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network, Niall Cooper Church Action on Poverty, Neal Lawson Compass, Andrew Fisher Left Economic Advisory Panel, Clare Caves European Anti Poverty Network, Maeve McGoldrick Community Links, Paul Nicolson Zacchaeus 2000 Trust, Prof Jonathan Rutherford Soundings Journal

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Posted in Benefits, Child Poverty, Communication, Informal Economy, Leadership, Regeneration, Welfare | 3 Comments »

Urban Regeneration: building local communities

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

London 2012 Olympic StadiumYesterday Parliament’s All Party Urban Development Group published a report on regeneration; specifically the impact that physical regeneration can have on local employment.  (Thanks to Kevin Harris whose Neighbourhoods blog alerted me to this publication).

Last autumn we at Community Links put together our own analysis of the physical regeneration taking place around us in the London Borough of Newham, home to the new 2012 London Olympics site. Our Social Change booklet on Regeneration is available for free download (or email me for  a printed copy). Much of what we considered is reflected in this weeks APUDG report. They also list in the bibliography a report we produced jointly with new economics foundation (nef) about the Olympic development entitled Fools Gold.

The current economic climate means that the large scale physical redevelopments currently underway in east London are unlikely to be repeated. This makes it all the more important to ensure that local people are able to benefit fully from the community regeneration legacy with long-term, sustainable jobs providing quality training and good prospects.

Our regeneration report suggested that Section 106 agreements could be better used. Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows an agreement between developers and planning authority to deliver specified community benefit. Our view is that S106 should be used to ensure the benefit to communities both in infrastructural developments but also in ongoing revenue support of community activity. 

The new report this week from APUDG concurs that S106 could be helpful in providing local people with jobs and that it is important to ensure these jobs are sustainable after physical regeneration is complete.

Regeneration is about so much more than shiny new buildings, now more than ever it is vital that we seize this a once in a lifetime opportunity to get it right for the communities of east London.

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Posted in Community Engagement, Regeneration, Research | 2 Comments »

Early Intervention: Spend now, save later

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Report Cover Image New Opportunities: Chances for the future (HMG Jan 2009)

 

Two events this week signal government interest in new funding models for early intervention.

This has been a major theme in the work of the Council on Social Action.

The social mobility White Paper, “New Opportunities: Fair Chances for the Future“, was published on Tuesday paragraph 8.42 states:

 

“There is strong evidence that the right kinds of early investment in all people, particularly the young, can deliver substantial returns not just for individuals themselves, but also for society and for government. It is therefore sensible to examine, as part of our commitment to delivering value for money in public services, innovative new ways to achieve such investment. Alongside public investment, several models have been suggested for enabling private or third sector organisations to invest in public services in return for payments linked to social outcomes, such as those models proposed by the Council on Social Action. Government departments and other public authorities should explore contracts for payment based on outcomes”,

Replying to the debate on Early Intervention on the same day Treasury minister Stephen Timms said “I am aware of the interesting work by the Council on Social Action regarding the idea of a social impact bond, but I am aware, too, of the difficulties with value for money-especially at a time of tight fiscal constraint.”

The minister effectively summarised both the opportunity and the obstacle.

CoSA and partners have been working on the idea of a Social Impact Bond We were inspired by the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) bond which was created to front load the funding of immunisation programmes in developing countries. It’s a complex instrument but based on a simple premise. Immunisation prevents illness. It therefore saves money as well as lives. Money from a ten year government funding programme is thus best spent in year one. Government funding however doesn’t normally work like that. The participation of the private sector in the creation of a bond enabled the immunisation to be delivered immediately and then paid for over ten years with benefits for all parties. Could not, we’ve been asking, the same principles be applied to domestic programmes where we can be confident that early intervention is both financially smart and socially worthwhile?

We are working on the mechanics with partners in all three sectors at the moment. Proof of value for money is not straightforward but the prize is potentially enormous. There is scarcely any area of social policy where early intervention is not the most effective approach. If we can prove that it can also be the most cost efficient we can open a way to new funding models in health care, pre-school support,  education programmes, work with young offenders and much more.

Further information and downloads from the CoSA web page. Which areas of work or projects demonstrate a clear impact from early intervention whilst minimising risk? Let us know what you think in a comment below.

 

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Skint: Debt Special

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

Vernon Burgess Birmingham Big Issue Seller and Busker BBC tv Skint: Debt SpecialI’ve just watched the BBC’s Skint: Debt Special, which features some of the trials and tribulations of the infectiously upbeat Vernon Burgess of Birmingham. With a history of mental health issues, he survives on various benefits, including incapacity benefit. Several things struck me whilst watching.

Firstly, Vernon’s good will and positive outlook are undeniable. With four-figure debts to be paid whilst receiving a measly benefit, he never really complains and indeed takes to the street to sell the Big Issue with an admirably grateful and energetic spirit. He takes up the task of going into business with his bathroom-installing friend Russ with real determination and willingness to work. If anyone had the right to complain, be bitter or, frankly, do nothing, I’d say Vernon might be him.

Having found myself cheering him on through my monitor screen, I then felt moments of frustration and disappointment with him. Having had a meeting with a debt advisor, who gives him some cautious but helpful advice, he then goes out and immediately orders a guitar from a catalogue, with precious little thought for the debt it would bring. Though he does view this purchase as an investment (busking), it aroused in me an all-too-familiar sense of ominous tragedy, much like watching an episode of Fraiser. But who am I to deny what is clearly a source of joy to Vernon in an otherwise materially sparse life.

Another positive thing that struck me whilst watching was the random kindness of people who had seen Vernon on the previous instalment of his life on the BBC. People had sent him various things, including a CD player and the more personal gift of an Easter egg. This simple good will was not lost on him. One of the more comforting moments was when, at a moment of true financial despair, a supermarket delivery van pulls up to the house to deliver its goods, paid for by another benevolent stranger.

Despite these moments of positivity from Vernon and others around him, the seriousness of debt comes through clearly. With barely the means to get by in sparse conditions, four-figure debts are not likely to be paid off. When Vernon randomly receives a letter informing of the £5,000 debt he owes, having been overpaid by social security, he can easily be forgiven for swearing, though he apologises. This reality of unexpected, confusing, massive debt is undoubtedly a reality for many and I’m sure not all would have the natural positivity Vernon has to deal with it. Indeed, as a window into just one insecure and stretched life on benefits where the shadow of bailiffs is ever-present, it would cause me to rethink any latent assumptions about people on benefits and maybe even to challenge such a system that, in some ways, gives so little yet demands so much.

Vernon Burgess is a charismatic character with a visible presence, yet there are many thousands of people like him whose voices are not heard.  The Community Links Need not Greed Campaign works to help people make the transition into formal work, gradually come-off benefits and at the same time not be thrown further into poverty. Find out more at www.neednotgreed.org.uk

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Posted in Benefits, Housing, Informal Economy, Welfare | No Comments »

Business, employment and the economy

Monday, January 12th, 2009

DWP Caxton House by RMLondon.Today the Prime Mister revealed plans to pay employers £2,500 for every long-term unemployed person they agree to take on. Employers will agree to provide training for a person on Jobseekers allowance for over six months.

 From Lord Mandleson’s speech at the Job Summit:

“We do know broadly what we will need to be good at, and that is being smarter and more innovative and creative and more flexible and adaptive and confident and entrepreneurial than the competition. Because that is where more and better jobs will come from.”

 The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has also announced 75,000 new training places for the long term unemployed to develop their skills so that they become more employable when the job market picks up.

The Skills Secretary John Denham said:

“We will not make the mistakes of the past and just leave people abandoned on the dole, or push them onto sickness benefit. We will do everything we can to help people through this tough time and help them prepare for the economic upturn when it comes.”

James Purnell said “Our message is simple, the longer a person is out of work the harder we will work for them.”

This is a change to the rhetoric of the recent DWP White Paper in that the long term unemployed are to be forced to do menial work in order to receive their benefits. The idea being that people will develop a better work mentality and it will prepare them for employment. One of our main objections to this, apart from the fact that people will effectively be paid below the minimum age, was that this kind of measure reinforces a negative attitude of people living in poverty and on benefits. Being made to do community work in return for benefits can destroy personal aspiration and self confidence. It does not offer any control and will only leave people disheartened about work and frustrated with the system.

However the rising unemployment levels and the economic down turn have prompted government to really take a good look at welfare and employment. The link between substantial training, holistic support and business development is being made in the policies put forward today to help people through the difficult times of the recession. They also give people more control in how they retrain for work and what route into employment they take, one option being supported is self-employment.

It is evident that today’s announcement is an attempt not to repeat past mistakes; parking the recently unemployed on benefits and creating another generation of people reliant  on benefits. Some are cynical of governments actions claiming that it will have ‘limited action’ and question where the money will come from. Media headlines are full of criticism about the long term unemployed and the cost to society. It is in times of crisis that the hardest to reach are often put aside as they are considered the most difficult to help. Today’s announcement is a welcome, small step in the right direction, investing time and money in supporting people into long term sustainable employment will not only help to eradicate poverty but can be an effective way to deal with the effects of the current economic climate.

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