All posts tagged poverty

Hands-on Birmingham prepares for the impact of the welfare reform

Birmingham Mapping

Birmingham has not been sitting on its laurels when it comes to protecting those who will be most affected by the new welfare reform act.

As part of Birmingham’s Social Inclusion Process, “Giving Hope, Changing Lives”, a seminar was held in July 2012 for practitioners from a range of agencies to discuss and develop solutions to the welfare reform changes.

Following this, a Welfare Reform Multi-Agency Committee was established, to make is possible for agencies across the city to work together to prepare for the welfare reforms and ensure a co-ordinated approach to support services.

From this an action plan has been developed by the city council and key partners, covering eight workstream:

i) Communications and Multi-Agency Advice
ii) The Impact of the Welfare Reform on Individuals (data)
iii) Case studies
iv) Financial Inclusion
v) Digital Inclusion
vi) Discretionary Social Fund (Local Welfare Provision Policy)
vii) Employment
viii) Co-ordination of Crisis Support

To make sure that a cohesive and targeted response is provided, Birmingham has drawn-up a map drawn-up a map identifying crisis support for people affected across the city, as well has identifying areas that will experience multiple impacts of the welfare reform changes.

Chair of the Welfare Reform Multi-Agency Committee, Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Social Cohesion and Equalities, Cllr John Cotton said: “The city council is working closely with partners from across Birmingham – voluntary organisations, charities, community groups and others at the front line of supporting vulnerable people – to ensure that we have a properly coordinated response to these enormous changes.

“Many families and individuals will be hard hit by these changes. We want to make sure they get the help and support they need.”

The crisis support mapping is one of a number of initiatives carried out by Birmingham’s multi-agency welfare reform committee and identifies a number of organisations offering:

  • Clothing
  • emergency accommodation
  • financial advice
  • financial support
  • food banks
  • housing advice
  • legal advice

Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) is one of a number of organisations working closely with the city council and its Vice-Chair and Founder, Mohammed Al-Rahim, feels the co-ordinated approach will prove vital in the coming months.

Al-Rahim, who is also the President and CEO of Selly Oak charity Freshwinds, added: “This is an important opportunity for the voluntary sector to work cooperatively, together with the City Council and the local business community, to provide vital practical support to citizens of Birmingham in these challenging times, proactively sharing knowledge and resources to coordinate a truly effective response for all those experiencing crisis and hardship.

“The network has already achieved some important successes and this will increase as our membership grows in the coming weeks and months and beyond.”

With a can do attitude the Birmingham network has already achieved some important successes, but this can only be truly measured by the number of families that are supported through this difficult time.

Watch this space for updates on our progress …

1 Comment
by sandviper1 on 18th April 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by sandviper1 on 18th April 2013

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/hands-on-birmingham-prepares-for-the-impact-of-the-welfare-reform/

White Paper Published!

The  White Paper, Making Birmingham an Inclusive City, containing the final recommendations from the Birmingham Social Inclusion Process, Giving Hope Changing Lives has now been published.

These recommendations have now been approved by the city council’s Cabinet and the Bishop of Birmingham is writing to key leaders in the city to invite them to help turn the recommendations into action.

Thanks to everyone who has commentated, given evidence and contributed to the process!

We would welcome hearing from you about how you or your organisation can influence or deliver any of the recommendations in the White Paper.

Please contact us by email to fairbrum@birmingham.gov.uk, visit our blog at www.fairbrum.wordpress.com or join the conversation on Twitter @fairbrum #fairbrum.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE

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by fairbrum on 25th March 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by fairbrum on 25th March 2013

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/white-paper-published/

Fairbrum – 2012 in review

See below for WordPress’s annual report into our blog!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 10,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 17 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

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by fairbrum on 31st December 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by fairbrum on 31st December 2012

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/12/31/fairbrum-2012-in-review/

The Parable of the Good Brummie!

The Good Samaritan

At the recent Social Inclusion Summit there was a clear sense of eagerness, one could almost say enthusiasm, to put the commitments and recommendations of the Green Paper into action, along with a strong mandate from those present to proceed on to the creation of the White Paper and the Action Plan.

However, despite the enthusiasm there was also at times a frisson of uncertainty, and an underlying sense of bewilderment as to how we could make the recommendations a reality.

There is no doubt that it is a challenge, a real challenge. The task from now on is to come up with solutions to the problems that have been so clearly articulated.

Now, one response to this could be to become despondent and overawed by

One approach to the challenge

the clear enormity of the task, and ostrich-like bury one’s head in the sand.

Another would be to try and run head-long at it and, like some super-hero, set out to save the world.

Another is to keep working hard to find solutions, setting up the conditions to bring about the necessary change, and working through each obstacle as it arises.

It is this last method that seems most likely to succeed and I have a quiet confidence that the people of Birmingham can bring this about.

Let me tell you a story…

Amid the storms that lashed the country on Thursday night (22.11.12), leaning at a very steep angle to the universe, I made my way to my bus-stop against a fierce, relentless wind. Rain was bouncing of my clothing and the cold was lacerating my face as if I was being flayed by a razor-sharp icicle.

I could see the bus I was after in the distance but, as I drew closer, it uped its platform and drove off. I was now first in the queue; soaked, cold and miserable. Time passed. Eventually a bus from a rival company arrived. Sadly, my pass was not valid and I was reluctant to pay the top up fee which would enable me to use this service.

Suddenly an inspector approached informing the now swelling crowd that the bus was now loading further down the stop. I informed him that I could not travel on that bus as my pass was not valid. He said, “Come on. It’s cold and wet. Just get on. I’ll sort it.”  Flustered, I repeated my rather limp excuse about the wrong pass but he was insistent. “It’s freezing cold, just get on the bus and go.”

He escorted me down to the waiting bus, where three or four other passengers with the wrong passes were hanging around. Extending his beneficence he ushered all of us onto the bus, repeating his desire to get us out of the cold.

He then spoke to the driver and using some discretionary fund he had access to, waived the additional fees. We climbed on board and a few moments later, sitting in the warm, soothing comfort of the dry bus, we set off.

Here we have a clear example of the Brummie spirit! We know Birmingham is a welcoming city,  and I am sure there are many of you who, like me, have had a strong, vital, direct experience of how caring, compassionate and generous a city it is too.

It is because it is full of people like this bus-inspector, who is willing to use his discretionary power for good, that gives me the confidence to believe that we can make the commitments and recommendations of the Green Paper, and the emerging Action Plan and White Paper, work!

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by johnbbrum on 26th November 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by johnbbrum on 26th November 2012

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/the-parable-of-the-good-brummie/

Action group sessions

After David Cox finishes the delegates are urged to move on into their ‘Action Groups’ and the Bishop has urged them to come back with ‘Headlines’ from the future of how the city has improved in keeping with David’s approach.

People are now spilling out from the main hall eagerly seeking to locate their Action Group.

The Action Groups are based on the 7 commitments. The first commitment has been split into two making eight groups in total.

1.1 Support families and children out of poverty – helping socially excluded families

1.2 Support families and children out of poverty – inclusive growth approach

2.    Embrace super-diversity

3.  Protect the most vulnerable

4 Connect people and places

5. Create a city that values children and young people

6. Empower people to shape their neighbourhood

7. Address safety, isolation and loneliness

Once in their Action Groups members of the group will be asking questions such as:-

  • What is the key “news” headline for 2020 in relation to this commitment? This headline will be fed back to the closing plenary.
  • What’s the key elements of this commitment?
  • How to deliver the recommendations?
  • What will the measures of success be?
  • Who needs to be involved?
  • What is going to make a difference
  • What are the cultural/behavioural changes needed?

Notes are being taken and flip charts

used to record the myriad ideas that are tumbling forth.

People in the groups are also being urged to make a commitment indicating how they can help implement the Green Paper recommendations.

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by johnbbrum on 14th November 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by johnbbrum on 14th November 2012

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/action-group-sessions/

A Call to Action

 

A call to action

Taken from the Social Inclusion Process Green paper , the The Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham makes the following “call to action” to everyone in the city to join together to build a more inclusive and cohesive city.

 

 

“When I was asked to lead the social inclusion process, Giving Hope Changing Lives I did not hesitate to take up the challenge.      In this time of unprecedented global economic and social uncertainty, it is vitally important that we work together across the city to shape the future wellbeing of the people of Birmingham.

As the largest UK city outside London, with one of the most diverse and youthful populations anywhere, Birmingham has the natural talent and global potential to be the very best setting for 21st century urban life.

Achieving the best quality of life is important for everyone, but in order to do this people need to be able to participate fully in society and the economy.  The high level of disadvantage that persists across Birmingham is extremely distressing and could become worse in the current climate.  Inequality and social exclusion is something that we should not easily accept in a rich country and a city like ours.  Our aim is to bridge the gap between the disadvantaged and the powerful, so that more people can participate in the economic and social opportunities at work, home and play.

Evidence from the Birmingham Social Inclusion Process so far, shows that the challenges in achieving this are most demanding.  Our Key Lines of Enquiry, whether in households, streets or communities, in institutions, organisations or enterprises, reveal a new expectation that a more cohesive city is the responsibility of all and is in the interests of all.

This task moves beyond what the City Council, or national government can do, not least when budgets are being reduced drastically. It will require the combined energy, resources and wisdom of everyone to address some of the fundamental economic and social issues we face and to protect those who are most vulnerable in our communities.   I am extremely grateful for everybody’s contributions so far. The findings, commitments and recommendations from our engagement are set out in this Green Paper.

However, the Green Paper does not cover everything and this is not the end of the process.   I am asking for your help and expertise to turn these ideas into action.  I invite you to engage immediately with items in this paper that you can influence and also point out to us areas that are not yet covered.

I am aware that I am taking a leap of faith that we want to promote another’s fulfilment at the same time as our own.   As we seek the welfare of the whole city, may we know that we are committed to Giving Hope and Changing Lives when, in our relations with our fellow human beings, distant respect moves to deep appreciation and mere tolerance becomes full participation.”

Now we want to hear from you.

  • How can you help turn these ideas into action?
  • Do the recommendations cover the right things? 
  • Is there anything significant that has been missed? 
  • Do you or your organisation have any examples of best practice related to any of the commitments or recommendations that you would like to share?

You can respond in a number of ways.

Jackie Mould

Giving Hope Changing Lives

PO Box 16253

B2 2WS

  • By email:

Jackie Mould fairbrum@birmingham.gov.uk

Or The Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham bishop@birmingham.anglican.org

  • Via Twitter @fairbrum or use #fairbrum
  • Telephone the Partnership Team on 0121 675 3499
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by fairbrum on 23rd October 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by fairbrum on 23rd October 2012

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/a-call-to-action/

Does your organisation already help reduce exclusion in Brum?

We want to hear about how your organisation contributes to Social Inclusion in Birmingham

Last week we launched our Green Paper on Social Inclusion with the purpose of making recommendations to organisations across the city (including the City Council) on how to reduce exclusion and inequality of provision across the city.

We are now seeking peoples views on these recommendations.

A major part of this exercise is to try and build an understanding about what is already going on in the city.  As we have undertaken this process, one of the big things we have realised is just how poor the collective memory of the city is.  We don’t learn from what works (or what doesn’t) or try to scale up successful small projects.  In addition it maybe the case that there already many organisations and individuals who are already doing things related to the recommendations that are outlined in the green paper.  Its just that they do not have a voice.

We want to change this.  We want to build up a database and establish a network of organisations in Birmingham who directly undertake work  relating to social inclusion.  Therefore we are looking for organisations to go onto our consultation portal, look at the recommendations and fill in details about what the they do.

If you click on any recommendation you will see a similar page to the image on the right.  By clicking on the big green button you can let us know about your organisation  and it will be added to our network.

This is an opportunity for us to share learning  and understanding, and hear great practice from across the city.

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by fairbrum on 17th October 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by fairbrum on 17th October 2012

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/does-your-organisation-already-help-reduce-exclusion-in-brum/

The Social Inclusion Green Paper consultation is launched!

Today sees the launch of the Social Inclusion Green Paper.

You can download the document here

Over the past few months the Social Inclusion Process has held conversations across the city to gather ideas about how Birmingham might tackle its most disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods.

The aims to raise local people’s aspirations and bring lasting change to the quality of their lives.

This Green Paper sets the scene by describing Birmingham’s challenges, and explaining how five key lines of enquiry (KLOE) were established on the themes of: Place, People, Wellbeing, Inclusive Economic Growth and Young People.  Its is a document designed for comment and will be updated and shaped by contributions from you and your organisations.

The findings of these KLOE groups are reported in the first part of the report, and it is this work that has resulted in seven commitments to social inclusion, with detailed recommendations underpinning each one.

The resulting commitments are to:

  1. Commitment 1: Support families and children out of poverty
  2. Commitment 2: Embrace super-diversity
  3. Commitment 3: Protect the most vulnerable
  4. Commitment 4: Connect people and place together
  5. Commitment 5: Create a city that values children and young people
  6. Commitment 6: Empower people to shape their neighbourhood
  7. Commitment 7: Address safety, isolation and loneliness
  8. Recommendations are also made for the cultural change that organisations, voluntary and community groups and individuals need to adopt in order to deliver the social inclusion vision.

We now want to hear off YOU.

We haven’t talked to everyone, and every organisation and we are now calling for more comment, new ideas and further pledges from individuals and organisations across the city.

  • How can you help turn these ideas into action?
  • Do the recommendations cover the right things? 
  • Is there anything significant that has been missed? 
  • Do you or your organisation have any examples of best practice related to any of the commitments or recommendations that you would like to share? 

You can respond in a number of ways.

  • Write to:
  • Jackie Mould
  • Giving Hope Changing Lives
  • PO Box 16253
  • B2 2WS
  • Via Twitter @fairbrum or use #fairbrum
  • Telephone the Partnership Team on 0121 675 3499

We look forward to hearing from you.

Closing date for comments:  Monday 5th November 2012

1 Comment
by fairbrum on 10th October 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by fairbrum on 10th October 2012

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/the-social-inclusion-green-paper-consultation-is-launched/

Fuel Poverty and a Birmingham affordable warmth partnership

Fuel Poverty is an urgent and growing problem in Birmingham affecting some of the most vulnerable in our society, Tony Thapar from the Moseley Community Development Trust calls for an “Affordable Warmth partnership” to tackle this issue

Last year, 3000 people died from problems related to fuel poverty in the UK. At the same time, the coalition Government commissioned an independent review of fuel poverty. Professor John Hills from the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion carried out the study It considered the definition of fuel poverty, targets for its reduction and the effectiveness of policies. Prof. Hills, warns that the problem is likely to worsen despite measures to try and eradicate it. It is likely to be worse in 2016 than it was in 2009.

But what’s situation like in Birmingham? Sadly, the scale of the problem is not clear. There have been a number of initiatives over the years, from different perspectives, energy conservation, decent homes, winter related deaths, income maximisation, all related to short term funding opportunities. These have been delivered by a combination of public private and voluntary sectors. However, there hasn’t been an over-arching definition of fuel poverty in the City along with a co-ordinated approach to ensure it is eliminated.

Fuel Poverty was defined by the Government as, when your energy costs where 10% or more of your income. Put simply, if you have high fuel costs and a low income and we know that fuel costs have continued to rise whilst earnings have fallen. Prof. Hill’s report recommends  that a new indicator for fuel poverty is used to measure the extent of fuel poverty and a fuel poverty gap to measure its depth. Using this approach, Prof. Hills study demonstrates a growing and widespread problem in the country.

Be Birmingham’s social inclusion process has five key lines of enquiry. If we are not careful the issue of fuel poverty will be missed by all of them since tackling fuel poverty means a co-ordinated approach from all of these KLOE. The social inclusion process should lead to the creation of an Affordable Warmth Partnership for Birmingham.  Other cities have one, why not Birmingham?

Over this last winter there has been the opportunity to pilot an affordable warmth partnership (AWP) in Birmingham, through the Stay Warm Stay Well project, it has worked as an AWP might  and demonstrated the value of the public sector working closely with the third sector. It has also shown how multiple solutions are required:  energy advice; health and housing support, money advice and crisis funds. The voluntary sector working on the ground and was able to uncover hundreds of cases of people in Birmingham living in poverty , in cold homes and without hope. It is important that a strategy for next winter and beyond is developed and the existing public and private resources are shared to tackle fuel poverty to  avoid unnecessary deaths in our City. In addition we need to work out how to measure the size of this growing and urgent problem.

Tony Thapar

Moseley Community Development Trust

On behalf of the Stay Warm Stay Well delivery partners.

For more information about the report can be found at: https://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/fuel_poverty/hills_review/hills_review.aspx .

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by fairbrum on 25th April 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Diversity of People, Diversity of Place, Fair Brum, Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Young People
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Posted by fairbrum on 25th April 2012

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/fuel-poverty-and-a-birmingham-affordable-warmth-partnership/

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