LONDON CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK - EXCITING UPDATES.
LONDON CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK.
WHAT, WHERE AND WHEN.
Excitement is building as London Challenge Poverty Week approaches. Running from the 10th to the 17th October this is the annual opportunity to bring the dreadful impact of poverty to the fore in London.
The Launch Event on the 11th October will feature the findings of research carried out by 4in10, The GLA and ClearView Research on Londoner’s Attitudes to Poverty. Flying Against Gravity.
There is an in-person Child Poverty Summit organised by The Childhood Trust and London Child Poverty Alliance and so much more.
It is fantastic to see the hard work that goes on all year round being highlighted. Events happening locally could not be more diverse, which reflects the strength of our network and the determination of our sector:
- Adanna Women’s Project in Redbridge are running an event for black girls aged 13-16, aimed at building confidence and improving skills.
- ATD 4th World are running two poetry events one live in Brixton and one online.
- Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance have written and choregraphed a 3 minute video about their feelings about the impact of poverty on families.
- Bin Knives Save Lives, Ilford are holding an awareness event highlighting the link between poverty and knife crime.
- Brite Box Project/Voices of Hope, Kingston are hosting a Sunday ‘banquet’ to draw attention to their food delivery programme and to gain more local support.
- Broad Bikez Hackney are running a session of free bike DIY helping people learn how to mend their own bikes
- Commission on Social Security are presenting their report on what is wrong with the current system and how to put it right.
- Gingerbread are producing some beautiful infographics about the impact of poverty on lone parents.
- Home Start Ealing are running a food and nutrition event for some of the many young families they support
- Jade Mutua Foundation in Brent are running two events one to attract local businesses and volunteers to support their work and the other a family fun day to promote their services.
- Just Fair and the Social Rights Alliance are running an online session on using human rights as a tool to tackle poverty.
- Lewisham Local with Afril, Wild Cat Wilderness and other community gardens in the borough are running 5 workshops on gardening, foraging, campfire cooking, and pizza making, with a focus on Holiday Hunger.
- Poplar HARCA are promoting a food drive in Tower Hamlets during the week.
- Red Roots Incubator in Hackney are running a young people’s event, ‘Unite4Change’ involving young people’s local focus groups, showcasing creative talents and solidify pathways to empower future success.
- Resources for Autism are hosting a webinar on the hidden costs of bringing up a disabled child.
- Restorative Justice for All in Southwark will be running online youth-led campaigning activities focusing on young people, mental health and health inequalities and a linked ‘youth walk.’
- Solace Women’s Aid are holding art activities in all of their London refuge’s to highlight children’s feelings about poverty and inequality.
- St Michael’s Fellowship in Lambeth are creating a podcast specifically about young fatherhood and poverty, and asking parents to produce some poetry or artwork and create some social media content.
- Sustain are running two food poverty online events. One on the Healthy Start scheme and the other on how local collaboration can help tackle food poverty and move towards food justice for all.
- Universal Ease to Redress in Islington are holding a week of open days focussing on volunteering and food provision.
Local Authorities, The GLA, Trust for London and London Councils are all involved in supporting events and it is great to see that some local MPs are taking the time to visit participating organisations to learn more.
New events are being listed all the time so keep an eye on the LCPW website for more updates and please do try to sign up for anything that interests you.
Universal Credit Cut. A Letter to MP's
Sutton Voluntary Sector have sent a jointly signed letter to their MP's to detail exactly what the cut to Universal Credit will mean locally. They have suggested sharing it for anyone to adapt to their locality. Thank you to Steve from Sutton CAB for this:
Dear MP's Name
Universal Credit
As you will recall, we have previously exchanged correspondence and had a useful meeting about the ending of the Universal Credit Coronavirus uplift. Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of media coverage and commentary about the issue. There is a lot of concern among staff and volunteers in Sutton voluntary sector organisations about how the ending of the uplift will impact on Sutton residents. I am writing on behalf of the Sutton voluntary sector organisations listed at the bottom of this letter. We all have concerns about the £20.00 per week reduction in Universal Credit; concerns that recently have been exacerbated by the impending increases in fuel costs and food price inflation.
We would be grateful if you would consider asking the government to reconsider its decision to end the uplift. We hope that the information below, about the impact of the reduction in Sutton and the Universal Credit regulations will be helpful to you.
There were, according to official DWP figures, 15,493 Sutton households ‘on’ Universal Credit as of May 2021..
The government increased the Universal Credit ‘standard allowances’ in 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. A monthly ‘standard allowance’ is included in the calculation of every UC claim. There are different standard allowances for people for single people, couples and people under and over the age 25. The standard allowances are, as you can see from this table, quite low.
| Standard Allowance | Current Rate | Rate from 6th October 2021 |
| Single under 25 | £344 | £257.33 |
| Single 25 and over | £411.51 | £324.84 |
| Couple under 25 | £490.60 | £403.93 |
| Couple aged 25 or over | £596.58 | £509.91 |
We can illustrate the impact of the Universal Credit reduction with an example calculation. The client is an illustration, but the calculation is based on actual Universal Credit amounts.
The claimant is a lone parent with one daughter aged 14. Her current ‘maximum amount’ of UC for is £694.01 per month (plus housing costs). This maximum amount is comprised of the £411.51 standard allowance and the Child Amount of £282.50.
The claimant works part time. She earns £520 per month (net). The calculation of her UC includes a ‘work allowance.’ She can earn £293 per month without her UC being reduced. She has earnings of £227 over her work allowance. Every £1.00 of earnings over the work allowance reduces Universal Credit by £0.63 – i.e., earnings ‘taper’ UC entitlement at 63%.
The calculation of her UC entitlement compares her maximum UC - £694.01 (plus housing costs) with her income. She is treated as having income of £143.01 (63% of net earnings minus the work allowance). She is therefore entitled to UC of £551 per month, plus housing costs. Child Benefit is paid in addition to Universal Credit.
From 6th October, the claimants maximum Universal Credit is £607.34. This is comprised of £324.84 standard allowance and Child Amount of £282.50. She will then be entitled to UC of £464.33 (plus housing costs). This is a reduction of £86.67 per month.
As you can see from this example, Universal Credit is reduced by £0.63 for every £1.00 of earnings over the work allowance. Only people responsible for a child or people with a limited capability for work have a work allowance. Other people such as those without dependent children and carers (who do not otherwise qualify) do not have a work allowance.
Most claimants cannot therefore make up the £86.67 per month shortfall by working additional hours. If the claimant in the above example increased her working hours and therefore her net pay by £86.00 per month, she would lose £54.18 from her Universal Credit, meaning that she would, despite earning £86 more per month, only gain £31.82 per month - so the claimant can clearly not make up the £86 per month reduction in benefit by earning an additional £86 per month.
Many people in receipt of Universal Credit do not have any realistic way of making up for the £86 per month reduction at all. Some 60% of people in receipt of Universal Credit are not in employment. People may for example have a limited capability for work, be caring for a severely disabled child or adult or be a lone parent with a young child. Some people in receipt of Universal Credit are working full time (and need the benefit to help with rent), so cannot further increase hours and therefore cannot, in any way, make up the reduction. We would like to stress, that even if people can increase their earnings, those earnings will reduce Universal Credit by £0.63 for every £1.00 of earnings.
You can see, from the above table, that the Universal Credit standard allowances are quite modest. The standard allowances are the basic entitlements for single people or couples. Although these allowances are not designed to cover rent or council tax and claimants may also receive amounts for children, caring responsibilities and having a ‘limited capability for work- and work-related activity,’ the amounts are very low when compared to the ‘Standard Financial Statement’ ‘Trigger figures.’
Debt advisers, such as the Citizens Advice Sutton debt team use a Standard Financial Statement. The Standard Financial Statement includes ‘trigger figures’ The trigger figures are pre-agreed levels for certain areas of discretionary household expenditure. The trigger figures help identify levels of monthly expenditure deemed reasonable when completing the statement. Debt advisers do not need to explain the financial statement to creditors unless the trigger figures are exceeded.
The Universal Credit amounts are inadequate to allow claimants even the trigger figure amounts of discretionary expenditure. The Standard Financial Statement ‘allows’ a single adult to spend a total of £666 per month on ‘discretionary’ items – communications / leisure and groceries etc. However, the Universal Credit Standard Allowance for a single adult (over 25) is currently only £411.51 per month and is due to decrease to only £324.84 per month.
The Standard Financial Statement ‘allows’ a single adult with a dependent child to spend a total of £885 per month on ‘discretionary’ items. However, a single parent with one child could receive Universal Credit of no more than £648.59 per month (due to decrease to only £562.92 per month) plus Child Benefit of £21.15 per week. Even including Child Benefit, the family’s income would total only £740.24 per month, decreasing to only £654.57 per month in October.
Furthermore, many people in receipt of Universal Credit have a shortfall between their rent and the amount of housing costs included in their UC calculation – the Local Housing Allowance only covers the 30th percentile of local rents.
A very high proportion of Citizens Advice Sutton debt advice clients are in receipt of Universal Credit and have a ‘deficit budget’ – in other words, their incomes are inadequate to cover even essential expenditure such as rent, utilities and food.
We understand that the government introduced the £20 per week uplift as a temporary measure, in response to the pandemic. However, many people need to claim Universal Credit for the long term. As we have said above approximately 40% of Universal Credit claimants are in employment and need Universal Credit to help pay rent. Many of these people have not seen any improvement in their situation since the introduction of the uplift – in fact their financial positions may have deteriorated due to rising food costs and will deteriorate further with increases in fuel costs. The Citizens Advice Sutton debt team has seen an increase in demand in recent months.
We hope that this information is helpful to you. We would be grateful if you would ask the government to reconsider their decision to end the Universal Credit uplift – a decision that will have significant adverse financial consequences for over 15,000 London Borough of Sutton households.
Yours sincerely
Book Your Place - 4in10 Coffee Morning. Health Inequalities. 5th August 10am.
| Book A Coffee Morning Place! |
Thursday 5th August 10 - 11am
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Have coffee with 4in10!
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new ‘4in10 Open Coffee Mornings’!
4in10 Open Coffee Mornings provide a free space for us all to listen, learn, connect, network, and voice concerns on a variety of topics related to child poverty in London.
4in10 Open Coffee Mornings are open to everyone. This includes 4in10 members, voluntary community sector organisations in London, those with lived experience, public sector workers and anyone who shares concern on issues relating to growing child poverty in our capital.
Launching with ‘Health Inequalities in London’ (5th August 2021 | 10:00 – 11:00), Open Coffee Morning sessions are thematic, meaning there is one overarching area in which frames the discussion. However, the sessions are truly flexible; attendees can contribute, participate, and engage in ways and on areas that matter to them.
4in10 is nothing without its membership. Some of our proudest moments at 4in10 have stemmed from shared ideas, cross-organisational collaboration and issue discussion amongst our members and voluntary community organisations. Our Coffee Mornings will provide a regular informal space for this to occur organically and more frequently.
The first Coffee Morning (Health Inequalities in London) is on 5th August, 10:00 – 12:00: sign up here
Sign up to the event to receive email notifications for the session, the ZOOM link, and information on future coffee mornings.
4in10 Coffee Mornings are held roughly every six weeks. Sign up to future sessions:
- 4in10 Open Coffee Morning: Benefits and Income – Wednesday 15th September (11am – 12am): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162051573619
- 4in10 Open Coffee Morning: Housing and Homelessness – Tuesday 30th November (10am – 11am): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162053060065
The following session will be at the end of January and the theme will be Family and Child Poverty in Outer London.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Blog Post from Alketa Hystuma of The Shpresa Programme
The Shpresa Programme works with Albanian nationals in the UK who have mainly migrated from Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. Their dual nationalities make them EU citizens.
The 23rd of June 2016 marked a seismic change for a country, which for 47 years was a member state of the European Union and its predecessor, the European Communities (EC). Assisting with the completion of online applications has been challenging since the Brexit process as many service users have difficulties with the language or have no English skills. Others have difficulties using computers and online services, like not understand the confirmation emails or calls they receive to provide further evidences as part of their EUSS applications. Many of the people we work with have completed wrong applications, equally many are not aware of their rights on public funds including housing and homelessness assistance. A general problem is that many do not yet fully understand what Brexit means and why having a Settled or Pre-Settled status is important in protect their future immigration status, as well as their rights and entitlements to family reunions, work, benefits, and access to the NHS.
Since COVID-19 we witnessed a rise of applications for universal credit. We’ve noticed indirect discrimination when an EU citizen has only arrived to the UK a few months ago and is working a limited number of hours per week. Most of the claims made resulted in refusals, not once, but 2-3 times. We have previously requested reviews and have appealed decisions to highlight that the EU citizens have the same rights as a British passport holder or someone with refugee status.
Our other immense concern is for groups or people who are isolated and have no contact with us or any other organisations who promote and do campaign work around the EU Settlement Scheme. If vulnerable members of our community fail to apply before June 30 2021 their immigration status will inevitably be compromised, no matter how long they have resided in the UK.
Our partnership with New Europeans UK started in September last year. Since then, we have jointly delivered more than 5 events and information sessions tailored for the Albanian community. New Europeans UK have advised and trained our staff, as well as a cohort of our Albanian speaking volunteers. We have found a valuable partner that is keen to hear the challenges our service users face and offer free professional advice.
It has been a highlight of Shpresa’s activity, to work intensively with the many EU citizens part of the Albanian community in the UK and raise awareness of their rights in the UK during and after Brexit. With the continuous support from New Europeans UK, the Shpresa Programme has campaigned extensively through social media, our digital work and information sessions, as well through our advocacy “Be the change” project. This will ensure effective support continues to reach our community, so that no EU citizen gets left behind. We will continue to assist anyone who needs help to integrate and become self-sufficient once they chose to make the UK their home.
Shpresa Programme
020 7511 1586
No Child Left Behind – new website! Blog by Mari Burton from the NEU.
New data released by the End Child Poverty collation has revealed that even before the pandemic child poverty levels had risen to 4.3 million children – an increase of 200,000 on the previous year, This means that across the UK, 31 per cent of children are now growing up trapped in poverty – the equivalent of 9 pupils in every class of 30.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The Government must take urgent action to right this wrong.
The National Education Union have launched a brand new campaign website which allows visitors to search for the latest child poverty statistics for their area, simply by typing in their postcode. Visitors to the site are asked to email their local MP, asking them to show their commitment to tackling poverty in their area by signing the NEU’s anti child poverty pledge. The pledge reads:
As a member of Parliament, I pledge to do everything in my power so that no child is left behind in East Worthing and Shoreham:
- I call for the development of a cross-Government strategy to eradicate the poverty faced by the 4.3 million children currently growing up trapped in poverty.
- I will use my vote and voice in Parliament to try to stop an expected 730,000 more children being plunged into poverty by 2024.
We must value and invest in all our children, so they are supported to learn, succeed, and go on to have bright futures.
Poverty is not inevitable – with enough political will we can eradicate it. At the time of writing 91 MPs from across the parties had committed to do everything in their power to leave no child behind – check if yours has signed up by visiting nochildleftbehind.org.uk and supporting our campaign!
Keir Lewis, 4in10's Research and Learning Officer writes about the ending of the eviction ban.
A ‘tidal wave’ of evictions are coming.
May 31st 2021 marked the end of the eviction ban following a series of temporary (often last-minute) extensions. This piece of legislation, whilst imperfect, provided the primary source of protection for renters during the pandemic. The eviction ban originally prevented eviction court hearings, temporarily ensuring eviction proceedings did not start. It also extended ‘minimum notice periods’, the minimum time period a landlord could give a tenant if they wished for them to leave the property, to six months.
What Is Changing?
From 1st June, bailiffs will legally be allowed to enter renter’s homes and enforce evictions.
Minimum notice periods will also change. The notice period required to be given by landlords will drop to four months on 1st June and then to two months on 1st October.
Why This Matters
Many London renters face a myriad of housing challenges and the eviction ban simply papered over cracks.
Inadequate social housing supply, employment insecurity, rising rents, unfit housing benefit and accelerating gentrification are all challenges that remained unaddressed by the eviction ban and the governments pandemic response.
Nowhere else in the country does the cost of housing ‘push’ more people into poverty than in London. According to research from End Child Poverty, nine of the ten Local Authorities with the highest levels of child poverty are in London – with housing being a significant driver behind these figures. A recent London School of Economics report projected that 400,000 private tenants in London may be in significant rent arrears by the end of 2021. Whilst these figures in London are alarming, this is unsurprising given that nationally over £360 million has already been accumulated in covid-related rent arrears.
All in all, this means London could be facing a period of evictions and homelessness like it has never experienced before.
How Can We Help
As part of the London Child Poverty Alliance, our manifesto called upon the new London Mayor to take action on housing. We called for legislative action to tackle exorbitantly high rents, urgently deliver new homes at social rent and improve the standards and conditions of temporary accommodation in London.
However, this call for action cannot be seen as separate from our broader manifesto calls. Just like the eviction ban coming to a close in May, at present, the £20 uplift in Universal Credit is due to end at the end of September.
We simply cannot allow our social safety net to be cut further.
Getting Help
If you’re worried about being evicted or supporting someone who is, Shelter offer support regarding the eviction ban and homelessness here.
You can also use 4in10’s ‘Get Help’ support page here.
Volunteer Week Free Resources
Volunteer Week runs from June 1st to June 7th. Download free resources and templates from the Volunteers Week resources page.
Public Health England guide for CVS's with great links. The route out of lockdown.
Public Health England have produced an excellent guide to 'the route out of lockdown' for voluntary organisations including some really useful links to advice and up to date information. Current at the 10th May 2021
https://4in10.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04.05.2021-CVS-and-faith-groups-follow-up.pdf
Mental Health Support for Young Migrants and Asylum Seekers
In light of the dreadful 4th Suicide of a young Eritrean asylum seeker in the UK aged just 19, here are a number of London organisations supporting the mental health of young refugees, asylum seekers and migrants:
- Afghanistan and Central Asian Association based in Hounslow but serves Afghan refugees from across London.
- AFRIL support the children of refugees , as well as young refugees themselves, in Lewisham.
- Body and Soul supports children, teenagers and adults affected by trauma.
- Baobab Survivors in Exile The Baobab Centre is a non-residential therapeutic community that enables child and adolescent asylum seekers who have experienced organized violence, violation, exploitation, threats, rejection, loss and bereavement in their home communities and on their journeys into exile to thrive.
- Black & Asian Therapists Network provides training, resources and information, and an online directory of qualified therapists experienced in working with immigrant population including African, Caribbean and Asian clients.
- Forced Migration Trauma Service work with people who have experienced trauma and/or forced migration. This is an NHS service, so referrals are required for treatment. Referrals are available from a care co-ordinator, GP/local doctor, or a specialist mental health service.
- Freedom from Torture provides direct clinical / therapeutic services to survivors of torture who arrive in the UK.
- Ghanaian Welfare Association provides the Ghanaian community in London advice including mental health support.
- Helen Bamber Foundation works with survivors of genocide, torture, trafficking and rape by providing them with practical support and treatment to deal with their pasts and build new futures.
- Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre offers culturally sensitive psychotherapy/counselling to ethnic minorities including refugees and asylum seekers in a variety of languages.
- NAZ Black Asian and Minority Ethnic run sexual health support agency that are offering free online counselling as well as other practical support for the LGBTQ+ minority ethnic and black communities.
- New Citizens Gateway serve Barnet and north London with specific young refugee projects and support.
- No Panic Helpline Helplines for anxiety disorders, panic attacks etc. 0844 9674848 Youth Helpline 0330 606 1174 (for 13 to 20 year olds open Mon to Thurs 4pm-6pm)
- Refugee Council. Offer specialist mental health support to help refugees to rebuild their lives using the resilience, strength and skills acquired on their journey.
- Social Workers Without Borders offers voluntary support to asylum seekers, refugees and those impacted by borders, independently of government and local authorities, using its members’ social work skill and expertise.
- South London Refugee Association specialist advice for vulnerable young migrants.
- The Chinese Information & Advice Centre offers support and information including mental health support, to disadvantaged Chinese people living in the UK.
- The Refugee Therapy Centre offers expertise in the delivery of an integrated and user-friendly mental health service for people who have endured considerable trauma and forced displacement. The Centre provides psychotherapy, counselling and associated treatments to refugees and asylum seekers in their own language.
- Traumatic Stress Clinic provides specialist mental health care for post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) to children, adolescents and adults. Refugees and asylum seekers account for over half of the referrals to the Clinic. This is an NHS service, so referrals are required for treatment. Referrals are available from a care co-ordinator, GP/local doctor, or a specialist mental health service.
- Vietnamese Mental Health Services offers culturally sensitive mental health services to Vietnamese people with mental health problems including refugees and asylum seekers. Services provided are drop in day services, outreach and counselling services.
- Waterloo Community Counselling helps people resolve emotional issues, reduce anxiety and depression, and gain self-confidence. Individual and group counselling is offered in English and a range of other languages.
- Young Roots help young refugees and asylum seekers aged 11 - 25. Their 1-to-1 casework service supports young people with issues like housing, immigration and emotional support