By Aaron Barbour
I’m part of the Child Poverty Unit’s ‘Take-Up Taskforce’, which is looking at how local authorities can increase the take up of benefits and tax credits in the UK.
Last year we at Community Links looked at the impact of Child Poverty in our own borough, Newham, in a report for the Local Authority Scrutiny Commission – the results make a compelling case for action.
The Task Force issued a call for evidence last week – can you share your experiences by 20th February? Send an email to amy.jones@childpovertyunit.gsi.gov.uk .
The Task Force is asking the following questions:
- What are the key characteristics of your local area?
- What barriers or issues did you aim to address?
- Where there any specific groups or families that were targeted?
- What exactly was done? (Please try and explain both what was changed at an organisational level, and the changes experienced by families)
- How much did it cost and how was it funded?
- Which organisations were involved?
- What impact did it have?
- What are the key lessons that you have learned, which local services in other areas could benefit from?
Community Links works hard to alleviate the causes and the impact of child poverty – our Social Change Series booklet on Child Poverty details our recent work and future plans and is available for free download.
