Leeds tackling poverty framework

Tackling poverty and reducing inequalities is the key cornerstone of the Best City Ambition (Best City Ambition | Leeds.gov.uk) but why is this important?  Whilst there are pockets of considerable affluence, indicators suggest an increasing prevalence and severity of poverty in all social groups in Leeds.  

Child poverty has been rising both nationally and regionally and in Leeds it is estimated that 1 in 5 children live in relative poverty before housing costs.   We know that food and fuel insecurity are at an all-time high in Leeds and access to a foodbanks and food parcels. (Leeds Observatory – Children & Young People) 

Poverty is about what you have, and it is also about what you don’t have compared to society around you. Poverty is about more than just money, but a lack of money is the defining feature of being poor. “A child can have three meals a day, warm clothes and go to school, but still be poor because her parents don’t have enough money to ensure she can live in a warm home, have access to a computer to do her homework, or go on the same school trips as her classmates.”(What is poverty? | CPAG).

Poverty is never just about the money, however a realistic understanding of how the changed economic landscape has made it harder for individuals to escape, or stay out of, financial poverty, is a key part of tackling disadvantage over the decade ahead. Breakdown Britain uncovered five key pathways into poverty that could not be understood as purely concerning income: family breakdown, debt, worklessness, educational failure, and addiction. (Two Nations: The State of Poverty in the UK - CJS)

The comparative lack of resources that people in poverty have can limit their opportunities to engage and access the same opportunities as their wealthier counterparts, this division of opportunities often excludes individuals which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and shame. Poverty is not the result of personal mistakes, rather the consequences of political and societal failing. As social care practitioners it is imperative we eliminate stigma associated with poverty by demonstrating good practice and challenging dehumanising attitudes presented towards people who live with poverty. (Child Poverty 2024-2027)

Families get locked into poverty through a combination of factors – the availability and costs of child care, transport and housing; the limitations of the social security system and poor access to good quality, flexible and secure work.

Children who experience poverty are more likely to face a wide range of difficulties both now and in the future.  There are strong links between experiencing poverty as a child and having worse mental and physical health, a shorter life, lower grades in education, poor financial health and lower paid insecure work.  Poverty is an injustice that strips away opportunities, builds barriers, and reduces freedom. It represents a loss of the rights of a child.   

In a recent consultation with children and young people carried out in Summer 2023 as part of the Child Poverty strategy refresh, children expressed how it might feel to be a child living in poverty.

Poverty is not the result of personal mistakes, rather the consequences of political and societal failing. We know that being in poverty being excluded and feeling the shame and stigma associated with poverty can impact a child for the rest of their lift.  We don’t want this in Leeds.  We don’t want any of our children young people of families to feel excluded alone misunderstood or ashamed or lack access to basic needs, we want to ensure that poverty presents no barriers to our children and young people and we want all people to have access to the same opportunities regardless of their background.  As social care practitioners it is imperative we eliminate stigma associated with poverty by demonstrating good practice and challenging dehumanising attitudes presented towards people who live with poverty. (Child Poverty2024-2027)

Child poverty has devastating impacts on children, the adults children become, and on the societies in which poor children live. Poverty is a day-to-day reality that results in people living precarious lives, with every decision evaluated - from choosing between heating or food, having a cup of coffee or using the washing machine, buying clothes or shampoo. It is not, however, an individual fault. Poverty is a societal and moral failing, and the emotions and shame that surround people who experience poverty is something that will never leave them. 

A root cause of vulnerability is poverty, and we see higher rates of criminal exploitation in our most deprived areas. We have seen concerning levels of non-school attendance and this has been exacerbated by covid. In order to raise school attendance levels, we need to be able to effectively support families impacted by poverty. We have children unable to attend school because their parents can’t afford the school uniform, children who are needing to stay at home to offer childcare so parents can go to work to afford the increased rental costs.

The Child Poverty Strategy for Leeds launched in 2019 and was refreshed in 2024, and highlights Leeds’ strategic commitment to mitigating the impact of poverty, linking to the overall Best City Ambition to “work collectively to tackle poverty and inequality in everything we do.” The strategy outlines the approach that we are taking to tackle and mitigate the impact of child poverty. We want to ensure that poverty presents no barriers for our children and young people, and we want all people to have access to the same opportunities, regardless of their background. We believe that all children and young people should have the freedom to choose their pathway, and that we can work together as a city to tackle any limitations that poverty may place on these pathways. 

The strategy has been co-produced with children, young people, parents, and organisations, and it is centred around five fundamental ambitions:

• We will be innovative, together, to break down the barriers and stigma that poverty creates. 
• We will be brave, together, to revolutionise the way that Leeds works with children, young people and families who live in poverty.
• We will fight together to ensure that every child and young person who experiences poverty can thrive. 
• We will work together to tackle inequality across services and organisations, to find meaningful solutions for those experiencing poverty.

As a Child Friendly City, all our work is underpinned by the understanding that children live in families, families make communities and communities build cities. Supporting families therefore strengthens communities and the city. Challenging child poverty is central to the Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan. (Leeds Children and Young People's Plan 2023-2028 | Leeds.gov.uk)

“In acknowledging the scale and impact of poverty on families, we will work with communities and families to mitigate the impact of poverty on children’s outcomes and support children’s journeys into secure adulthood in a prosperous city”
The information laid out in the Poverty Aware Practice section will help practitioners to understand and support people living with poverty, and by doing move the service closer to achieving the fourteen  priorities set out in the Children and Young Peoples Plan, these priorities being;

1. Help children and parents to live in safe, supportive, and loving families
2. Ensure that the most vulnerable children and young people are protected
3. Support families to give children the best start in life
4. Increase the number of children and young people participating and engaging in learning
5. Improve achievement and attainment for all pupils
6. Improve at a faster rate educational progress for pupils vulnerable to poorer learning outcomes
7. Improve social, emotional, and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people
8. Children and young people have safe spaces to play, hang out, and have fun
9. Promote and enable physical activity and healthy eating
10. Support young people to make good choices and minimise risk taking behaviours
11. Help young people into adulthood, to develop life skills, and be ready for work
12. Everyone takes more action to protect the environment from climate change
13. Improve access to affordable, safe, and reliable connected transport for young people
14. Encourage greater use of sustainable transport (such as walking, cycling, scooting, public transport) for children and young people

a.) Language; guidance on having sensitive discussions with families about poverty

Use of Language.

We must be aware that the term ‘poverty’ can cause huge shame, fear and stigma so it is essential that we consider and think carefully about the type of language we use when having these conversations. You need to prepare for the conversation and ensure that you consider the following:

• What you say – Restorative language 
  It is vital that you use restorative language as this helps to shift the focus away from blame and shame to root cause and repair. This tool will assist you to have a discussion with a family about how they feel about their household income, how their finances might be affecting them and then moving on to any action that can be taken to improve the situation. 
• How you say it – Framing and softening techniques
  This approach states the intention of the discussion and sets up the conversation. You then need to identify the positive intention for the person so they can understand why it is useful to engage in the conversation. For example ‘If its ok with you I thought it would be useful for me to understand a bit about your financial situation so that I can see if there is any additional support that we can offer in this area.’
• What you don’t say and how you behave – Mirroring and body language 
  It is important to remember your body language has a big impact using mirroring techniques, good use eye contact, leaning in, being aware of location, being aware of personal space, being aware of your notepad and writing are all techniques which can aid engagement and help people feel more comfortable when having sensitive conversations. 
• Consider using metaphors, facts and research when discussing poverty
  Research shows that using metaphors, relevant statistics and research in discussions can aid understanding and help reduce shame because it makes the discussion very factual. Some examples are ‘In the grip of poverty’, ‘Keeping your head above water’. Consider discussing how the economy locks people into poverty being on benefits, in low paid jobs, rising rental prices, the increasing cost of living, the way our economy works can trap people in a daily struggle to make ends meet. 
• Words and phrases we can use:
  -    “How does living with a low income impact you/your family?”
  -    “How do you manage your money?”
  -    “Can I talk to you about your finances?”
  -    “How do you manage/cope on the income you’ve got?”
  -    “Where do you normally go for financial support? Can I support you with accessing different services?”
  -    “Do you think you’re getting all the money you should/are entitled to?”
  -    “How are you coping with the change to universal credit? A lot of people are finding this difficult”
  -    “Have you ever had a welfare rights assessment?”
  -    “Do you do a weekly/monthly budget planner?”
  -    Would you like to look into free training courses/ find out about other employment opportunities 

b.) Community practice: drawing on community support to reduce poverty

Knowledge and understanding of the local community they serve is vital for practitioners as drawing on community support enables families to form local connections. They are also far better placed to understand their communities and where they can get support. Just as important are those informal networks and trusted friends who they can turn to, many people who use support services will themselves go on to shape services and help others. The lived-in experience and ‘walking in someone else’s shoes’ perspective can often help practitioners to better support families. We know from research and listening to families that what they value is someone who has time for them and a listening ear.  It’s the simple things that matter  

Strengths and asset-based approaches ensure the focus is on what individuals and communities can bring to the table and how we can work together to find solutions. We don’t always have to have the answer and be the “expert”.  These approaches are fundamental when supporting families in poverty as they draw on community values and strengths. As a Child Friendly City the core values of Leeds is to strengthen families and strengthen communities. In Leeds local communities have shown great resilience and strength in challenging times and pulled together. Some examples of this are volunteer led school uniform exchanges set up to ensure children in need have uniforms to go to school, or businesses offering free school meals to children in school holidays.  

“No society has the money to buy, at market prices, what it takes to raise children, make a neighbourhood safe, care for the elderly, make democracy work or address systemic injustices…..  The only way the world is going to address social problems is by enlisting the very people who are now classified as ‘clients’ and ‘consumers’ and converting them into co-workers, partners and rebuilders of the core economy”
Professor Edgar Cahn, US-based civil rights lawyer and inventor of Timebanks

c.) Advocacy; ensuring voices are heard

Children who live in poverty often are not included in conversations around their experiences. Adults are often apprehensive about talking to children about poverty, because they don’t want to say the wrong thing, or they think that children may be less aware of their parent’s financial circumstances. Children who live in poverty are very often aware that they live in poverty. They know about the stresses that their family is under, and they often try to protect their parents from financial worries, by not bringing information home about school trips, or by leaving food on their plate as they know it may be their parent’s only meal. 

As practitioners working with families, it is important that we use the power and knowledge gained as part of our role to advocate for our families. We must listen to and work with both children and their guardians to better understand their experiences of poverty, only by doing this can we appropriately advocate on their behalf and work with them to challenge their current situation (Department of Health, (2018) ‘Anti-Poverty Framework for Social Work in Northern Ireland; A Summary’, (Belfast), pp.1-2).

Here are some ways we can work with our families to ensure that their voices are heard: 

• Gain an understanding of practical help that families may need.  
• Support families to complete applications for practical help and benefits. 
• Advise about support such as food banks, deposit schemes. 
• If you are not sure about support signpost families to relevant support services. Consider making the first phone call/complete the referral form with that family.
• Use your advocacy, resource brokering and systems negotiation skills. Challenge a landlord about making repairs, accompany families to benefits hearings, negotiate better repayment terms with a loans company, and write supporting letters for grants.
• Support people experiencing poverty to improve their self-esteem. Form respectful relationships with children and families which promote dignity, self-belief and high self-esteem. Raise the confidence of those you work with and encourage people to find their voice and challenge their situation. 
• Challenge practice and policies which may unfairly oppress or discriminate against families living with low wages. Talk to your managers/supervisors about the experiences of families living with low income, and contribute to policy/decisions about families (Department of Health, (2018) ‘Anti-Poverty Framework for Social Work in Northern Ireland; A Summary’, (Belfast), pp.1-2).  

If you believe that a family may be being denied any rights, discuss this with the family, and agree what you can do together to challenge this, for instance call the landlord about repairs (British Association of Social Workers, (2019), ‘The Anti-Poverty Practice Guide for Social Work’, p.19).   

d.) Improving material circumstances 

The impact of poverty reaches far beyond the presenting circumstances, if left unaddressed, poverty can impact upon long lasting outcomes for children and families. This includes impacting on self-esteem, self-worth and mental wellbeing. There is growing concern over children and families not having the very basics needed, as defined in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

e.) Case studies; best practice for working with poverty    

The family contacted Yorkshire Ambulance Service for a suspected rat bite. Child A had abrasions, scratches, and broken skin. The case was referred to GRT Outreach and Inclusion for support. The family, consisting of Mum, Dad, and three children (ages 4, 2, and 5 months), are struggling financially, relying on weekly Child Benefit payments while their Universal Credit claim is pending. Dad is unemployed, and financial support from their family network is limited.

Their home has urgent repairs needed, including no working smoke alarms and a hole in the kitchen wall, which is the entry point for the rat infestation. The family is part of a community facing a scabies outbreak, with spots and rashes observed on all children.

The GRT worker and parents agreed on goals for a safe environment, financial stability, and support for the children's learning and development. The worker visited the family, helped them register with a GP, provided cleaning products, and created a plan for treating scabies. Referrals were made for new beds, food parcels, nursery applications, and essential provisions from the baby bank. The worker also supported urgent repairs on their rental property.

Improvements observed include a healthier lifestyle, better food options, support with finances and employment, improved sleep routines, and one child starting nursery. The family received support from various agencies, including Health, Zarach, Food and Baby Bank, DWP Job Shop, Children’s Centre, and Selective Licensing.

Practitioners need to have knowledge of support services within the Council and the area the family reside in, or where to find this information. There is a wealth of community services such as foodbanks, uniform and clothing banks, baby bank, voluntary organisations and faith groups in Leeds.  

Practitioners need to discuss support available with families and help refer to services and as well as local knowledge this may be useful Services for families | Leeds.gov.uk and Money Information Centre Leeds | Money Information Centre.  It is also important that consideration is given to enabling access to services. For example, do families have credit on their phone to call a service? If referring to a food bank, can the family get to the food bank?  If referring for debt advice, can the family get to the service? Do they need bus fare? How many buses do they need to change? How do they feel about going? Will they need support on the visit from someone? Is language a barrier?

For families where there is an Early Help, Child in Need or Child Protection Plan in place and there are regular meetings, do they have the resources to attend meetings or join virtual meetings?

When arranging venues for meetings, consider local venues- social work offices often depict power imbalance and therefore community venues such as schools or children’s centres are often more appropriate.

For children who are in Local Authority or Kinship Care, consider whether the family have resources to attend reviews, family time/contact and how this can be supported. 

• Lead from a base of shared values for compassion and justice
• Poverty is no-ones fault or choice
• Poverty does not diminish or change a person’s skills, talents or value to society
• People who live in poverty are often resourceful and resilient
• Children who live in poverty are as capable as anyone else
• Recognise the strengths and coping strategies of people living in poverty
• Challenge stereotypes of people in poverty such as ‘poor families don’t value education’, ‘families in poverty are benefit cheats’, ‘people in poverty are substance abusers’
• People in poverty are often better at budgeting their resources than any budgeting coach.
• Recognise that living on a shoestring can cause shame and makes life difficult to manage. 
• Benefits are part of the solution, not the problem, there is a huge stigma attached to claiming benefits, but we need to challenge this and remind people that benefits are part of a wider system of public services that we all rely on
• Consider using metaphors to explain concepts, make them easier to understand and reduce shame
• Consider using meaningful facts and research as they are factual and not personal
• Families in poverty often have to prioritise food, school uniform, heating, electricity. So when families feel judged or looked down upon for having old furniture, sparse decoration, chipped paint, empty cupboards with no chance to provide context, they are being shamed for making the correct decisions for their family. Thus as practitioners we need to be non-judgemental.
• Practitioners should ensure they take time to consider the language used, how they are going to have the sensitive conversation and their body language. 
• Practitioners should consider whether or not access to play, education, work, sport, travel, holidays or social and leisure activities is affected and if so, whether or not they can support access to these opportunities in any way.
• We need to ensure that we have knowledge about services and organisations we can refer people to help support them with their finances.