Tackling poverty in Sandwell

Sandwell has one of the highest levels of deprivation among local authority areas in England, ranking as the 12th most deprived out of 326 authorities in England in the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010. Our Anti-Poverty Strategy is designed to help residents who are most in need, especially children and young people, vulnerable groups, and those affected by the economic downturn.

The aspects of poverty which are highlighted in the Index include income, educational achievement, housing, health, jobs and environmental issues.

They have a greater effect on children, older people, those with disabilities or those who are out of work, as well as people from ethnic minorities.

There are also communities in the borough which experience more pressure from the effects of poverty than others.

Our strategy sets out how through all our services, we work with other agencies, business and voluntary organisations, to make sure we have services in place which:

• help residents maximise their income
• provide education and training which help people to get and keep work and to support businesses
• develop local services in ways which support the local economy
• improve neighbourhoods and local support networks
• involve residents
• provide services and facilities open and useful to all sections of the community.

Sandwell's Anti-Poverty Action Plan has been drawn together with colleagues and partners across both the council and the partnership. The Action Plan contains the actions from their business plans, which have been agreed as most helping to reduce poverty.

For example: The Early Years Unit have identified "actions to identify gaps in child care provision and jobs and increase employers' understanding of the need for child care and family friendly policies".

This action raises the need for a series of further responses and actions from employers, child care providers and colleagues involved in economic development and regeneration. Responses would be expected from all services as appropriate and could include: information and advice, workforce development, training and apprenticeship schemes, small business and social enterprise development programmes.

A quarterly system of monitoring has been set up through the council to get reports and updates from colleagues and partners and measure progress. The Anti-Poverty Manager coordinates and drives this system.

To get more information please visit Research Sandwell's Anti Poverty portal. The page provides further details of the statistics, data and reports which inform Sandwell's Anti-poverty Strategy and Action Plan. You can also visit the pages dedicated specifically to child poverty and the recently approved Child Poverty Needs Assessment.

For further information contact:
Rosie Edwards, Jack Judge House, PO Box 15888, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 9EN
Email: rosie_edwards@sandwell.gov.uk
Tel: 0121 569 5564