This week saw the launch of a new interim report on the state of the nation by the Centre for Social Justice: ‘Two Nations – The State of Poverty in the UK’. It is the first stage of a process being carried out by the Social Justice Commission, to investigate and consider solutions to address the root causes of poverty in the UK. After extensive research, conversations, polls and listening events across the UK, the findings in this report shine a stark light on the deep division in our nation, between those who are getting by, and those who are not.
In 2006, CSJ’s landmark report ‘Breakdown Britain’ identified five key drivers of poverty and disadvantage in the UK:
- Family breakdown
- Addiction
- Worklessness
- Serious personal debt
- Educational failure
The ‘Two Nations’ report has re-visited these areas and provides us with in-depth analysis of what life is really like in today’s most disadvantaged communities.
Some of the statistics are a very sombre read, and there is a clear correlation of things having worsened dramatically for those in already challenging circumstances as a result of the Covid lockdowns. For example, during lockdown the report (see P.11 of ‘Two Nations’ PDF) highlights that:
- Calls to a domestic abuse helpline rose 700%
- Mental ill-health in young people increased from one in nine to one in six, with nearly a quarter amongst the oldest children
- Severe school absence jumped by 134%
- 1.2 million more people went on working-age benefits
- 86% more people sought help for addictions
- Prisoners were locked up for more than 22 hours a day
- A household became homeless every 3 minutes.
“I am quite convinced that family breakdown is the root cause of nearly everything. We are underestimating the role of family breakdown across every issue in society. We [as a charity] exist because the dads have walked away from the mums and the children. Those kids use drugs and get involved in crime.”
A community outreach manager who took part in a Two Nations Big Listen event
But there is always hope, and Family Hubs will play a crucial part in providing the solutions to many of the issues our broken society is facing. In response to findings of ‘Breakdown Britain’, in 2007 CSJ published their solutions report, ‘Breakthrough Britain’, in which the concept of Family Hubs was first introduced, and which was eventually adopted as government policy in 2020. Now, over half of England’s upper tier local authorities are receiving funding to create local Family Hub networks, joining-up services and support cross-sector, so that families get access to the right help at the right time. Government funded evaluation studies across 12 local authorities will build the evidence base and inform further development of this model.
In our society, 68% think that a stable and secure family life is the most important factor determining a person’s success and wellbeing. We must not underestimate the positive impact that supporting parents, children and young people can have to see our society transformed.
Families are facing greater pressures than ever, with huge increases in mental health issues in both children and adults since the pandemic. Challenges are pressing in on every side, such as the cost of living crisis, worklessness, crime, addictions, poor housing, family breakdown and more people than ever inactive due to long-term sickness.
The Family Hubs Network will engage with the Centre for Social Justice ahead of the publication of the manifesto of solutions they will publish next year, to share how we and other frontline partners think Family Hubs should be developed in the next stage.
With the right momentum and backing Family Hubs have the potential to provide the vital hope, support and strengthening that families, especially the most disadvantaged, need. Family Hubs have been in place for over half a decade in some areas and have established a strong track record, delivering many examples of positive outcomes and good practice, and together with the new evaluations, can inspire and inform further development of this transformative approach.
It’s about more investment in early intervention, family hubs, social workers taking more time and having smaller caseloads…local authorities should invest in what we know works, relationship-based practice…it’s about relationships and people with human contact, to tackle social isolation.
Charity leaders at Trevi Women (see P.167 of ‘Two Nations’ PDF)
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