UNEMPLOYMENT CREATES NEW CHILD POVERTY CRISIS

MANCHESTER Central has suffered a 44% rise in unemployment since 2008, according to a startling new report by the Campaign to End Child Poverty. The study reveals how increasing levels of joblessness are having a proportionately negative impact on child poverty across the UK, in traditionally hard hit areas but significantly in more affluent areas of the country too. After housing costs, a couple with 2 small children is left with £225 a week for everything, which puts them £115 below the poverty line.  In fact, 2 constituencies in the North West area are now home to over 5,000 people on Job Seekers’ Allowance. Namely, Manchester, Central (5,257) and Liverpool, Riverside (5,250).

Through Thick and Thin: Tackling Child Poverty in Hard Times, written by leading social policy researcher Donald Hirsch, provides strong evidence for the government to implement End Child Poverty’s “Recession Recovery Package”.  The report warns that the number of children in families without jobs is rising to its highest level for a decade. It claims that without substantial investment now, 2.3 million children will be living in poverty in 2010, more than half a million above the government’s target. Investing £4 billion would take the government close to its aim of halving child poverty.

Donald Hirsch said:- “We couldn’t afford to let the banks fail and now we can’t afford to fail our children, our future. Rising unemployment has created a new poverty crisis which could leave children scarred for life and cost society some £25 billion a year. This dwarfs the investment needed to hit the target to halve child poverty by 2010.”

Kate Green, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said:- “This shows that more investment is needed as families feel the effects of the recession.  The Government must provide additional financial support for families on benefits and tax credits in the Pre-Budget Report in November.

We also need a wider recession recovery package that improves the Social Fund, increases childcare, helps parents to work part time without losing benefits and meets extra school costs.”

The report also urges the government to give better financial support to parents who are out of work or in low-paid jobs, to help make work pay during the recovery.

End Child Poverty is calling for people to contact their local MP, the Chancellor and their local newspaper to press the government to invest in financial support for families in the Pre-Budget Report and action the Recession Recovery Package.

Find out more at:- endchildpoverty.org.uk.

STAMP OUT DISABILITY HATE CRIME OR FACE FURTHER VIOLENCE

HATE crime against disabled people must be recognised and stamped out to stop further fear and violence, said Dave Prentis , UNISON General Secretary, in a speech to the union’s National Disabled Members Conference in Blackpool on 2 November 2009.   UNISON wants to see a number of measures put in place to stop disabilsm, including introducing hate crime into the national curriculum, mandatory equality training by employers and additional support for people with learning difficulties in police interviews and in court.

Dave Prentis, UNISON’s General Secretary, said:- “Disablism is rife within our society and attacks against disabled people are common, yet there is very little being done to record or prevent this type of hate crime.  Disabled people are 4 times more likely to be violently assaulted and twice as likely to be burgled.   If crimes are perpetrated against a gay person, or someone from a minority ethnic or religious group, there can be little doubt that these would be investigated as possible hate crimes - the same attitude needs to be taken towards disability hate crimes.  We need specific disability hate crime legislation enforced, awareness by local authorities and third party reporting to stop disabled people living their lives in fear.”

Margie Hill a conference delegate and UNISON learning co-ordinator, from Knowsley, Liverpool, said:- “Disability hate crime needs to be acknowledged and stamped out.  I was shocked when I experienced hate crime recently.  I was in a lift when a group of lads tried to get in. I told them that they couldn’t all fit in and they turned round and swore at me and called me names.  One of the lads then said: I didn’t want to get in your lift anyway. Why don’t you go and get a pair of legs. You shouldn’t even be out and about.   Usually I’d come back with a smart comment, but I was so shocked I couldn’t speak.  People regularly tap me on the head because I am in a wheelchair and talk to my friends instead of me.  Bad behaviour should not be allowed and it seems to be getting worse.  It’s just as bad to observe verbal and physical attacks and say nothing, as it is to carry it out.”

Paul Hardisty, a Communications Officer at Kent Police and conference delegate, said:- “I was parking in a disabled parking bay when a elderly man approached me and took offence because I seem ‘normal’, as I looked younger than him and have hidden disabilities.  A row took place, I called the police, they arrived and I reported it as a disability hate crime.  I got injured during my time serving for my country, yet people like me, whose disabilities are not apparent, are often subjected to abuse.  We need to continue recording and monitoring these disability hate crime, so we can see it for the huge problem it is.”