Poverty Intervention Fund Jacqueline Laughton Vicki Nixon Our

Poverty Intervention Fund Jacqueline Laughton, Vicki Nixon

Our aim • To help to alleviate the impacts of poverty on families and individuals across North Tyneside with particular emphasis on children, by providing support to those who need it

Objectives of the fund • to address the financial impacts of poverty by targeting support to areas where people are struggling to make ends meet to be able to afford the basics or where they are having to go without certain things which others take for granted • to address the social impacts of poverty by targeting support so that people can play a full role in society and for activities which will have a positive impact • to address the health impacts of poverty by targeting support on relevant areas such as risk-taking behaviour and mental health and well-being

Background • Around 1 in 10 residents live in an area that is ranked as the most deprived in England. • Around 42% of children in our most deprived wards are living in poverty. • Last year’s local residents survey showed that more residents feel that they are at greater risk of losing their job or have already experienced a job loss or redundancy. • The Covid-19 situation has further increased issues that people living in poverty are facing.

• The Poverty Intervention fund is a £ 1 million fund which aims to enable support to families and individuals to alleviate the impacts of living in poverty. Overview of the fund • The fund will be available for the 2020/21 financial year. • The delivery of the fund will be overseen by a Steering Group made up of elected members, Young Mayor/Cabinet member(s) and relevant external organisations. • A Delivery Group, including relevant Cabinet Members will oversee the detailed operation of the fund.

Current progress • We are currently carrying out engagement with key stakeholders such as schools, charities, cabinet members and the North Tyneside Strategic Partnership, to inform our approach. • We are carrying out desk research and looking at data to ensure the fund is targeted and evidence based.

Next Steps The report will go to cabinet on the 29 th June 2020 for a decision. The Steering Group and Delivery Group will meet in July to begin the implementation.

What we need from you • Tell us what you see as the key impacts of poverty in North Tyneside • Tell us about the impacts of Covid-19 on people living in poverty • Tell us about any other priorities you think we may have missed • Tell us about any issues you think we may have in the process of delivering the fund

Questions

Contact details • For further information or to let us know anything else, please contact: Vicki Nixon 0191 643 8215 vicki. nixon@northtyneside. gov. uk