Investigation Into Poverty Causes

Breaking a cycle of poverty, increasing literacy and getting young people into work, just three challenges identified by the Fairer Fife Commission.

Members are working hard to try and eradicate high rates of poverty within the Kingdom and a list of recommendations will be presented by the end of this year.

The Commission, a group of independent experts from both public and private sectors across Scotland, has been brought together by Fife Council to challenge the organisation on the ways it’s tackling poverty across the Kingdom.

Over the course of six key meetings, the Commission will examine what is causing poverty in different areas in Fife and make recommendations on how best to tackle the issue.

The fourth meeting focused on the cycle of poverty and how family, education, qualification and skills can affect people’s life chances. There was a lot of discussion on the importance of partnership working in making sure that individuals and families don’t fall through the gaps. The Commission heard how a range of different organisations are involved in different partnerships. While it was clear there is a lot of good progress being made as a result of better joint working there are still some key barriers to effective working.

Chair of the Commission Martyn Evans commented: “The meeting meeting focussed on ‘life course and transitions’ and how people can experience poverty at different stages of life. By looking at the information we have gathered we can make some meaningful recommendations to Fife Council on how best they can tackle poverty as people in Fife move from education, to work and retirement.”

The Commission heard presentations from Craig Munro, Fife Council’s Executive Director of Education, and his senior management team who took the Commissioners through the range of work which is being done in Fife from cradle to grave. The work focuses on various areas from early childhood through to older people’s care.

Some of the major challenges are:

• Engaging families early before problems begin, breaking a cycle of poverty
• Increasing literacy and raising attainment
• Closing the attainment gap for disadvantaged and looked after children
• Improving leaver destinations, getting young people into work, training, college or university
• Reducing poverty in households
• An aging population and isolation

Mr Munro and his team were each asked to share with the Commission just one area of change that they felt could make a key difference in meeting their goals

Added Martyn: “We are looking at how poverty affects people at different stages in life, which factors will impact most on their life chances, and what can be done to change that.

“It is clear that there are a number of very effective programmes which are starting to see real results and make some positive changes but there is much more that can be done.

“We have been given some clear messages today on where the gaps lie in Fife and where there needs to be greater focus of attention.

“Our goal is to makes sure that the recommendations we make will have a clear impact on the lives of people in Fife, reducing poverty and inequality and improving the life chances of all.”

Fife Council Leader David Ross added: “While we are proud of the steps we have already taken to reduce poverty in Fife we know that it’s a long journey. In the current economic climate and in the face of ever increasing cuts in funding and welfare it is a problem which is going to get worse. That’s why it’s really important that we re-examine what we’re doing, to make sure we are focussing on the right areas which will help us remove the blight of poverty from our society.