Presentations (10 mins each, 5 mins questions)

·         Hele’s Angels – Chris Forster

·         Eat that Frog – Families and young people views

·         Anode – Nigel Williams Local Food Banks – families they are helping

·         Councillors Bobbie Davies and Stephen Brooksbank on the local community of Roundham and Hyde

The Chair outlined the processes around the workplan for the Torbay’s Child Poverty Commission who will gather evidence from a variety of partners and look at different ways of tackling child poverty issues in Torbay.

The Commission listened to the services offered to the community in Torbay and Sheena Leaf asked the Commission to consider what the business community could do to help their organisational needs

·         Hele’s Angels:  Chris Forster talked about the work in the Hele/Lower Barton area of Torbay which falls in the top 10 areas of deprivation in the Country.  He outlined the types of community services run by the community at the Acorn and Windmill Centres.  A recent bid to the Lottery Grant has been made to source a parenting/family programme. The Hele office offers support and advice to the community.

The Commission discussed and noted the impact of crime/antisocial behaviour including an emerging drug culture.  It recognised the improvements in the Hele and Lower Barton area due to active intervention by PSCOs and neighbourhood patrols)

·         Eat that Frog: Nikki Henderson introduced two young people who shared their experiences of finding employment and talked about their issues of living in Paignton and future expectations. 

·         Anode: Nigel Williams talked about the holistic approach within the Community which offers advice, provides supplies for food banks, furniture and runs an Aspire programme. 

·         Councillor Bobbie Davis introduced Sharon Clayborough from Home-Start who offer support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children throughout the Torbay area. They recruit and train volunteers who are usually parents themselves and offer them informal, friendly and confidential support. All volunteers are currently completing a basic awareness of mental health issues

The Chair thanked all voluntary organisations for their contribution to the meeting. 

14:40 p.m.

Richard Williams, Director of Children’s Services and Cllr Alison Hernandez.  Lesley Gibbings will be invited when required

14:45 p.m.

The Commission noted the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th December to be a true record.

The Chair updated the Commission on actions from the last meeting confirming that:

·         A Child Poverty Impact Statement was going to Full Council in February

·         Welfare Reforms and Topic Guide for Child Poverty evidence work had been circulated

·         The Child Poverty Commission Press Release had been completed and Chair was being interviewed by Palm radio

Action:

i)             Anna Kettley to circulate copy of a Child Poverty Impact statement to Commission for consideration

4.1  Work plan: update

4.2 Child Poverty Evidence Work: Presentation of findings from key lines of enquiry

            Schools: Councillor Jenny Falkner

            Communities: Councillor Neil Bent

The Chair requested a change to the order of the agenda item 6.2 which the Commission agreed to.

6.2 Child Poverty Evidence Work:  Councillor Jenny Faulkner and Anna Kettley introduced and outlined their research approach securing local front line professionals working within the field of education. A questionnaire was devised by an education working sub group which was represented by schools, locality, 14-19 Development Officer and Save the Children UK.

The findings resulted in a number of strong key themes being highlighted:-

·         Skills for life

·         Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

·         Intergenerational Deprivation

·         Aspirations and Opportunity

The Commission were asked to consider the recommendation to invite headteachers to a Child Poverty Commission meeting to talk about their experiences and how the above themes could effectively be addressed and developed further.

The Commission agreed that they should be invited to the next meeting.

Actions

i)             Chairs of TAPS/TASH and Ellacombe/Ilsham Academy to be contacted to identify primary and secondary headteachers to attend. 

ii)            Mental Health: CAMHS – Bruce Bell to be approached to attend a future meeting

6.2 (i) Child Poverty Evidence Work: Councillor Neil Bent updated the progress so far relating to the Community.  He highlighted initial findings following an interview with a teenage single mum attending PAD which were:-

·         Lack of support from agencies/public

·         Money management

·         Utility bills – key meters

·         Accommodation

·         Low self esteem/confidence

6 adults were interviewed and talked about their difficulties obtaining employment when the interview process is on line. 

Action:

i)             Business sector: Businesses to be challenged on their recruitment processes involving on line applications (Sheena Leaf)

6.2 (ii) Workplan update:  Housing – Councillor Julien Parrott informed the Commission that he is near completion on his evidence work and will forward a draft report to the Chair

5.1 Findings of Save the Children’s survey

Work is currently in progress for the Child Poverty Commission to have its own web page through the Torbay main website

The Chair informed the Child Poverty Commission that the consultation period had ended last week and will follow with a Parliamentary statement.  A planned Welfare Reforms event is to be held in Torbay soon.

Action:

i)             Chair to forward update Commission on updated Parliamentary statements relating to consultation into Child Poverty and feedback on outcomes from the Welfare Reforms event

April 2013 Financial Inclusion and housing

June 2013 Business/employment

Future dates and venues to be identified and circulated to Commission (Susan Moses)