1. Haringey CAB Our role in working to combat Child Poverty in Haringey Markos Chrysostomou

2. Why? • 5th highest proportion of children in poverty in the UK. • 9 out of 19 wards with Child Poverty levels of over 50%. • Responding to the needs of thecommunity.

3. How did we become involved? • Previous outreach work through New Deal for Communities. • NRF funded Project - Reaping the Benefits – outreach income maximisation project in 3 of the poorest wards. • Target groups included families. • Delivered in partnership with LBH Neighbourhood Management. • 2 of the venues were Children’s Centres.

4. Building on Experience • Financial outcomes from income maximisation work in outreach settings were high. • Need for targeted Benefit Take Up work confirmed. • Targeting parents through working in Children’s Centres increased access for parents in non stigmatising environments. • Having pressed for an anti poverty strategy the Haringey Child Poverty Action Group was set up to specifically address Child Poverty in Haringey. • Funding secured to research and develop initiatives to combat Child Poverty, including a pilot Children’s Centre advice service in a deprived area in the West of the borough.

5. Delivering Services • Reaping the Benefits has run for nearly 4 years but due to end January. Over £1.5 million in extra benefits and debt write offs gained. • Funding secured to provide a borough wide Children’s Centres Advice Project providing Benefits and Money advice to parents. • Project is funded for 6 months up to March 2011 and has to achieve outcomes of 200 families & £100k in extra benefits. The 1st month has already seen money gains and more than 50 families have accessed the service. • Added value includes training sessions and 2nd tier support to Children’s Centre staff.

6. Actively influencing Policy • Membership of Haringey CPAG. • Reporting on outcomes and trends. • Contributing to the Child Poverty Needs Assessment. • Making recommendations for strategy development. • Working with Children’s Centre staff & Council Officers to increase awareness of issues affecting parents. • Provision of information and training to increase front line support for parents.

7. Where from here? • Reducing Child Poverty remains a priority. • LAs have to involve the 3rd sector in strategy development. • Haringey has completed it’s needs assessment. • Bureaux in strong position to deliver programmes. • Our work with Haringey has been recognised by the Child Poverty Unit & evidence from our work will be used in the submission to Frank Field.

8. Lessons Learned • Effective preparation. • Agree effective resource allocation. • Effective promotion and engagement with targeted communities. • Review and Analysis throughout project life cycle. • Recognise, celebrate & communicate success. • Multi faceted monitoring & building on data acquired to inform development of future projects. • Make recommendations and contribute to policy development.

9. The Importance of Partnership “Both the Children’s Centres and CAB have a strong commitment to relieving child poverty within Haringey – neither party can achieve this alone. By working together we combine resources and expertise to provide a strong and effective service to the whole family. This is why Haringey Council is working together in partnership to deliver a borough wide Children’s Centre Advice Service.” Annie Jordan – Working Families Information Officer, London Borough of Haringey.