Children's rights report amended
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 September 2024
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1 Children’s Rights Report: 2020-2023 Review. Foreword Welcome to Argyll and Bute’s Second Children’s Rights Report, an update from our initial one first published in 2020. The last three years have been challenging as we have come through the Covid19 Pandemic, working together as a community to keep people safe and well. This has shown that we may be a place with small towns and many remote, rural and island places but with a strong sense of identity and a willingness to work together to tackle new challenges. In all of this, the Council and the Health Board have led the way, working to provide leadership and ensure the best use of all our resources. We recognise that times, that have also included a cost of living crisis and a war in Ukraine, have been particularly hard on our children and young people. A University of Edinburgh study has found that the number of young people in rural Scotland who say they are lonely is substantially higher than, elderly people in the same communities. Over 3,000 people, aged 16-96, from across rural Scotland, including Argyll and Bute, took part in the RuralCovidLife survey. The study, which took place in October and November 2020, showed 32% of those aged 18 to 29 said they feel lonely most or all of the time, compared with 3% in the 70-79 age group, and 8% of the total surveyed. In the last 4 years, they have faced physical, emotional and educational challenges that have demanded a great deal of resilience from them and respect from all of us. We welcome the fact that in Scotland, the needs and rights of children are being recognised and the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child is being embedded into law and the work of all local authorities, Health Boards and other organisations. In the coming year we will be consulting and working with our children, young people and their parents to make sure that we get things right and embrace the changes. Our vision is that Argyll and Bute is a place where everyone has a voice and children and young people are supported to achieve their potential and feel healthy, happy and valued. Fiona Davies Chief Officer Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Pippa Milne Chief Executive Argyll & Bute Council Pam Dudek Chief Executive NHS Highland Health Board Chair Children’s Strategic Group Children’s Rights Report: 2020-2023 Review.
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2 Contents Foreword 1 List of Contents 2 Introduction 3-5 Important Things We Are Doing In Argyll and Bute 1. Involving Children and Young People 5-6 2. Getting it Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) 6-7 3. Equality Impact Assessments 7-8 4. UNCRC Education Update 8-10 5. Child Protection 10-11 6. Child Health 11-12 7. Tackling Child Poverty 12-14 8. A Rights Respecting Approach to Youth Justice 14-16 9. The Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership 16 10. Housing 16 11. Transport 16-17 12. The Promise 17-18 13. Trauma-Informed workforce 18 14. Tackling Domestic Violence 18-20 15. Working with Refugees in Argyll and Bute 20-21 16. Employability 21-24 17. Young Carers 25 18. Bute Advice Centre 25-27 19. Free Period Products 27-28 20. Appendix 1: Related Plans and Strategies 28 21. Appendix 2: Links for More Information 29 22. Appendix 3: Graphic, child friendly version of the Child 29 Poverty Action Plan
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3 Introduction In 2020, Argyll and Bute completed its first Children’s Rights Report; it looked at what was happening at that time to support children’s rights in Argyll and Bute and what had been done to support children and young people during the covid19 pandemic. Since that first report, we have seen a recovery phase from Covid19 and the impact of other challenges including exit from the EU, the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis. Despite this work has continued to promote children’s rights both at a local and national level. We are updating this report because we think it is important for the people of Argyll and Bute to know about our children’s rights respecting work. As well, Part 1, Section 2 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 places a duty on listed public authorities to complete a children’s rights report very 3 years. This report should look at what has been done locally to further children’s rights and the requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Argyll and Bute’s commitment to children’s rights, equalities and achieving the best possible outcomes for our communities is reflected in our Corporate Plan 2023 – 2027 and that can be found here: AB_CorporatePlan_3.pdf (argyll-bute.gov.uk) It includes working to achieve a thriving economy, providing more affordable homes, helping people affected by fuel poverty and the cost of living crisis and improving educational outcomes for children and young people. Since our last report, on a national level, the Scottish Government fully committed to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC or Convention) into Scots law. This commitment was met partially in 2021 when the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill (Incorporation Bill). The Bill is being reviewed in light of the ruling from the United Kingdom Supreme Court that it must adhere to the Scottish Government's devolved competencies to become binding Scottish legislation. The Scottish Government is intending to pass this bill into law in 2023; this means that Royal Assent is expected by mid-2024 and for it to be fully in force within 6 months of this. In Argyll and Bute, we have continued to work to ensure that everything we do is in the best interests of the child and to do this whilst delivering on a number of important areas including: Child Protection; Tackling child poverty; The Promise and the National Trauma Training Programme (NTTP); The Equally Safe Strategy; Whole Family Support; Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC); Employability for Young People: The Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) and No One Left Behind (NOLB); Youth Justice; Children’s Rights in Schools; Children’s Rights and commissioning.
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4 Children’s rights are human rights and are the basic rights and freedoms to which we are all entitled in order to live with dignity, equality and fairness, and to develop and reach our potential. Human rights are: universal inalienable (not taken/given away) indivisible interdependent (loss of one impacts all) Duties of Local Authorities There are a number of elements of the bill that are important for local authorities to be aware of and act on: Public authorities will not be allowed to act in a way, which is incompatible with the UNCRC requirements. Children, young people, and their representatives will have the power to go to court to enforce their rights. Courts will have powers to decide if legislation is compatible with the UNCRC requirements. Existing legislation will have to be read in a way, which is compatible with the UNCRC requirements wherever possible. The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and Scottish Human Rights Commission will have powers to take legal action to protect children’s rights. Local authorities and others listed in the Bill will have to report every three years on what they are doing to meet the UNCRC requirements. To assist local authorities in meeting these obligations, the Scottish Government and Improvement Service have provided a Framework for Implementation that sets out the area that require to be addressed. These are: 1. Leadership; 2. Participation of Children and Young People; 3. Empowerment of Children and Young People; 4. Child Friendly Complaints Procedure; 5. Training and Awareness Raising; 6. Improving Practice- Tools and Resources to support your work; 7. Publishing Child Friendly Information; 8. Measuring Progress; 9. Children’s Rights Budgeting; 10. Accountability and Reporting on Children’s Rights; 11. Non Discrimination / Rights at Risk Government Guidance states: Children’s rights are not just relevant to children and young person’s services. All decisions made about and actions taken to deliver public services may impact on the rights and wellbeing of children. This means that every decision
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5 made by the Council, Health Board, and Police, Fire and Rescue and others must give consideration to the impact on children and children’s rights. A word cloud about children’s rights Important Things We Are Doing In Argyll and Bute: 1. Involving Children and Young People We think it is very important to involve children and young people across Argyll and Bute in planning how we embed the UNCRC into our work. To do this, our multi- agency UNCRC Implementation team, following consultation with children and young people, put in a bid to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Innovation Fund. This was for monies to achieve 3 key outcomes: Bring children and staff together to talk about how best to embed UNCRC. To learn what children and young people think will work and how they want to be involved Create and deliver an awards scheme, in coproduction with children and young people that will encourage and recognize the progress of teams working to change the way their staff and departments function so that the rights of children and young people are respected and they are included in decision making. The awards scheme directly contributes to the effective implementation of the Getting Ready for UNCRC Incorporation Framework and ensures inequitable access issues are addressed for remote, rural and island children and young people as well as other groups. In doing this we want to make sure that we involve as many children and young people as possible and do so in a way that tackles some of the barriers to engagement including: Our geography and demography - Argyll and Bute covers a land area of 690,946 hectares and is the second largest local authority by area in Scotland, after Highland; it covers almost 9% of the total Scottish land area (Census 2011). Argyll and Bute has a population of 86,000 and the third sparsest population of the 32 Scottish local authorities, with an average population density of 12 persons per square kilometre. 47.6% of the population live in areas classified by the Scottish Government as ‘rural’ (Scottish Government Urban-Rural Classification 2020); 43.2% live in areas classified as ‘remote rural’; 4.4% live in areas classified as ‘accessible rural’. We have 23 populated islands.
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6 Cost of living crisis and low income – The cost of living crisis has meant that many children, young people, and their families struggle to pay bills and maintain a good standard of living. As well wages in Argyll and Bute are on average lower than the Scottish average and a higher proportion of jobs are seasonal. Average gross weekly pay for full-time workers in Argyll and Bute is £586. This compares to a Scottish average of £640 and a British average of £642 (NOMIS 2023) Figures relate to the median earnings for employees living in the area. Transport – Issues like rural roads, the need for ferries to connect people to the mainland and limited public transport in some areas makes travel for employment, study, health appointments, socialising and family etc. more difficult. Connectivity – Much has been done across Argyll and Bute to improve connectivity. However, some still struggle with this and cost can be an issue. Issues around language, culture and disability can make it harder for some children and young people to become fully involved with public bodies and having their say. The UNCRC Implementation Group has been granted £53,000 from the UNCRC Innovations Fund to achieve the desired outcomes; this will cover the period between October 2023 and October 2024. An engagement plan is being drawn up and will include some of these actions: Talking to Youth Voice and other groups about planning engagement. Planning at least 4 larger, in person events for children and young people. Developing online information and content for staff as well as children and young people. Developing material for children and young people about their rights and planned engagements in different languages and formats. Work with children and young people to design, develop and deliver an awards scheme for those staff and departments tasked with making the changes necessary to embed the UNCRC into the work of the Council. 2. Getting it Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, a children’s rights based document, states central and local Government duties in terms of children’s rights and is based on the key principles of putting the best interests of the child at the heart of decision making and taking a holistic approach to the wellbeing of a child. The Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) assessment approach is used by the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership and reflects the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This is reflected in Argyll and Bute’s Children and Young People’s Service Plan 2023 - 2026. https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/CYPSP%202023%20- %20UPDATED.pdf GIRFEC recognises that all children are unique and that each child should be helped to reach their full potential. There are clear links between the UNCRC Articles and the key elements of GIRFEC. The National practice model incorporates the 8 well-being indicators into planning, decision-making and practice, and endorses the Articles of the UNCRC.
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7 A picture of the Getting Right for Every Child Wheel with the UNCRC articles included. 3. Equality Impact Assessments A picture of young people holding hands Image provided by Freepik Equality Impact Assessments are important because they help to decide what the impacts of new policies and plans are on particular groups, for example: children, those with a disability or low-income families. Argyll and Bute Council has its own version of this called an Equality and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (EQSIA). This incorporates assessments that need to be carried out, like the Fairer Scotland Duty and the Island Communities’ Impact Assessment. There is a commitment and
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8 obligation to carry these out and to consult with individuals and groups who may be affected by the proposed changes. In order to ensure that the rights and needs of children and young people are given consideration when policies, plans and changes are being considered. The Scottish Government has also introduced the Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessments (CRWIA’s); these use both the Wellbeing Indicators (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, Included - SHANARRI) and the UNCRC Articles to assess the potential impact of a policy or other measure, on children and young people’s rights and wellbeing in Scotland. Argyll and Bute Council is committed to carrying out Equality and Socio-Economic Impact Assessments. Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessments (CRWIA’s) are not currently incorporated into the council’s approach to impact assessment and are carried out on a case-by-case basis. As an alternative, Services have the option of carrying out impact assessments in a ‘modular’ format. Some Services may prefer this for larger proposals as trying to combine all facets of impact assessment into one form can be challenging. One example where a Service has chosen to carry out its impact assessments in a ‘modular’ way relates to the Local Housing Strategy. This approach also afforded an opportunity for a CRWIA to be carried out in parallel with other impact assessment activity. See: CRWIA for Local Housing Strategy (Jan 2022). The Council is currently reviewing its approach, in part because of the upcoming incorporation of the UNCRC. Work on this has been delayed in parallel with SG’s delays in producing the legislation. 4. UNCRC Education Update Education has continued to embed practices to ensure that we have a trauma informed workforce and we are continuing to develop a nurture approach in our practice. Argyll & Bute Council has developed its own Nurturing School framework that is ensuring that this practice is being developed in an informed and structured way, whilst ensuring that we continue to meet the needs to specific school communities. Rights Respecting Schools also continues to be rolled out across our ELCs, Primary and Secondary Schools. The table below illustrates the progress of Rights Respecting Schools in session 2022-23. A table showing, how many and what kind of schools are taking part in Rights Respecting School. June 2022 Goal (to support registered schools and increase number of registered schools) June 2023 Difference 43 schools and 2 partner nurseries registered 60 establishments 55 schools and 2 partner nurseries registered Increase of 12 schools registered for RRSA -3 from target
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9 9 schools at Registration Phase All schools registering in session 22/23 to gain Bronze accreditation 9 schools at Registration Phase In total, there have been 12 NEW registrations and 9 of them have achieved Bronze. ¾ of target. 24 schools at Bronze 7 to achieve Bronze 32 schools at Bronze Increase of 8 4 were registered prior to June 2022 and 5 registered after August 2022 Target met 8 schools at Silver • 6 to achieve Silver • 6 to book Silver for 23/24 13 schools at Silver 4 booked for Session 23/24 Increase of 5 -1 from target 4 schools at Gold 4 to set dates for Gold Accreditation 5 schools at Gold 1 booked for 23/24 Increase of 1 Half of target (2 to book). To support the development of the rights based approach across our schools, we held a Head Teacher Conference in Nov 2022 with all professional learning linked to UNCRC articles. This format is being used for a HT Conference in Nov 2023 when we will also be welcoming the Children’s Commissioner as our Guest Note Speaker. We are developing our work around Refugee & Asylum seeker families. Extending the practice from the re-settlement team who actively support the involvement of parents within their communities. An Art Exhibition took place in Rothesay in June 2022, using the community to exhibit artwork produced in schools, as part of the Scottish Refugee Festival. The theme for the exhibition was Hope. A young person has also been involved in the creation of a video developed by our Resettlement Team, giving a voice to his experience and how he has settled in Scotland. Young people have involved in outdoor activities at Ardroy Outdoor Centre run by Fife Council. This was a weeklong residential activity for 26 10-15 year old refugee and asylum seeking young people from across the authority. We had Ukrainians, Syrians and Sudanese children and young people attending this. The work was designed to build confidence, develop communities and increase access to extra-curricular activities. Professional development has remained a key focus for our education staff. The professional learning sway has introduced opportunities at all levels for equality training. In February 2023, we re-launched our LGBTQ+ Network Group. This group required a renewed focus following covid19. We held a Purple Friday Conference in February 2023 but following evaluation feedback, have agreed that an annual conference will take place in November, with this already arranged for Nov 2023. Training has also taken place for Education Officers. We currently have 1 Secondary School that has achieved their LGBT Youth Charter Award and the LGBTQ+ Network is supporting a further 3 schools (2 Secondary Schools and 1 Joint Campus) to begin this journey. TIE will be hosting a workshop at the Head Teacher Conference in November to raise awareness of the professional learning pathway that they have
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10 developed and the professional responsibilities of staff in relation to inclusive education. The MyTribe Project that ensures that free period products are accessible to those who menstruate, has been supported by the development of MyTribe ambassadors within our schools. Ambassadors from Lochgilphead Joint Campus recently met with MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville (Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice). This opportunity for young people to champion causes that they are passionate about is also evident in the continued roll out of the Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme. Currently, 4 of our Secondary Schools are Trained with a further 4 planning to undertake the training. The peer education programme is an important part of the work that is being undertaking in relation to the wider work of Argyll & Bute Council in relation to the Violence Against Women and Girls Project. We worked with the Northern Alliance to provide SeeMeSeeChange training for 10/11 of our secondary schools. This work is aimed reducing stigma around mental health issues. This is a community-based approach and school have been encouraged to involve pupils, parents, staff and partners in the development of their action plan. Training was completed in August. Action plans are currently underway. The Education department have been working alongside our colleagues in health to develop the Planet Youth approach to drug and alcohol prevention. The ADP have funded this survey. In 2021, 2 schools participated in the survey, in Sept/Oct 2023 5 of our secondary schools (including 2 island schools) have participated in the survey. Results are expected in the end of November. The survey data is important in hearing young people’s voice in relation to their experience and what is impacting on them to enable us to work together to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors. Young people have been involved at school level in helping to inform and co-design approaches. Work is being developed to ensure that the voice of young people can be used from this data to inform approaches on a broader local authority level. This has been developed through the Place Based Approach to Wellbeing work. In the development of the Children and Young People’s Service Plan, a group of young people informed a 1 page plan approach and co-designed an animation to help explain the Children and Young People’s Service Plan to others. https://www.dropbox.com/s/z1jyeg2sy28arnu/What%20does%20the%20CYPSP%20m ean%20for%20you%3F.mp4?dl=0 Children and Young people also helped in the design of the 1 page Child Poverty Action Plan, this has been shared with a variety of stakeholders. Two of our Primary Schools have been successful in securing Food For Thought Grants. Both projects are planned around making fresh food more accessible within their local communities and ensure that children are developing skills for learning life and work. 5. Child Protection Child protection in Scotland is a rights based approach that acknowledges that the UNCRC articles are indivisible and interrelated: Protection from harm is integral to upholding children’s human rights UNCRC articles underpin legislation, policy and principles of child protection practice Rights based practice is central to child protection practice
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11 Key Articles include Art 3, 6, 12, 18, 19, 34, 39 In Argyll and Bute we believe that everyone has a duty and responsibility to protect all children from harm and that a continued focus on rights is essential to drive improvement. This can only happen if we continue to focus on the voice of the child and listening to their views. The Argyll and Bute Child Protection Committee (ABCPC) brings together all the organisations involved in protecting children in the area. The kind of things it will consider in order to protect children include: Practice Considerations: Child’s rights and needs Childs’ views and wishes Legislation /policy Risks Need for protection Rights considerations 6. Child Health Within our services, the GIRFEC Practice Model encompasses the UNCRC approach into everyday practice. The practice model ensures that all staff working with children are doing what is best in the interests of the child. It is non-discriminatory and ensures that children have a right to life and development. It also ensures that children are protected from harm and abuse. Staff promote healthy lifestyle choices for parents and children, access to education, family life and play. The Nursery Nurses play a key part in this type of service delivery. In addition children (where appropriate depending on age and stage of development) and families are involved in decision making particularly where there are requirements for Child's Plans, Safeguarding etc. Staff take a proactive assessment of children's basic health needs, frequent consultation with relevant services to improve the overall health assessment and treatment. Through the work with families, it has been imperative to feed back the views of children and their carers to appropriate services, providing influence and future shaping of services. An active approach to ensure provision of accessible information for children and families in all languages has been crucial. Staff actively refer to current policies and legislation that protect and support the interests and needs of children and families impacted by disability all the while taking advice from appropriate services & utilisation of legislative policy. Examples being Transition from Paediatric to Adult Services in the Context of Disability; Experiences of Transitions to Adult years and Adult Services; Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland; The Scottish Transitions Forum supported by the Association for Real Change (ARC Scotland) Advancing knowledge, practice and policy in Health & Social Care; The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 defining the responsibilities of Education authorities to assess the needs of children and young people with additional support needs. Our Health Visitors, through the Universal Health Visiting Pathway support parents and carers with parenting strategies to promote development and socialisation with support of our Nursery Nurses.
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12 Families also receive weaning advice at home with our Infant Feeding Drop in Group recommencing in January 24. Through the Healthy Start scheme, Healthy Start Vitamins are provided to pregnant mums over 10 weeks and children under 4. Building on the foundation of the early years framework School Health teams in Argyll and Bute have an integral role in early intervention, prevention and support for all school age children and young people. School Health teams concentrate primarily on the ten identified key priorities under the overall headings of vulnerable children and families, mental health and wellbeing and risk taking behaviours. Supporting documents - Specialist school nursing: priority areas and pathways - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) Any school age child or young person can access support from School Nurses. The SHANNARI Wellbeing indicators, informed by the UNCRC rights and requirements are a fundamental resource to support School Nurses understand what children and young people need in order to grow, develop and thrive. Examples of good practice include the routine use of the Wellbeing Web, a tool that enables School Nurses to work alongside children and young people to help them recognise where they are, where they would like to be and what steps they need to take to get there. Other areas of good practice are the "wellbeing hubs" set up in secondary schools. Young people can directly self-refer or "drop in" to see a member of the School Health team while in school. 7. Tackling Child Poverty Poverty is a human rights issue that engages many human rights standards that are interdependent and interrelated. This includes – but isn’t limited to – equality and non- discrimination, the right to an adequate standard of living, food, housing, social security, health, work, education, participation, private and family life. SNAP 2: Scotland’s Second National Human Rights Action Plan (2023-2030). In 2017, the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act came into force as an attempt to put in place measures that would reduce the concerning increase in child poverty, both on a national and local level. The Act also introduced a new requirement for local authorities and each relevant Health Board to jointly prepare a Local Child Poverty Action Report every year up until 2030. Tackling child poverty is one of the Council’s top priorities. Child poverty is a cause and a consequence of child rights violation. UNCRC is about ensuring children’s rights, as well as preventing and removing obstacles to ensuring those rights. Important UNCRC articles to remember when looking at child poverty include: Article 27: the right to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development; Article 24: the right to the highest attainable standard of health; Article 26: the right to benefit from social security; Article 23: the right for disabled children to enjoy a full and decent life; Article 28: the right to education;
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13 Article 12: the right to be heard. The Cost of Living Crisis in Scotland: analytical report (Scot. Gov. 2 November 2022) Showed that some families were more likely to be affected by the cost of living crisis. A set of boxes showing what families are most likely to be affected by the cost of living crisis. In Argyll and Bute we know it is important to ensure additional support for children and young people living on our islands in order to protect their rights. In this time of cost of living crisis, living on an island can cost 20% or more than living on the mainland. A range of measures will help support island communities as the cost of living crisis continues. Financial support for community food organisations, access to free school meals and help to buy essential supplies and services all feature, as part of a £141,000 fund. Argyll and Bute Council secured funding from the Scottish Government’s Island Cost Crisis Emergency fund. It aims to support urgent action to help island residents facing financial challenges. The measures include: Love Local gift cards - Each household in receipt of council tax reduction on the islands will receive a gift card to the value of £85. The cards will enable over 1,200 households to access essential supplies and services. The council is writing to eligible households and more information will be available by the end of the month. Four community food organisations will receive £4,000 each. They include; Bute Oasis, Mull and Iona Pantry, Solar Tiree, and Islay and Jura Community Store Cupboard. This follows previous payments of £6,888 each in February and March 2023.
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14 Free School Meal Top Ups – funding of £25,000 will help the council support 75 families and 89 pupils for the full school year. Other examples of good work going on includes the Flexible Food and Fuel Fund to support all people impacted by poverty especially families with children. At the end of March 2023, it had supported 1,810 households with benefits maximisation and fuel poverty advice. The value of that support is estimated as £2.527 million, which is the combined client gain. Another would be the work going on to use data to help us see where families are not claiming full benefit entitlement and advise them of this. You can read all about it and other work going on in our Child Poverty Action Report 2022 – 2023 here: A B Child Poverty Action Plan 2022-23. indd.pdf (argyll-bute.gov.uk) A box containing a link to a Council website that helps people with money worries. 8. A Rights Respecting Approach to Youth Justice In Argyll and Bute we believe in a Rights Respecting Approach to Youth Justice. We think it is important that the voices and opinions of children and young people in the youth justice system should be heard and taken into consideration when planning is taking place that may relate to them and outcomes for them. We believe that it is also important to: Develop a whole systems approach that seeks to address the needs of children and young people and diverts them away from the criminal justice system, recognising the need to work in partnership in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people. Criminalisation of the behaviour of children and young people should be avoided wherever possible as this can have lifelong negative impacts on them. To work together to ensure that where children and young people do become involved with the justice system, their experiences are as positive as possible and they are treated in an age and rights respecting manner. To remember that poor behaviours happen for a reason and it is important to work together to identify the needs and traumas that may had led to those behaviours. These may include domestic abuse, neglect and living in poverty. We need to work in a way that recognises the additional barriers that some children and young people may face, including culture, language, communication needs and disability. If you need advice on money worries, debt, benefits, housing and more, you can find it here: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/council-tax-and- benefits/money-advice/cost-living-money-bills-and-benefits
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15 Support and work with those children and young people who may have been the victims of offences. Work together with parents and carers to address the problem or criminal behaviour of young people and keep families safe and together. Support the implementation of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill Some of the ways we are trying to achieve this include: Using GIREFEC and the child and young people plans and meetings to ensure a continuum of services from early intervention to CARM. Work together to reduce the number of school exclusions, particularly for care experienced children and young people. Continue to refine and develop our Early and Effective Interventions pathways to divert children and young people away from offending behaviour. Early and Effective Intervention (EEI) is a national framework for working with young people of 8 - 17 years who have been involved in offending behaviour. Continuous improvement of our diversion from prosecution and custody options for those young people at the transition to adult justice systems. Ensure that Rights Respecting work goes on in our schools and seeks to engage all pupils in these principles. Ensure that staff working with children and young people (Social Workers, Justice Workers, Health Workers, and Teachers etc.) are trauma informed and are able to identify and address behaviours and need. Ensure that staff have training in key areas that might impact on children, young people and their behaviours; these include domestic violence, poverty, drugs and alcohol. We are rolling out Safe and Together training to our staff; this will allow them to better work with domestic abuse, stand with the victim, hold perpetrators accountable for their behaviours and keep more children safe and together with the non-offending partner. Investing in our CAMH’s services to ensure that mental health needs are met in a timely and appropriate manner. Our Employability Team is working to provide employment and related opportunities to all young people in order to ensure positive routes to adulthood and independence. Ensure that Standards for Working with Children In Conflict with the Law (Scottish Govt, 2021) are understand and fully implemented across all relevant services. Working with children in conflict with the law 2021: standards - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
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16 Argyll & Bute’s Community Justice Partnership to establish a Youth Justice Sub group during 2023/24 to identify service improvement priorities and enhance key areas of youth justice service delivery across both children’s and justice services. 9. The Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership The Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership is committed to meaningful empowerment and participation of children and young people and works to ensure that children and young people have a voice in decisions that affect them. Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament who are elected to represent Argyll and Bute are invited to sit on the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee and other relevant community planning groups, along with members of their support team from Live Argyll. The Community Planning Partnership works with Live Argyll and other third sector, non-statutory community youth organisations to engage with young people when seeking views on its strategic planning. Most recently, this involved creating a youth-friendly version of a consultation survey and working with partners to ensure that young people were appropriately supported to participate, in order to ensure that young people’s voices were included in the development of the next Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan. 10. Housing Argyll and Bute Council declared a Housing Emergency on 1st June 2023. This was due to a reduction in housing supply, a steady increase in demand including different types of housing, and increasing levels of un-affordability. The pandemic and cost of living crisis has exacerbated the situation. There has been an 8% increase in the number of people on housing waiting lists. Argyll and Bute has 5% less social housing than average and has seen a 29% increase in homeless presentations. The Council has already identified improving housing solutions as a priority and is fully committed to working with partners to deliver a broad range of activities, both short and long term, to target action where it is needed. A key priority will be to ensure an adequate housing provision to provide safe, secure homes for families and children to flourish and lead happy, health lives. 11. Transport Transport is an issue of concern in Argyll and Bute where 47.6% of the population live in areas classified by the Scottish Government as ‘rural’ (Scottish Government Urban- Rural Classification 2020); 43.2% live in areas classified as ‘remote rural’; 4.4% live in areas classified as ‘accessible rural’. We have 23 populated islands and a longer coastline than France. Transport issues, like poor roads, limited bus travel and ferry disruptions, can make it harder for children, young people to feel included and social isolation is sometimes be an issue. Transport can also impact on child poverty with the cost of living in remote, rural and island places being higher than in urban areas. As well, transport can impact on health where people have to travel considerable distances to attend appointments and seek medical support. These issues have been recognised in Argyll and Bute are known to be important when ensuring that children’s rights are respected and they have equal opportunity and access to resources wherever they live. Equality Impact Assessments are carried out
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17 where there are transport changes being considered that might impact on the lives of children, young people and families. In the course of 2023, consultation has been taking place across Argyll and Bute with people, including children and young people from a wide range of communities and groups. This was to get people’s views in order to develop the next Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan (ABOIP). In all 1,978 participants were asked to choose their priorities from 7 suggested themes: Climate Change; Community Wellbeing; Digital Inclusion; Diverse Economy and Skilled Workforce; Financial Inclusion; Housing; Transport Infrastructure. Overall, the top 3 priorities chosen from the 1,978 participants were: • Transport Infrastructure, • Housing, • Community Wellbeing. Work is going on to look at transport, for example Active Travel consultations have been taking place in 2023 looking at the transport routes in and around our towns to see how they can be improved and made more accessible. One of these is looking at how best to provide safer, healthier travel to the Lochgilphead Joint Education Campus. Transport issues are also being looked at as part of the Rural Growth Deal, which will look at improving business, infrastructure, employment and development across Argyll and Bute. Children and young people are being engaged with and some are taking action directly. In November 2023, Pupils at Hermitage Primary advocated for safer streets and a greener environment at their school by launching a campaign to address parking issues during drop-off and collection times. Pupil committee members distributed leaflets to parents, urging them to reconsider their parking habits. Pupils also urged parents to think about the environment and consider walking or cycling. Because of their efforts, the school has already experienced a significant reduction in the number of cars parking dangerously outside the school, with many stopping further away or adopting alternative ways of travelling to school. Other work planned to look at transport will be the setting up of a Short Life Working Group to consider transport and related barriers for those needing to travel from island places in times of crisis, for example where fleeing from domestic abuse or where there is a need to travel to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Glasgow. 12. The Promise The promise that Scotland made to care experienced children and young people is built on five foundations: family, voice, care, people and scaffolding. The promise is that care experienced children will grow up loved, safe and respected. You can read about that here:
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18 https://thepromise.scot/what-is-the- promise/about#:~:text=The%20promise%20that%20Scotland%20made,%2C%20care %2C%20people%20and%20scaffolding. In Argyll & Bute Children and Young Peoples Service Plan 2023 – 2026, the commitment is made that: We have fully committed to the promise made to Scotland’s infants, children, young people, adults, and families. By 2030, we will transform our care system and the values around which it operates. Ensuring we uphold safe, loving relationships that are important to children and young people and that we continue the transformation of our community services to make sure more children are supported to stay safely with their families. Integral to this plan is building upon and embedding our commitment to the priorities and values of the Promise. (P.5) You can read about that here: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/education-and-learning/children-and-young-peoples- services-plan-2023-2026 13. Trauma-Informed workforce In 2019, Argyll and Bute Children’s Services were selected by the Scottish Government as one of three areas to develop approaches to implementing the delivery of high quality and sustainable trauma training across the children’s workforce, including carers. The collaboration between education, psychology services, social work, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), and the third sector has been central to the delivery of this trial. Following a successful launch event held in Dunoon in December 2019, and despite the circumstances of the pandemic, we have successfully rolled out training across the workforce. At our Trauma Conference in November 2022, we celebrated our success and looked to the future with 135 practitioners, caregivers, managers, and young people. This conference celebrated the changes to practice that are making a difference to children, young people, and families, through the meaningful participation of young people. The work of the Family Placement Team, our nurturing schools, engagement with dyadic developmental practice and We have committed to further embedding our trauma- responsive children’s services and children’s workforce as a key strategic priority for the Children and Young People’s Service Plan 2023–26, supported by the appointment of a trauma training coordinator to help embed training across services. 14. Tackling Domestic Violence The Argyll and Bute Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership is a multiagency partnership, supported by the Council, which seeks to prevent gender based violence and support victims and their children. It also works to ensure that perpetrators are dealt with appropriately as well as having the opportunity to accept responsibility and change their behaviours. It is comprised of a number of key partners including: Health and Social Care, Police, Education, The third sector, Council, Justice Services,
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19 Fire and Rescue, Community Justice, Universities and colleges, Housing, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). Children’s rights are recognised as key to the work of this partnership as they are harmed by domestic violence and other forms of gender based violence. Every year, nearly 130,000 people in Scotland experience domestic abuse. There are over 9,000 people at risk of being murdered or seriously harmed; over 12,000 children live in these households (Source: Safe lives) In total, 9,274 concerns were identified at Child Protection Case Conferences of all children registered during 2021-22. Of the total number of concerns identified, one of the most common was domestic abuse (16%). The highest proportion of concerns recorded were domestic abuse (46%); neglect (43%); parental substance misuse (42%); parental mental health problems (41%); and emotional abuse (37%). (Children's Social Work Statistics Scotland: 2021 to 2022; Scottish Government) In 2022 the Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership was successful in gaining a grant of £68,852.40 from the Developing Equally Safe Fund for a project called: Transforming Responses to Violence against Women and Girls. This project focused on commencing a roll out of the Safe and Together Model. This model looks to keep children out of care and safe and together at home with the non-abusive partner in where there is domestic violence. It also looks to develop ways of working that ensure partnering with the non-abusive partner and holds the abusive partner to account for their behaviour and its impact on children and young people. This represents a key change to the way in which child protection is managed in cases where there is domestic abuse and should give more victims the confidence to disclose when domestic abuse is taking place. Actions to date have included: Delivery of the Safe and Together Virtual overview presentation to over 200 staff and managers. Setting up of a Project Board. Core and management training to Social Workers involved in child protection and childcare. Training is being rolled out to other professionals including health, education, housing and the third sector. A number of other training events have been rolled out to staff in order to raise awareness and skills in a number of areas. These include: Awareness Raising, Routine Enquiry; How the Police work with Domestic Abuse; Harmful Traditional Practices; Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour Based Violence Assessment (DASH); Trauma work and the Impact of Domestic Abuse; Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking. Research has been carried out looking at the delivery of services in domestic abuse cases in Argyll and Bute. A picture of a poster on a bench with two candles on it; the poster says “You have the power to bring light to life from darkness.”
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20 15. Working with Refugees in Argyll and Bute The Council’s Resettlement Team works in partnership with other organisations through the Refugee Programme. Work began in 2015 and began with Syrian resettlement, a UK wide scheme whereby local authorities provided accommodation and support. In Argyll and Bute Syrian families and individuals were found homes on the island of Bute and organisations worked together to provide multi-agency, person centred support. This programme continues today and now includes other nationalities; it has proven highly successful, winning a number of awards, including COSLA Excellence Awards and is seen as a benchmark settlement programme. There are now over 300 Ukrainian refugees and children and young people are being taught in 22 schools and early learning settings across Argyll and Bute Work with Ukrainian families is different as it is community based but still resettlement led. Support remains multi-agency and person centred. Some 300 Ukrainian citizens have been welcomed to Argyll and Bute under two different schemes. With the “Homes for Ukrainians” UK Government backed scheme people match with a sponsor in the UK; it is the task of the local authority to complete checks on the prospective sponsors. The second scheme for Ukrainian people was set up by the Scottish Government and will provide places for up to 45,000 people. They are placed in hotels across Scotland and local authorities match them with sponsors from there. Challenges may arise in the future with the need to identify longer-term accommodation for everyone. To date this has been successfully managed in Argyll and Bute and no one has been identified as statutorily homeless. The Council’s Resettlement Team has been scaled up to provide support for Ukrainians and this has included: Housing; Interpreters; English Lessons; Employability support; Benefits and Grants;
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21 Physical and mental health supports and counselling. Outcomes for people placed across Argyll and Bute are good and provision provided is a notable example of effective multi-agency partnership working. To make children, young people and their families aware of their rights the Motivation and Welling Being Profile has been translated. Supporting wellbeing and recovery from trauma is a high priority in work with all refugee children and young people. Counselling is in place in schools and work is going on to partner with parents and involve them in school communities. Engagement work will take place in the coming months to ensure that refugee children have their say in how the UNCRC is embedded locally. 16. Employability A square with A.B.E.P. in it; it is the logo for the Argyll and Bute Employability Partnership. The Argyll and Bute Employability Partnership believes that supporting people to gain employability skills and good employment opportunities helps to increase household incomes and reduce poverty. Employability Child Poverty coordinator The Scottish Government is funding Employability Child Poverty coordinator roles situated within each of the 32 Local Authorities. This role will provide an additional resource to support the delivery of commitments set out in Best Start Bright Futures (Scottish Govt. Tackling child poverty delivery plan) by ensuring alignment between Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs) and wrap-around services that support parents’ transition or progression within work, such as childcare and transport. Argyll and Bute Employability Partnership is in the process of recruiting a Coordinator to work alongside employability partners and child poverty leads. Helping People into Work https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/jobs-and-training/helping- people-work Argyll and Bute Council’s Employability Team and Third Sector delivery partners support: Individuals between the ages of 16 and 67 years who are facing barriers in moving towards and into employment Young people within 6 months of the school leaving date who require support to move towards and into work. Low income parents (including kinship carers) who require support to move towards, into or to increase their income in-work.
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22 Employers looking to host a fully funded work placement or recruit someone utilising an employer recruitment incentive There are a number of programmes available to residents of Argyll and Bute: Fair Start Scotland (FSS) is delivered by Argyll and Bute Council’s Employability Team on behalf of PeoplePlus. FSS helps people who want to work but find it difficult based on their circumstances. Referrals will cease at 31st March 2024 as the Scottish Government is bringing all contracts to an end to allow progression to Next Phase No One Left Behind (NOLB). FSS has been successful with 407 people supported from April 2018: 151 (42%) of the 360 exits moved into work 37 of those in work currently receiving in work support 47 continuing to receive pre-work support Find out more about Fair Start Scotland and how support can help people access and be supported to remain in employment. No One Left Behind: Tackling Child Poverty https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/jobs-and-training/helping- people-work The main objectives/expected outcomes of this Scottish Government Funding is: To reduce levels of child poverty by supporting parents from the priority family groups to increase their income from employment; To reduce inequality in the labour market by supporting those further from the labour market to increase their income from employment. To maximise the role that employability plays in delivering national and local aims of tackling poverty, promoting inclusion and social justice and creating a fair and prosperous Scotland. From 1st April 2022 to 31 March 2023, 371 participants commenced support. Of these participants: 157 moved into work 25 commenced volunteering 59 not currently in a positive destination 130 continuing to receive pre-work support In 2023/24, delivery of employability support is available to 159 participants aged 15 to 67 years by providers from the Argyll and Bute Employability Partnership. This intervention is managed and monitored by the Employability Team: • InspirAlba is leading a large Third Sector Consortium providing tailored support packages to 130 All Age participants across Argyll and Bute. Working in partnership with MAYDS, Fyne Futures, Centre 81, The Help Project and Oban Youth Café. ALIenergy and Bute Advice also provide specialist support in terms of income maximisation, debt and fuel costs. • Workingrite is delivering in partnership with MAYDS in Mid Argyll, Oban, Lorn and the Isles. 25 All Age participants will be supported within paid, mentored
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23 work placements with local small businesses and real opportunities for fair and sustainable employment. • The Employability Team is continuing to support 4 participants aged 25 plus through an Employer Recruitment Incentive. Tackling Child Poverty is priority therefore support will also be provided to 213 parents to help move them into employment or by assisting, those already in work increase their household income. Delivered by providers of the Argyll and Bute Employability Partnership, this intervention is also managed and monitored by the Employability Team: • InspirAlba is offering tailored support packages to 140 parents across Argyll and Bute with the assistance of their Third Sector MAYDS, Fyne Futures, Centre 81, The Help Project and Oban Youth Café. ALIenergy and Bute Advice also provide specialist support in terms of income maximisation, debt and fuel costs. Two further interventions are available to 28 parents: To address the lack of childminders in the area, a childminder pilot will support 4 parents to transition from benefits to self-employment. A budget cookery pilot will engage with 24 parents to enable them learn and gain confidence to cook healthy filling meals on a budget. Skills and training obtained will be transferable to hospitality sector. The Employability Team’s Employability Team PESF Engagement Worker continues to provide a flexible and user-based model of delivery to support 30 parents into work as well as helping those already in work to increase their household income: • Person-centred help for parents to address their barriers to work, which might include a lack of skills or work experience, health support, money advice, confidence building or motivational support. • Targeted support to help parents already in work through the provision of training and employability support to remain active in the workplace and gain progression through a rewarding career. • Confidential income and money advice including: Benefit checks, help with claim processes and better off calculations Help with debts Creation of a bespoke budget for the family Budgeting skills support to ensure long lasting effect Real Living Wage work placements are available with the council’s Catering and Cleaning Department. The Parental Welfare Fund is aimed at parents receiving support through Parental Employability Support/Tackling Child Poverty and who successfully secure employment. It helps with the transition to work and can alleviate any worries. Up to £1,000 is available: £500 at outset of employment £250 at week 6 of employment £250 at week 13 of employment Payments can be split and paid flexibly over a 3 month period to suit individual requirements and can fund: Timing of salary versus UC payments
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24 Initial childcare costs and deposits Existing debts Transport costs Clothes for work Buying coffees or lunches at work Employer Recruitment Incentive (ERIs) play an important role in supporting individuals with the greatest barriers to employment to enable them to obtain and remain in sustainable employment. • Up to £6,000 available to employers to allow unemployed individuals the opportunity to move into permanent or a fixed term employment contracts of up to 18 months or more. • Current funding available to support unemployed 16 to 24 year olds and parents. • ERIs have been very successful: 96 participants 74 employers 68 participants post subsidy; 48 remain in employment (71%), 4 further education (6%), 7 unemployment (10%) and 9 whereabouts unknown (13%) 28 still being supported by subsidy The UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund offers fully funded work placements and training: Two boxes that shows what work and placement help the UK Shared Prosperity Fund can offer.
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25 17. Young Carers In 2022 Young Carers alongside Carers Organisations worked together to produce a revised Young Carers Statement for Argyll & Bute, Young Carers reported feeling involved, valued and listened to during the process, and as a result the Young Carers Statement reflected what Young Carers felt was important to them. The Young Carers Statement in Argyll & Bute explores how Young Carers are feeling in their caring roles and what supports they may need to provide respite and a break from caring. Carer’s organisations in Argyll & Bute all encourage Young Carers to be active participants in planning and designing the supports and activities available to them. Schools have also been supported in raising awareness of Young Carers, through awareness raising sessions both online and in person, information was disseminated to all schools and information for parents was also shared with schools. Colleagues in Social Work and Health have also taken part in awareness raising sessions to highlight Young Carers. Furthermore, a poster aimed at unidentified Young Carers was designed and shared with schools and local communities to raise awareness of Young Carers and the supports available. During our Carers Survey in April – August 2023, Young Carers shared with us what is working well for them, what are the challenges and what they see as solutions, this feedback has contributed to the 2023-2026 Argyll & Bute Carers Strategy and as a result, Young Carers will be one of the Focus Groups for Argyll & Bute. Listening to feedback from Young Carers, we are currently reviewing the Young Carers Statement to ensure it continues to meet the needs of Young Carers. In partnership with the Carers Organisations, we will continue to work with colleagues in Education, Social Work, Health and the Third Sector to raise awareness of Young Carers, their needs and supports available. 18. Bute Advice Centre Bute Advice Centre have been in operation for over 30 years and the need for support services has never been greater. The assistance in place to protect and support children is vital and advisers ensure that clients receive the full range of support available. Many families have benefitted from the Scottish Child Payment, particularly since the age of recipients has risen from under 6 to include children up to the age of 15. The payment has also been increased from initially £10 per week to £25 per week per child. This has had a huge impact on many families’ abilities to provide children with a warm home, appropriate clothes and nutritional food to eat. From the age of 16, children in a low-income family can apply for an Educational Maintenance Allowance, dependent on attendance. Also, the provision of universal school meals for children in primary 1-5 has benefitted many families who did not quite meet the threshold for means tested benefits but were struggling financially. Publicity of the My Tribe project has reduced stigma around girls having periods and now means that no young girl needs to take days off school because they cannot afford sanitary provisions. The project is incredibly sensitive to the needs of the girls/women offering a range of products that suit all needs in a discreet and confidential way. Staff regularly explain how to log on and place an order free of charge.
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26 Welfare Rights Advisers also pay particular attention to the physical, mental and emotional issues facing clients, as disability benefits can maximise the client’s income and make things a little easier financially. Having a full benefits check carried out by a welfare rights adviser is always preferable to a do it yourself approach. Most benefits checkers are UK wide and do not necessarily drill down to the local benefits available. In Argyll and Bute the Flexible Food and Fuel Fund is available to anyone who lives in the region, has a low income, no access to savings and can access the public purse. The grants range from £160 to £1060 dependent on the size of the family. This money can be used in whatever way families need, whether it be filling the food store cupboard, topping up energy, buying new school shoes or a winter coat, essentially whatever the priority is at that point in time. This project is a fantastic example of collaboration across a number of partners, in this case Argyll & Bute Council, Bute Advice Centre, ALIenergy and the Argyll & Bute Community Food Forum. The service offered is holistic and person centred. Working in collaboration has proved to be an incredibly successful model, for both clients and the services. Welfare Rights Service The main aim of Welfare Rights Team at Argyll and Bute Council is to ensure that the residents and families of Argyll and Bute are not missing out on their entitlement to both UK and Scottish Government administered benefits and other related help. This is important in ensuring that Article 27 of the UNCRC is met. This ensures that every child has the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and social needs and support their development. We provide a free, confidential and impartial benefits advice, information and appeal representation service. The service has a key focus on maximising income and reducing poverty. Our support is targeted at some of the most vulnerable in our communities, we provide: advice and information on all aspects of the welfare benefits system administered by both the UK and the Scottish Governments advice or help on how and when to apply for benefits and other related help including completion of benefit application forms benefit checks to ensure individuals and families are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to advice and assistance with challenging decisions including representation at benefit appeal tribunals where appropriate Signposting to other help and support available We deliver training to council staff and voluntary organisations on a range of welfare rights issues We deliver talks/information sessions to partners and community groups to promote our service In 2022/23 Argyll and Bute’s Welfare Rights team assisted 1104 clients/households in total. Of these clients, 143 fell into one of the Child Poverty Priority Groups, which are noted below. This is 11% of our caseload. These figures are reported annually to the Improvement Service via the Common Advice Performance Management Reporting Framework (CAPMRF)
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27 A table showing different types of family who were helped last year by the Argyll and Bute Welfare Rights Team. It also shows how many families were helped. 19. Free Period Products Argyll and Bute’s free period product initiative, My Tribe, officially launched in August 2022. My Tribe is the innovative free period product initiative across Argyll and Bute. As a bespoke brand, they have products available in over 150 community locations, with free online ordering & delivery to any household in Argyll & Bute, with plans to reach many more in the area. In schools they have designed the My Tribe Champions initiative, normalising My Tribe and period products in our young population. Champions offer peer support to other pupils, help to access products, and provide information. Community Locations Working with local businesses, third sector organisations, internal partners and community organisations, each location receives a supply of products, as well as a branding pack to help to display the products and promote the service in their local community. My Tribe is available in: • Food Banks • Primary and Secondary Schools • Public toilets & Council buildings • Ports and Harbours • Gypsy/Traveller sites Utilising partnership working with MECOPP, My Tribe have developed an effective method of provision of period products to our Gypsy/Traveller communities. MECOPP support workers assist residents on sites to access the online ordering system, to place an order for products. This ensures they are able to access reusable products, which are available online only. This was felt to be the most inclusive approach to access. • Refugee communities Working with our resettlement teams, My Tribe have created translated literature to inform our refugee community on ways to access products. This includes translation Priority Group No of Families Families where the mother is under 25 years of age 3 Families which include a disabled child or adult 71 Families with 3+ children 13 Families with a child under 1 year old 6 Minority ethnic families 7 Single Parent Families 43 Total 143
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28 into Ukrainian, Russian and Arabic. They also distributed products via the resettlement team to our Ukrainian refugees placed into hotels. • Gyms/libraries/community centres • Island Communities/Airports My Tribe have a provision on 15 of the 23 inhabited islands in Argyll. The remaining 8 islands have a population of <12 inhabitants and may not include menstruating individuals. This provision includes some of the island airports. • Independent locations This includes premises like shops, restaurants and post offices in rural and very rural areas. It ensures that as many small, rural locations are encapsulated in their provision. It also includes places like church halls, community groups and community centres and nurseries. • Women’s refuges • Children’s homes • Oban Mountain Rescue • Tiree Music Festival Online Ordering To ensure those who need to access products can be prepared for periods, My Tribe created a website MyTribe - Free period products (mytribeargyll.co.uk). The website offers free online ordering & delivery to any household in Argyll & Bute with larger quantities of single use products, such as pads and tampons, as well as the option of reusable pads and menstrual cups. All for free. All products, including single use products are environmentally friendly, with no plastics, chemicals or toxins and are made from plant-based materials such as cotton and bamboo. Orders are placed, which is then processed via the My Tribe team. This is then sent to their suppliers who distribute the orders directly to each household. The website also has a locations search function to find a local period product location. Potential locations can also get in touch to request to become a stockist. Appendix 1 This report links to the following other reports and strategies: Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2022-2023 Argyll and Bute HSCP Joint Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025 Argyll and Bute Children and Young People’s Service Plan 2023 - 2026 Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan 2013 – 2023 Argyll and Bute Community Justice Plan 2017 - 2022 Argyll and Bute Corporate Parenting Plan 2021 – 2024 Argyll and Bute Employability Partnership Delivery Plan, 2022-25 Argyll and Bute Education Strategic Plan 2022 – 2024
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29 Appendix 2 Links for More Information Children and Young People’s version of the UNCRC https://www.unicef.org/media/56661/file https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS-fdwNfg0o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLtMNG1EK4 Argyll and Bute Argyll & Bute Children & Young Peoples Service Plan 2023 - 2026 https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/education-and-learning/children-and-young-peoples- services-plan-2023-2026 Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Report 2022 - 2023 A B Child Poverty Action Plan 2022-23. indd.pdf (argyll-bute.gov.uk) Argyll and Bute Corporate Plan 2023 – 2027 and that can be found here: AB_CorporatePlan_3.pdf (argyll-bute.gov.uk) The Promise https://thepromise.scot/what-is-the- promise/about#:~:text=The%20promise%20that%20Scotland%20made,%2C%20care %2C%20people%20and%20scaffolding. Appendix 3 – A graphic, child friendly version of Argyll and Bute’s Child Poverty Action Plan