Under embargo until 00.01hrs on 29 October 2007
Current governance systems are failing to meet the needs of people living in disadvantaged areas
New and emerging governance structures in England, Scotland and Wales need a more integrated approach to tackling worklessness and other economic problems facing deprived areas. This is according to research by David North, published today (29 October) by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Transforming Places programme.
The coordination needed to tackle the economic problems of deprived areas is hampered by a "fragmented and often unaccountable" governance system. The research found that most national and regional level economic strategies do not include any significant attempt to link employment generation and business opportunities to the needs of deprived areas, although there are signs that this is changing. While political devolution in Scotland, Wales and London has produced greater attention to the needs of deprived areas and populations it has yet to translate into major changes on the ground.
Within current policy, concerns over tackling worklessness provide one of the strongest cases for integrating the economic and social agendas. The report highlights that the current system encourages welfare-to-work organisations to play down the fact that many low-paid "entry-level" jobs offer few prospects for developing skills and moving out of poverty.
Another report, also published today by the Transforming Places programme, found that low wages are a key factor in understanding how people are constrained in their job search. Most young people considered it was not worth travelling far for a low wage, however, they did indicate that they would be willing to travel further for a job offering more money and better prospects.
The report, by Anne Green and Richard White, which took place in three New Deal for Communities areas, found that policy does not take into account the powerful attachment some young people have to their local area when it comes to making life choices. Friends and family provide useful support to some young people, but reliance on friends and family can influence their choice of priorities and restrict choices to familiar options and locations. In some cases, young people appeared content to trade off a reduced set of opportunities in favour of staying near to family and friends.
There is a strong case for broadening the horizons of all young people, not just those with the most limited outlooks, to enable them to make informed choices about all the education, training and employment opportunities available to them.
The report found that the following initiatives were helpful to young people in helping them to considering wider opportunities:
- transport – raising awareness of services and help with costs;
- visits, trips and sporting activities – designed to provide new experiences and broaden social horizons; and
- educational and work-related initiatives – aimed at raising young people’s awareness of routes into employment, opportunities and experiences of relevance to the workplace.
Notes to editors:
- The reports: Devolution and Regional Governance: Tackling the economic needs of deprived areas by David North, Stephen Syrett, and David Etherington from Middlesex University Business School and Attachment to place: Social networks, mobility and prospects of young people by Anne Green and Richard White from the University of Warwick are published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. It supports a research and development programme that seeks to understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.
Issued by Charlotte Morris, JRF Senior Media Relations Manager: 01904 615 950 / 020 7278 9665 charlotte.morris@jrf.org.uk