Total Place, which allows the way in which taxpayers money is spent in a local area to be challenged, has triggered a seismic shift in the public service landscape. The scale and shape of this landscape shift has been set out by Communities Secretary John Denham. Although Total Place is still in the initial pilot phase, the tremors are already being felt across local councils, primary care trusts, the police, fire service, criminal justice agencies, Job Centre Plus, Government regional offices, economic development agencies and the Learning and Skills Council.

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The public sector in the North East is not having any impact on the region’s poverty in spite of the fact that it is working well and meeting the targets set for it by central government. A report from the Commission on Public Service Reform in the region says top down targets have failed to narrow the gap because economic inequality is deeply rooted.

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Local authorities are facing a huge task to get care users ready for the shift to a market in services, according to the think-tank, Dermos. It has published figures which show more than 80 per cent of people who need social and health care have almost no understanding of the new personal budget system.

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A London borough council is being criticised today by the Local Government Ombudsman for its inadequate response to a girl’s requests for help as a child in need. In his report, Tony Redmond says Waltham Forest was not directly responsible for the abuse she suffered but he has no doubt her suffering was exacerbated by the council’s failure to assess her properly and provide support.

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Compulsory citizenship education is having a positive impact on students’ confidence, tolerance and respect, according to a new study. The National Foundation for Educational Research also points to improvements in behaviour and attitudes and a greater awareness of current affairs and engagement with the community.

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By Joke Delvaux and Sini Rinne
Government action to tackle poverty depends on building public support but very few initiatives explicitly aim to build support for the poverty agenda. The perception of poverty is often misguided, with people believing that it is a result of laziness, or an inevitable part of modern life. The authors set out ways of changing perceptions and building public support for addressing the problem. They urge closer working between the anti-poverty networks, the voluntary sector and Government.
Poverty in the UK is a particularly challenging issue. Although it would be difficult to find anyone who did not support the idea of tackling genuine poverty, explanations of why poverty still exists, and how to deal with it, are contested and political.
This research identifies a number of interesting initiatives to address poverty, but also uncovers useful evidence about what is not happening. It forms part of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s programme on public interest in poverty issues.
Focus of current anti-poverty initiatives

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