Poverty and Social Inclusion Policy Statement

The voluntary and community sector believes that it is desirable to build a socially cohesive and just society. Research has shown that the most socially cohesive regions in Europe are the most successful. A widening gap between rich and poor is neither morally acceptable nor economically sensible.

Social exclusion has been defined in a recent Civic Forum report thus: “By social exclusion we mean not just a static snapshot of inequality but a set of processes, including the labour market and the welfare system, by which individuals, households, communities or even whole social groups are pushed towards or kept within the margins of society. It encompasses not only material deprivation but more broadly the denial of opportunities to participate fully in social life.”

Poverty and exclusion are not the fault of the poor and the excluded and cannot be solved by them. The whole of society must take responsibility for the inclusion of its most vulnerable citizens. Key issues such as decisions over public services and involvement of the private sector must be closely considered to ensure that they do not further disenfranchise those already experiencing exclusion. The Programme for Government should support and maintain Northern Ireland’s public services which can play a key role in tackling poverty and promoting social inclusion.

Government already has many worthy policies which are not sufficiently joined up to have the kind of impact that is required when half of children in Northern Ireland live in families in receipt of key benefits and/or working tax credits. Piecemeal initiatives tinker with the symptoms of poverty, whereas what is needed is for all departments and public bodies to focus on their role in relation to the structural factors which cause social exclusion.

The current pensions crisis is a warning that we must guard against storing up future poverty by putting in place measures now to safeguard the interests of those who will retire in the future.

• There should be a cross-cutting, outcome-focused strategy for social inclusion in Northern Ireland, with a budget and targets which are measurable and focused on actions, not processes. The strategy should link to the National Action Plans on Social Inclusion to which the UK is committed through the EU. The strategy should be developed through a proper reflective consultation on the successor to New TSN.
• The New TSN Unit within government should be transformed into a Social Inclusion Unit with a broad focus on poverty and exclusion. A Social Inclusion Forum drawing on different sectors should be established to meet on a regular basis and advise the Unit.
• A new arm’s length body should be created to provide expert advice, research and good practice on social inclusion issues, similar to the Combat Poverty Agency in the Republic of Ireland.
• Strategies and policies aimed at the socially included should be accessible, easy to understand and jargon free so that those who are intended to benefit can engage with them. There should also be more genuine, bottom-up discussion with communities rather than written consultation which often fails to permeate through to those on the margins.
• Northern Ireland politicians should identify a strategy to lobby government at Westminster on social security and benefit issues. There should be a link between pensions and earnings and all benefit levels should be adequate to meet the cost of living.
• Government should ensure that if there are to be additional charges for rates and water, the poorest and most vulnerable in our society are exempted.
• The recommendations of the Taskforce on employability and barriers to employment should be implemented quickly, paying particular attention to issues of childcare, transport and essential skills. The voices of the unemployed should be heard in this process. Measures must also be taken to prevent discrimination against those who to not have access to cars.
• The Minimum Wage should be rigorously enforced in Northern Ireland and should be moved towards a living wage level.
• Barriers to study for those on Jobseekers Allowance should be removed to allow people who are unemployed to undertake and complete courses of study of over 16 hours per week.