AMNESTY International has launched a new book on children’s rights for primary school pupils. The book, These Rights Are Your Rights, is released as children return to school and ahead of the Government’s review of the national curriculum, which starts this month.

These Rights Are Your Rights is written for children and informed by children. In light-touch words and pictures, with fun facts and jokes, it explains what child rights are, how they came into being, how governments are failing to uphold them, and equips young people with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and others. It shows how child rights apply online too, with advice on how to stay safe from cyberbullying, grooming and dark algorithms.

The book lays out the rights that children have in a clear, engaging, child-friendly way, from having the right to play, to the right to equality – regardless of race, religion or sexuality.

It is illustrated by inspiring stories of children who took action when their rights were being denied. These include the UK’s Amy, Jaime, Kane and Jamie who have additional learning needs and are wheelchair users, and succeeded in getting children with accessibility issues involved in town-planning decisions. Kez Valdez from the Philippines became an activist after living on the streets, and as a young teen helped improve the lives of other street children. Sweden’s Greta Thunberg mobilised school children around the world to demand politicians take meaningful action on climate change, showing children can and do take action for their rights.

In addition to introducing children to their rights, the book has guidance on how to recognise fake news, build skills in how to raise awareness and strengthen their confidence. It is useful for children to read themselves as well as for teachers to use as a resource and for parents to read to younger children.

Alice Sims, Amnesty International UK’s Human Rights Education Manager, said: “This book is ideal for Key Stage 2 – its child-friendly style speaks to children directly and is also useful for teachers and parents to understand and discuss their rights with them. “We created this series to increase children’s understanding of their rights and empower them to become active both in their own lives and know they can help people wherever they are.

“Our poll shows the majority of parents clearly want schools to teach their children about human rights and the Government has a fresh opportunity to make this a reality with the curriculum review and make sure teaching children’s rights is embedded throughout education, starting at primary school. Empowering children and young people to learn about their rights is a human right that will benefit them throughout their lives and this book will help them do it.”

Eight-year-old Florence said: “I can’t wait to tell my friends that we have the right to play! I enjoyed the tips on how to stand up for everyone and to always be yourself and thought it was cool that the children in Wales made their Government make changes to their playgrounds and community.”

A YouGov poll commissioned by Amnesty last month reveals that fewer than a quarter (24 per cent) of parents know that children have more rights than adults, but the majority (74 per cent) feel it’s important for children to learn about their rights in school and that it should be compulsory.

* These Rights Are Your Rights, written by Nicky Parker at Amnesty International and illustrated by Sue Cheung, is published by Andersen Press. It is available from 5 September in bookshops across the UK and Amnesty UK’s website here.

* Source: Amnesty International 

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LOW-PAID workers are most likely to lose their jobs during downturns, be employed on a zero-hours contract and miss out on sick pay if they fall ill, so should gain most from the Government’s proposed shake-up of Britain’s workplaces.

But the reforms will require careful implementation to ensure that they make a real difference to workers’ lives, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on 5 September.

As the Government prepares to publish its Employment Rights Bill, Low Pay Britain 2024 examines how low earners are affected by high levels of insecurity in UK workplaces, and how the Government’s proposed reforms might affect their working conditions.

The UK’s high level of job insecurity is encapsulated by the fact that it places fewer restrictions on employers dismissing their staff than all but five OECD countries.

The UK’s two-year qualifying period for protection against unfair dismissal is in stark contrast to 25 (out of 37) OECD countries, who have qualifying periods of five months or less. Low-paid workers are most affected by this lack of protection as they were twice as likely to have lost their jobs involuntarily during the past two downturns as high-paid workers. To address this, the Government proposes offering ‘day one’ rights against unfair dismissal.

A second key area of job insecurity in Britain is the high prevalence of workers on zero or short-hours contracts. These give workers very little security of hours or income from one week to the next. Low earners are most affected – one-in-twelve are currently on a zero-hours contract, more than ten times the share among high earners.

The Government has proposed addressing this with a new “right to a contract that reflects the number of hours they regularly work”, though what this means in practice is still to be determined.

The Foundation says this policy approach is welcome, but needs to be designed carefully so that it solves the right problem – namely the lack of security that workers have over their regular working hours.

Doing so would require a different approach to the often cited ‘right to banded hours’ introduced in in Ireland in 2019. This focuses on maintaining a workers’ total earnings over a twelve-month period, and does not address the problem of week-to-week volatility. A more appropriate focus for the UK would be to guarantee minimum regular working hours – such as over a week or fortnight – based on previous working patterns. This would give workers the security of hours and earnings they need to plan ahead.

Low-paid workers in the UK also feel the brunt of job insecurity when they fall ill, and receive little or no income protection. Two-in-five low earners would expect to receive no sick pay, or just the statutory minimum, were they to fall ill for a week, compared to just one-in-eight high earners.

The Government’s proposed reforms to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) – extending eligibility to low earners, and obliging employers to make payments from day one – would help many of the 1.1 million low-paid workers who currently are not eligible to receive support, and those facing short sickness absences.

However, in order to make a real difference to people’s lives, the Government needs to go further and significantly raise the level of SSP. Currently, a worker in the UK on average pay who is absent for four weeks would receive just 11 per cent of their previous earnings in the UK, compared to 68 per cent across the OECD. If necessary, the Government could help small employers with the higher cost of increased sick pay in a similar way to maternity pay.support.

Nye Cominetti, Principal Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Low-paid workers are the most likely to lose their jobs, not know how much work they’ve got from one week to the next, and miss out on sick pay if they fall ill. They’ve got the most to gain from the Government giving UK workplaces a security upgrade.

“But it’s crucial the Government gets the detail of their reforms right. Better protection against unfair dismissal must be balanced against the risk of putting firms off hiring, while action against zero-hours contracts must focus on the pernicious problem of volatile and insecure working hours from one week to the next.

“For all the talk of radical reform, much of what the Government is proposing would simply bring the UK more into line with many other advanced economies. That alone would greatly boost working conditions for many low-paid workers.”

* Read: Low Pay Britain 2024: Examining the Government’s proposed employment reforms here.

* Source: Resolution Foundation

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THE HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT FUND was introduced to enable local authorities in England to help vulnerable households unable to meet essential living costs. It was due to close at the end of September, but has been extended to April 2025.

The Salvation Army is calling for the Government to protect families from reaching crisis point in the first place, by raising benefits in line with inflation in the upcoming Autumn Budget.

Andrew Connell, The Salvation Army’s Policy Manager said: “The extension to the Household Support Fund shows the Government recognises how tough things are for struggling families right now. This funding has been a lifeline that’s helped people keep the lights on and put food on the table in an emergency, but it only puts a plaster on poverty. It won’t prevent further serious hardship or remove the constant stress and anxiety of living hand-to-mouth.

“Struggling families can’t rely on one-off ad hoc emergency aid to survive, what they need is security and stability that prevents them reaching crisis point in the first place.

“We urge the Government to make the Household Support Fund unnecessary by tackling the root causes of poverty and raising benefits annually in line with inflation to stop them falling even further behind the cost of living.”

To help address poverty, The Salvation Army is calling on the Government to:

• Reform Universal Credit to ensure that the basic rate covers the cost of life’s essentials.
• End the two-child benefit limit that is punishing families and pushing them deeper into poverty.
• Protect families from homelessness by maintaining the value of housing benefit against rising rents and invest in affordable housing.
• Invest in more free childcare provision so parents can afford to work or train.

The Household Support Fund is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions and delivered by Local Authorities in England. It can be used to help vulnerable residents with energy and water bills, food and other essential items. Find your local council here.

* Source: The Salvation Army

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FOR the first time, analysis has revealed a detailed picture of social segregation in England’s schools at a local level.

It shows a pattern of some schools accepting fewer students from low-income backgrounds than live in their catchment areas, while other schools have much higher levels of disadvantage. This leads to segregation between pupils from different backgrounds, even within the comprehensive system. Moreover, higher segregation is linked with higher attainment gaps in the most segregated areas.

An interactive map and analysis, published by the Sutton Trust, shows the extent to which the socio-economic profile of school intakes reflect their catchment area, allowing headteachers and parents to compare their school to others in the locality.

Patterns are different across England, with the North East having the highest levels of socio-economic segregation in the country, meaning that free school meal (FSM) eligible pupils are the most unevenly spread across schools in this area. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Stockton-on-Tees and North Tyneside are in the top ten most segregated local authorities. The North West has the second highest levels of segregation, with Warrington, Liverpool and Trafford in the top ten most segregated local authorities. In contrast, London, the West Midlands and the South West have the lowest levels of segregation on average.

The challenge this poses for social cohesion is significant. In the most segregated area, Solihull, 32 per cent of pupils would need to be redistributed across schools in order to achieve an even spread of disadvantaged pupils. In the least segregated area, Torbay, this figure is only six per cent. The most segregated areas were more likely to be in urban locations, with lower levels of ethnic diversity, and high numbers of faith schools.

Critically, the research shows that segregation is correlated with attainment gaps between richer and poorer pupils. Local Authorities with high levels of segregation also have larger attainment gaps in GCSE grades between their least and most disadvantaged pupils. Areas with the highest segregation had gaps in the pass rates in English and maths that were 27 per cent higher than in areas with low segregation.

This research expands on Selective Comprehensive 2024, published by the Sutton Trust in January, which revealed that even the top 500 comprehensive schools in England have a significant gap between the rates of pupils eligible for Free School Meals in the local area, and the FSM rates of their actual intakes. It also showed that 155 comprehensives are more socially selective than the average grammar school. The new research shows the impact that social selection has on local areas, and the state education system as a whole. But it also shows that there are a number of areas with very low segregation, and change is achievable.

To address these issues, the Sutton Trust is calling on the Government to review admissions code policies to require inclusion of pupil premium eligibility in schools’ oversubscription criteria, as well as including an assessment of fair access in Ofsted inspections. It says the government should also address financial barriers such as transport and uniform costs, which can be considerable at some schools.

School leaders should carry out their own fair access reviews, and take steps to change their admissions policies, as well as removing financial barriers to attendance at their school. Ninety per cent of secondary schools now develop their own admissions policies, giving them power to ensure that all young people have a fair opportunity to join their school.

Sir Peter Lampl, Founder of the Sutton Trust and Founder of the Education Endowment Foundation, said: “Levels of social segregation across the state school system are not acceptable. The school you attend matters, but in practice youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds are much less likely to attend a top performing secondary school than their more affluent peers, even if there is one in their area.

“Having a better mix of pupils helps to level the playing field for all families, regardless of their socio-economic background.

“We need to address this problem and create a more balanced system across the country. Reviewing school admissions codes, to ensure that all state schools take a mix of pupils which reflect their local community, is a way to make a significant difference to social cohesion.”

* Read: Social Selection on the Map: The geography of secondary school admissions here.

* Access the interactive map here.

* Source: Sutton Trust

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IN JANUARY this year, the Women’s Budget Group (WBG) launched a six-month trial reducing its full-time working hours to 30 per week without loss of pay. This shorter working week has now become a permanent change, reflecting the WBG’s commitment to align its operations with its vision of a green and caring economy.

The WBG says the UK is grappling with multiple, intersecting crises, with inequalities and environmental breakdown at their core. Women continue to work longer hours than men, but men are paid for more of their work, and are paid more for their work. Meanwhile, overwork and overproduction are key driving factors of climate change – an issue gaining increasing recognition globally.

A WBG briefing that formed part of the Feminist Green New Deal project reported that shorter hours of work are associated with lower gender gaps in unpaid hours of work, paid hours of work and wages as well as lower GHG emissions per capita and higher productivity.

In February 2023, the think tank Autonomy published the results of a trial of a shorter working week across 61 organisations that found significant positive impacts on employee wellbeing, work life balance and productivity. The WBG has worked with the 4 Day Week Campaign and Autonomy and are now an accredited employer.

While most staff have opted to work their hours over four days, there is a strong commitment to flexibility. Some employees choose to spread their hours over five days or adjust their schedules according to term times and school holidays, and caring responsibilities.

WBG is on track to meet or exceed its performance targets for this year, matching or even surpassing last year’s outcomes across several key metrics. The transition to a shorter working week has not only maintained, but in many cases enhanced, productivity and impact.

Equally important has been a substantial improvement in staff satisfaction, well-being and morale. Employees report feeling more productive and focused with the added time for rest, personal pursuits, travel, and family commitments contributing to a more balanced and fulfilling work-life balance. This, in turn, has fostered a more positive and collaborative workplace culture.

WBG says the positive outcomes from the trial suggest that reducing working hours can be a catalyst for not just sustaining but improving organisational performance, while at the same time improving staff wellbeing.

The WBG encourages the new Government to seriously consider these positive findings, saying public support for such a move is clear: recent polling by the Autonomy Institute revealed that 72 per cent of those who voted Labour in the General Election favour a national transition to a shorter working week.

* Read: The Feminist Green New Deal briefing, A shorter working week as part of a green caring economy here.

* Source: Women’s Budget Group 

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THIS ZERO WASTE WEEK (2-6 September 2024), Benthyg Cymru is championing the ‘borrow, don’t buy’ movement. Benthyg (ben-thig) means “to borrow or lend” in Welsh.

Along with the Welsh Government they are encouraging people across Wales to find their nearest Library of Things – a community hub where people can borrow items they need, sharing resources that are already in their local area.

Instead of purchasing items that can be costly, contribute to household clutter and landfill waste, borrowing offers a sustainable alternative – allowing people who ‘Don’t buy it, Benthyg It!’ to save themselves money in the process.

The nationwide campaign asks communities across Wales to think before buying: Benthyg Cymru envisions a Wales where everyone has access to a Library of Things and the organisation is working to establish a Wales-wide network to ensure everyone across the country can borrow what they need quickly, easily, and affordably.

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, recently visited Benthyg Cymru’s Library of Things in Newport to see how easy it is to sign up and borrow from a vast catalogue of useful items such as pressure washers, carpet cleaners and camping equipment.

He said: “Initiatives like Benthyg Cymru have an important role to play in moving Wales towards a more circular economy, conserving resources and slowing down unnecessary manufacturing. Community-driven initiatives, like Libraries of Things, are not just about borrowing tools – they are about building community, sharing ideas, and supporting one other.

Becky Harford, Co- Founder of Benthyg Cymru, explains the organisation’s mission: “Simply put, we have too much stuff! Let’s share it out. Not everyone in your neighbourhood needs a drill, not everyone has space to store things, and not everyone can afford to buy what they need. By borrowing, we can help each other and live more sustainably. Less stuff means less impact on the planet.”

Since its inception in 2017, Benthyg Cymru has helped establish 25 Library of Things across Wales, with many more in development. Since 2020, people across Wales have borrowed 13,000 items, from practical DIY tools to musical instruments and crafting equipment to learn new hobbies. Benthyg Cymru is keen to support communities across Wales in developing their own Library of Things model, tailoring it to local needs.

Phoebe Brown, Director of Repair Café Wales said: “Repair Cafe Wales are so pleased to be supporting the Benthyg It! campaign. Repair Cafes and Libraries of Things work brilliantly together as many of the items we borrow need regular maintenance and occasional repairs which can be carried out by our skilled volunteers.”

* More information on Benthyg Cymru here.

* Source: Welsh Government

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A NEW REPORT by the Prison Reform Trust calls on the Ministry of Justice to publish a national strategy for the care and management of older prisoners as a matter of urgency.

In just 20 years, the number of people in prison aged 50 or over has nearly trebled, rising from around 5,000 in 2003 to almost 15,000 in 2023. They currently account for around one in six people currently in prison.

More than three and a half years have passed since a strategy was first promised by the last government. The delay now means that the new government is inheriting a significant challenge. However, says the Prison Reform Trust (PRT), it also provides an opportunity to correct this and to set a new strategic focus.

The new PRT report, by Dr Jayne Price, forms part of the Trust’s Building Futures Programme which, since 2020, has been exploring the experiences of people serving long-term prison sentences. Based on consultation with 121 men and women aged 50 and over serving these sentences in 39 prisons in the UK, it provides insights into their experience of being older and in prison, as well as proposals to ensure that their views are considered as part of the development of an older prisoners’ strategy.

The report reveals some of the distinct challenges faced by older people in prison. These include the disconnect between activities aimed at reducing reoffending and preparing for a life after release, whilst simultaneously facing the prospect of their own death in prison; their desire to regain purpose and to support younger prisoners; and the importance of dignity when faced with growing health and social care needs.

One older prisoner said: “I have no home, no pension and no employment hopes (I will be retired upon release). My circle of friends on the outside is now virtually non-existent, there is a possibility that the few left might be in ‘homes’ or even dead because they are older than me. But that is made on the assumption that I will even leave prison alive! A very sobering thought, isn’t it?”

Another older prisoner said: “Rewarding poor behaviour seems to be popular in so many prisons. Specialists should work with [older prisoner] mentors in an effort to encourage the young to strive for a better future. Many of us seniors would welcome a chance to make a difference.”

Prisoners also echoed the repeated concerns raised by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman about the inappropriate use of restraints during hospital visits. “I was double handcuffed and handcuffed to an officer whilst on the operating table for a cataract operation. Many [older prisoners] are similar to myself and have no history of violence or the ability to escape – especially with only one lens while the other has been removed and is about to be replaced.”

The report also highlights existing areas of good practice, which a future strategy should build on, with adaptations that could be replicated across the estate. This includes support for the growing numbers of prisoners with dementia. At one prison, HMP Watton, specific dementia cells with clear signage had been provided and a range of services had been developed for older prisoners in conjunction with Age UK.

Commenting, Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust said: “With one in six people in prison now aged 50 or over, there is a growing urgency for our prisons to adapt. The last government accepted the need for an older prisoners’ strategy more than three-and-a-half years ago, but failed to deliver one. This sobering report highlights the continuing indignity, absence of hope, and lack of opportunities to contribute positively to prison life for many older prisoners.

“When so much resource is being dedicated to getting through the current crisis in prison capacity, and no clear plan on how to successfully manage the growing number of older people behind bars, this report provides a vital insight of the human costs, and how the government can begin to put things right.”

* Read: Growing old and dying inside: improving the experiences of older people serving long prison sentences here.

* Source: Prison Reform Trust

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DAVID LAMMY, the Foreign Secretary,  made a statement to Parliament on 2 September on the results of a review of arms export licences to Israel.

Lammy announced the suspension of 30 export licences for use by the Israeli military that could be used in Gaza. However, he stated that the ‘Open General’ licence relating to the F-35 combat aircraft, 15 per cent of which is produced in the UK, and for which Israel is one of the recipient countries, would be exempted.

This statement came on the same day that the Danish news outlet Information, together with NGO Danwatch, revealed that, for the first time, it has been possible to definitively confirm the use by Israel of an F-35 stealth fighter to carry out a specific attack in Gaza.

The attack took place on 13 July, on an Israeli-designated ‘safe zone’ in Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, killing 90 people and injuring at least 300. The Israeli military claims that the target of the attack was Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’s military wing. The attack involved three GBU-31 2000lb bombs, which have a ‘lethal radius’ of 360 metres, and are thus certain to kill large numbers of civilians when used in highly-populated areas. Such attacks are clear violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) principles of proportionality and distinction, and are likely to be war crimes.

The use of F-35s by Israel in the attack on Gaza has been confirmed since the beginning of the war, including their use to deliver 2000lb bombs. However, it has rarely if ever been possible to establish which type of aircraft was used to attack which targets. In this case, Danwatch uncovered an article describing Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant personally going to an F-35 base to thank the pilots involved, and the Israeli military has since confirmed in response to a request by Information and Danwatch that an F-35 carried out the attack.

The use of such advanced aircraft in intensive combat operations requires a constant supply of spare parts, and the US Department of Defence says it has been moving at ‘breakneck speed’ to increase the supply since the start of the war. This supply will certainly include spare parts from the UK. Exports of parts for the F-35, whether for their manufacture or for spare parts, do not require individual export licences as they are covered by an ‘Open General’ licence, and their supply is thus not recorded in regularly-published government information on export licences.

In his statement, Lammy highlighted concerns around disrupting the global supply chain for the F-35, which the UK and its allies also use. However, there is nothing to preclude the government from simply removing Israel from the list of approved recipients for the Open General licence.

Sam Perlo-Freeman, Research Coordinator for Campaign Against Arms Trade said: “The government’s statement today that it is suspending 30 arms export licences to Israel is a belated, but welcome move, finally acting upon the overwhelming evidence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza. But exempting parts for Israel’s F-35 is utterly outrageous and unjustifiable.

“These are by far the UK’s most significant arms supplies to the Israeli military, and just today we have confirmation that they have been used in one of the most egregious attacks in recent months. The government has admitted that there is a ‘clear risk’ that Israel is using fighter aircraft among other weapons to violate international humanitarian law. How can this ‘clear risk’ not apply to the F-35s? The only right and legal course of action is to end the supply of F-35 parts to Israel, along with the rest of UK arms sales.”

* Read the Danish investigation into the attack here. An English translation option is available.

* Source: Camapign Against Arms Trade

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INTRODUCING statutory paid Carer’s Leave would bring significant benefits for more than two million working carers and the UK economy, far outweighing the modest costs of its introduction, according to the charity Carers UK.

A new report from the charity estimates it would only cost the Government between £5.5 million to £32 million annually, if the statutory right to five days of unpaid Carer’s Leave for all employees with unpaid caring responsibilities was turned into paid Carer’s Leave.

In contrast, the costs of people having to leave work because of their caring responsibilities – based on Carer’s Allowance payment figures and lost tax revenues – is an estimated £1.3 billion a year.

Ahead of the 2024 General Election, Labour published its Make Work Pay policy, which committed the Government to examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave and reviewing the Carer’s Leave Act 2023.

At a time when the Government is concerned about economic inactivity in the over 50s, a tight labour market, skills shortages, an ageing population and UK-wide productivity levels, Carers UK says evidence now demonstrates a strong economic and moral imperative for it to take early action to further support working carers.

Carers UK is encouraging the Government to strengthen carers’ employment rights through the passage of its proposed Employment Rights Bill, including through the introduction of paid Carer’s Leave.

Centrica plc has modelled the productivity gains they get from their supportive policies for unpaid carers in their workforce. This suggests that the UK economy could benefit from £8.2 billion in productivity gains through increased worker retention, reduced recruitment costs and a reduction in other productivity costs.

There are 2.5 million employees who juggle paid work with their caring responsibilities, and research estimates that 600 people a day are having to give up work to care for family and friends, significantly impacting their financial future in the short and longer term.

Women are twice as likely than men to leave their job due to caring, older workers are significantly at risk of giving up work and low paid workers cannot afford to take the time off. Paid Carer’s Leave would have a positive impact on inequalities in the labour market.

Longer term, Carers UK would like to see all employees have a statutory right to 10 days of paid Carer’s Leave each year. Eighty per cent of carers surveyed by the charity said that paid Carer’s Leave would better help them to juggle work and unpaid care.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, said: “Our report makes clear that introducing a statutory entitlement to paid Carer’s Leave would be a positive step forward for millions of working carers and makes good economic sense.

“Many of UK’s top employers are already embracing this approach, offering their working carers flexibility and paid leave to support them to juggle work and care. Doing so relieves a huge amount of stress for individuals and gives valued employees the peace of mind to know they will have the support they need to stay in work. It is also good for businesses’ bottom line.

“Building on the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 by moving to paid Carer’s Leave through the passage of the Government’s Employment Rights Bill would therefore be a win:win situation for everyone; leveraging even greater benefits for working carers, the people they care for, their communities, employers, and the economy – all at comparatively very little cost.

“If we are to tackle the challenges of our ageing population and engage people in paid work for longer, we need employment policy to match the challenges we face. Introducing paid Carer’s Leave would support the UK economy, get more people back into work, keep productivity higher and meet families’ and workers’ needs for a better quality of life.”

Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive at Centrica, owner of British Gas, said: “We’ve worked with Carers UK for the last twenty years to help demonstrate the economic case for working carers policies. The carers in our business do an amazing job – both at work and at home – and we want to make sure they feel supported and able to stay in employment.

“At Centrica, we have a leading carers policy which includes paid leave, flexible working, and a carers network. It’s the right thing to do and we want to help our employees and share best practices with others. Our experience shows that there is a clear business case for doing this with savings from increased retention and ensuring carers don’t have to take unplanned absences.”

* Read the report here.

* Source: Carers UK

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LOCAL authorities in England are spending a record £2.29 billion a year on providing emergency temporary accommodation to homeless households, according to new provisional government figures released on 29 August.

The increasing reliance on temporary accommodation, including the most unsuitable and expensive forms such as B&Bs and nightly paid accommodation, underscores the chronic shortage of social housing.

The figures show:

• Councils spent £2.29 billion on temporary accommodation from April 2023 to March 2024.
• The amount spent on temporary accommodation has increased by 29 per cent from £1.77 billion during the previous year.
• Half of this total spend (£1.34 billion) was on nightly paid accommodation and bed and breakfasts – the least suitable form of temporary accommodation. The amount spent on this form of accommodation has increased by 55 per cent on the previous year.

These figures come as data released earlier this month showed that a record 117,450 households were being forced to live in temporary accommodation as of March 2024, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.

Ahead of the Autumn Budget, Crisis is calling on the Westminster government to ensure councils receive the funding they need to meet this ongoing problem, as well as investing in housing benefit so that people can find and keep a home. In the longer term, the government will need to follow through on its ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. The government has stated it will provide further details of funding for affordable and social housing delivery in the upcoming budget.

Responding to the figures, Matt Downie, Crisis Chief Executive, said: “It is unfathomable that councils are spending billions on keeping households homeless in often damp and mouldy temporary accommodation instead of on new homes, all because of a decades-long failure to build the social housing we need.cWhat can’t be quantified is the human cost of homelessness. It strips people of their dignity, it damages their health, and traps people in a spiral of anxiety and insecurity. We cannot let this continue.

“To help councils plug this financial blackhole and turn the tide on homelessness, it’s critical the new Westminster government takes a different approach and looks at more sustainable solutions. In the short term, this means ensuring the Autumn Budget includes more funding for councils and making sure housing benefit covers the cheapest third of rents. But to truly fix the foundations of this country, the government must remain focused on its plans to build a generation of affordable and social housing and ensure people who are homeless can access them. Only by doing this can we create a future where everyone can thrive.”

* Source: Crisis

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