Enfield launched an independent commission to identify the causes of poverty in the borough and find ways of tackling it and improving residents’ quality of life.
It will work with communities to better understand the factors driving poverty and inequality in the borough and make recommendations to help people deal with the challenges it poses.
The Commission, titled ‘All Things Being Equal: Enfield Poverty and Inequality Commission’ launched at the Dugdale Centre in Enfield Town on Friday 7 June, and is chaired by Baroness Tyler of Enfield, a peer from the House of Lords who has a long track record of working in areas of social policy to help support vulnerable people.
Baroness Tyler said, “I am honoured to be chairing the Enfield Poverty and Inequality Commission. Listening to the different communities in Enfield will give us a better understanding of the challenges many people face and give us an opportunity to make recommendations which will support local people who need a helping hand to reach their full potential.”
Working alongside Baroness Tyler will be an expert panel of Commissioners from national and local organisations. These include senior representatives from the housing charity Shelter, 4in10 the London Child Poverty Network, a leading academic from London Southbank University, and regional representation from the TUC.
Expert local knowledge of the borough on the commission will be provided by senior representatives from the Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust, Citizens Advice Enfield, Enfield Carers Centre, Enfield Over 50’s Forum and Primary and Secondary Headteachers.
The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan said, “This commission is a positive step in identifying and tackling the root causes of poverty and inequality in Enfield. It will not be an easy task, but it is a vital one and one that we are absolutely committed to solving.”
“The commission will be talking to residents and seeking their views, so the panel can understand the challenges of living, learning and earning in this borough. I would urge residents to get in touch to tell their stories of what it is like to live with poverty in Enfield, to help support the work of the commission and help it come up with recommendations which enable us to tackle this vital issue.”
A ‘call for evidence’ has been launched for local people to get involved and give their views. You can read more information about the Commission on the Enfield Council website and submit evidence in person using drop-off facilities at Enfield Civic Centre and local libraries or by emailing: [email protected]
There will be opportunities for local people to engage with the Commission in various locations over the summer.
The work of the Commission Panel is due to run from June to November 2019, with a final report being published in December 2019.
Living
27% of households in the borough of Enfield are in poverty after housing costs – this places the borough as mid-table for London boroughs[1] Homelessness in Enfield has risen sharply – the borough now has 6 households that are homeless per 1,000[2]: higher than the London (4.2) and English (2.4) averages. In 2010 Enfield was below the English average[3] In March 2018, Enfield had the second highest number of households in Temporary Accommodation in England (almost 3,300)[4]
Learning
One in three children are in poverty (which is likely to be an underestimate)[5] Pupils on free school meals averaged the 7th lowest of London boroughs for attainment 8 scores[6] As of August 2016, 23% of children lived in low-income households (both working and non-working)[7]
Earning
Enfield residents are also more likely to have lower skilled occupations (30.2%) than London (26.3) but not England(33.3%)[8] Enfield has a lower employment rate (69.6%) than either London (74.3%) or nationally (75.0%) but has higher unemployment (5.0%) than the UK (4.3%)[9] One in three workers (33%) in Enfield is paid below the London Living Wage versus one in five (21%) in London[10]
[1]London Poverty Profile, Trust for London (2017 data)
[2]MHCLG, Homelessness Statistics – As at 2018
[3] MHCLG, Homelessness Statistics
[4] MHCLG
[5]Trust for London, London Poverty Profile (2017), using methodology created by Centre for Research in Social Policy
[6] DfE, 2 GCSE results by Location of Educational Institution, 2017-18
[7] HMRC – Children in low-income families, local measure
[8] NOMIS
[9] Nomis – Annual Population Survey (year to Dec 2018)
[10] This data is based on calculations using the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2018 and 2004, low paid is defined as pay that is below two thirds of median hourly earnings
Enfield Poverty and Inequality Commission Panel
Chair
Baroness Tyler of Enfield
Claire Tyler was nominated as a Liberal Democrat Peer in November 2010 and from February 2011 has sat in the House of Lords as Baroness Tyler of Enfield. She served as the Chair of CAFCASS (The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) from March 2012 to March 2018. Between 2007 and 2012 Claire was the Chief Executive Officer of Relate, the UK’s leading relationship support agency. She currently chairs the “Make Every Adult Matter” coalition of charities and serves on the board of Social Work England. Claire is also the current President of the NCB (National Children’s Bureau).
Commissioners
Greg Beales – Director of Communications, Policy & Campaigns Shelter
Greg joined Shelter in 2017 and has previously worked as Director of Strategy & Planning at the Labour Party, as a Senior Policy Advisor at Downing Street and as National Performance Director for the NHS.
Pamela Burke – Chief Executive, Enfield Carers Centre
Pamela is Chief Executive at Enfield Carers Centre. This is a major local charity providing information, advice, training and other support services to people looking after someone living in Enfield, and who has an illness, disability or substance misuse issue.
Sam Gurney – Regional Secretary, TUC
Sam Gurney was appointed as Regional Secretary for the Trades Union Congress London, East and South East Region in January 2018. Prior to this he was acting head of the TUC’s Equality and Strategy department. His Previous roles at the TUC include; Senior Strategy and Development Officer and Policy Officer in the International Department. He was a member of the Governing Body of the UN International Labour Organisation 2009-2017. Before he joined the TUC in 2003, he was a Regional Organiser for GMB union London Region and an Assistant National Organiser at Connect.
Jill Harrison, Chief Executive – Citizens Advice Enfield
Jill is the Chief Executive at Citizens Advice Enfield. This is a charity that offers free, accessible, quality advice to anyone who lives in Enfield. This includes help with all housing, employment, benefits, debts or immigration issues.
Jinjer Kandola, Chief Executive – Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust (BEHMHT)
Jinjer is the Chief Executive of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust (BEHMHT). Jinjer joined the organisation in July 2018 and has a wealth of knowledge, with over 18 years of senior level experience across both mental and physical healthcare. Jinjer was the first Asian woman to be awarded Human Resources Director of the Year, is the first Punjabi CEO in the NHS and is one of only five NHS CEOs from a BAME background.
Daniella Lang, Headteacher – Brimsdown Primary School
Since being appointed as Headteacher at Brimsdown Primary School in Enfield, Daniella has overseen a programme of improvement that has transformed performance and the working environment. Over the space of two years, by taking an innovative approach to staff wellbeing and team development, Daniella and her staff have elevated Brimsdown Primary from a school Ofsted rated as ‘requires improvement’ to one that is recognised as being ‘good with 3 outstanding elements’.
Monty Meth MBE, President, Enfield Borough Over 50s Forum
Monty is a former journalist and is now President of the Over 50s Forum, one of the largest organisations of its kind in the country with a diverse subscribing membership of 6,000. The Forum campaigns on a wide variety of national and local issues in seeking to influence decision-makers on matters such as health, local transport and universal benefits. It provides a wide range of activities aimed at keeping older people active in mind and body and combatting loneliness and social isolation.
Laura Payne – Project Manager, 4in 10 London Child Poverty Network
Laura has over ten years of experience campaigning on issues of poverty and disadvantage faced by children in the UK. Laura has worked previously with Barnardo’s as the Head of Campaigns, where her work included campaigns on child sexual exploitation and care leaver accommodation, and for the End Child Poverty campaign.
Dr Susan Tranter, Chief Executive and Executive Headteacher – Edmonton County Secondary School
Dr Susan Tranter was appointed to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel in June 2018 and is a member of the DfE National Child safeguarding practice panel. Susan is Executive Head Teacher of Edmonton County Schools and Chief Executive of Edmonton Academy Trust. Susan is also a member of the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime Strategy Group, and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.
Dr Andrew Whittaker, Associate Professor, London South Bank University
Dr Andrew Whittaker is Associate Professor and Head of the Risk Resilience and Expert Decision Making (RRED) research group. His current research focuses on the risks faced by young people in London and he recently published a report on the link between poverty and the evolution of gangs in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, “From Postcodes to Profit” (2018). He has acted as an external reviewer for the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology on gang related topics and his research has been featured on BBC TV and Radio 4.
