Leaning local – research & campaigns keeps focus on local needs
At CAEE this year our second mission – research and campaigning for better policy and practice – is leaning local.
By Research & Campaigns Team
We’ve always reported national government and business policy causing problems for local clients – and campaigned for improvements often with others in the borough and county. That will continue but with a new focus on clients’ and citizens’ present issues.
We’re leaning local and starting, as reported in our August Newsletter, with housing and education.
Council Private Sector Leasing
In E&E housing – prices, rents, planning, quality, homelessness – is an ever-present concern for local policymakers. And for us at Citizens Advice.
Last month EEBC began a new promotion of its Private Sector Leasing Scheme (see below). The council invites local landlords to work with them on mutually beneficial terms to increase supply of decent housing for those in need.
Our advisers know a lot about that need and we have been pleased to lend our support through social media – see below.
Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell has deep local roots. With local volunteering and support at its heart it represents an ideal of sharing responsibility for the well-being of all. Our X/Twitter post underlines the value of citizens taking opportunities to use their individual resources or position for the common good.
School Uniform
As summer holidays begin, many families begin to worry about costs approaching with the new school year. We have seen parents and carers this summer who don’t know how they will afford new uniforms.
Our research shows schools appreciate the problem but difficulties arise if there’s a lack of clarity about what is ‘required’ or ‘optional’ or ‘encouraged’.
We urge schools to be open and clear about their requirements and the support they offer to prevent potential harm. If you, or a family you know, have struggled with uniform costs please make contact: researchandcampaigns@caee.org.uk
Data Insights
The Citizens Advice July national webinar explained that millions still can’t afford life’s essentials or are ‘living on empty’. They produced strong evidence intended to persuade the new government to immediately increase support. Interestingly, however, three respected (and supportive) expert participants thought this was unlikely. One even suggested the best argument might be to add hard-headed economics to the moral case: immediately helping the poorest would “ease pressure on struggling health, education and justice services”.
In recent years many more CA clients have been lower-income households needing cost-of-living support. This has rightly led all our campaigning and will continue to do so. But perhaps the experts reminded us that Citizens Advice, like the government, is here for everyone and poor policy and practice affect the whole of society.