Integrated early help, education partnership work and implementing the Family Valued programme
Children living in low-income families
Children living in low-income families is a proxy measure for poverty and inequality.
The provisional data for 2020/21 shows that in Coventry 22.9% of children aged under 16 are living in relative low-income families, that is 16,737 children. This is more than the England average of 18.5% but lower than the West Midland Region average of 24.6% for 2020/21.
Relative low income is defined as a family whose equivalised income is below 60 per cent of contemporary median income. Gross income measure is Before Housing Costs (BHC) and includes contributions from earnings, state support and pensions.
Low-income family tracker project
Coventry is working on a pilot initiative where we identify and contact families with low-income to understand whether they could be supported to apply for additional benefits to which they are entitled to; and to prevent homelessness. This work will target support to people who need it most now and uncover hidden pockets of poverty; and identify families who are struggling and who may never have engaged with the Council and its partners before.
Supporting families through receiving the right help at the right time
Coventry’s early help partnership's shared vision is: 'Coventry: where children, young people and families matter'. The partnership aims to reach children, young people, and families when the need first emerges, and intervene when there will be the greatest impact.
Training has been delivered to a range of partners to complete early help assessments – which has led to an 138% increase in the completion of assessments by partner agencies – enabling families to access help when they need it.
The early help directory continues to be developed signposting professionals and families to sources of support across the city.