Anti-Poverty Action Plan - Equality Screening
S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form
General Information:
Plan
Is this an existing, revised or a new function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
New
Operational Area:
Community & Culture
Title:
Anti-Poverty Action Plan
Brief Summary:
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (CCGBC) established an Anti-Poverty Stakeholder Steering Group (APSSG), made up of those organisations whose core business is tackling poverty in the Borough, along with relevant statutory bodies. The APSSG developed an Anti-Poverty Action Plan to ensure that a multi-disciplinary approach was taken to deliver specific Department for Communities (DfC) Covid response initiatives and overall in addressing poverty in Causeway Coast and Glens. The Action Plan is a fluid plan and will be updated on a regular basis based on resources available and needs identified. Target groupings who were identified by the Department as likely to be particularly adversely affected and to whom particular focus should be given are: Women (particularly lone parents); People from minority ethnic groups; Younger people and students (under 25); People experiencing mental ill health; Those renting their home; Self-employed, variable hours and gig economy workers.
What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)
The Action Plan is trying to achieve the following:
Objective 1: Increase the coordination between organisations working to support those most in need in Causeway Coast and Glens
Objective 2: Support those on low incomes or those in financial crises in Causeway Coast and Glens to maximize their income and minimise their costs
Objective 3: Improve the capacity of those that support those most in need
Objective 4: Promote better information, signposting and communication
Objective 5: Work in partnership with others to tackle the causes of poverty
Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
The Anti-Poverty Stakeholder Steering Group oversaw the consultation and development of the Anti-Poverty Action Plan. The Steering Group is led in Council by Community Development section within the Community & Culture service area of the Leisure & Development Directorate. Some of the actions are led by Council; others are collaborative actions and others fall within the remit of Steering Group partners, external to Council.
Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
Strategies:
- A Better Future Together – Causeway Coast and Glens Community Plan 2017-2020
- Delivery Plan for Causeway Coast and Glens Community Plan
- Causeway Coast and Glens Community Development Strategy
- Executive Summary for the Anti-Poverty Strategy (NI) Dec 2020
- Building Inclusive Communities; DfC Strategy 2020-25
Available Evidence
Evidence to help inform the screening process may take many forms. Public authorities should ensure that their screening decision is informed by relevant data.
What evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative have you gathered to inform this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? Specify details for relevant Section 75 categories.
Quantitative data was accessed from the following sources:
- NI Census in 2011
- NISRA Poverty Grouped Years (administrative geographies) Individuals in Relative Poverty (LGD) 2017-19
- NISRA Family Resources Survey: Northern Ireland 2019-20 https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/system/files/publications/communities/frs-201920.pdf
- NISRA Houses Below Average Income: Northern Ireland 2019-20 hbai-2019-20-quality-methodology-report.pdf (communities-ni.gov.uk)
- Housing Executive Estimates of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland in 2019 - Modelled using data from the Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 2016
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation – UK Poverty 2022 The Essential Guide to Understanding Poverty in the UK https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2022
- Measuring Poverty 2020 A report of the Social Metrics Commission
- Recommendations for an Anti-Poverty Strategy: Report of the Expert Advisory Panel (Dec 2020)
Qualitative information was gathered from:
- a series of focus groups and of co-design meetings of key stakeholders took place to help inform the development of the Action Plan. These stakeholders included Limavady Community Development Initiative (LCDI) Advice Centre, Community Advice Causeway, Vineyard Compassion (Causeway Foodbank & Reset Social Supermarket), Ballycastle Foodbank, Ballymoney Foodbank, Roe Valley Foodbank, Jobs and Benefits Offices, Causeway and Limavady Volunteer Centres, Community Networks – Northern Area Community Network (NACN) Causeway Rural & Urban Network (CRUN), Building Communities Resource Centre (BCRC), Northern Health & Social Care Trust, Western Health & Social Care Trust, PHA, Education Authority, DAERA
- an online survey of organisations which support people experiencing poverty in Causeway Coast and Glens. 37 organisations responded to the survey. Over 80% of organisations deliver their services to the following target groups - Families, Single Parents and Older People. Over 70% of organisations support women and men. Under 40% of organisations stated that they delivered services to Black and Ethnic Minority Communities (37%), the LGBTQ+ Community (31%) and the Travelling Community (26%).
Section 75 Category Details of Evidence/Information
Religious Beliefs
The 2011 Census outlined:
Census 2011 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Roman Catholic 40.21% 45.14%
Protestant & Other Christian (including Christian related) 54.79% 48.36%
Other Religions 0.65% 0.92%
None/Not stated 4.35% 5.58%
In terms of religion or religion brought up in the 2011 Census indicates that our resident’s religious beliefs are comparable to those in Northern Ireland in that there are 2 predominant groupings ie Roman Catholic and Protestant. However we also have a number of individuals (5.64%) who do not practice a specific religion or who do not wish to be grouped into a specific religion. In addition we have a small number of individuals who practice other religions.
Political Opinion
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2020) provides the following information on the political parties people in Northern Ireland feel closest to (this information is not available at Council area level) :
%
DUP/Democratic Unionist Party 23
Sinn Féin 11
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 11
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 14
Alliance Party 28
Green Party 4
Other Party 2
None of these 3
Don't know 3
Racial Group
On Census Day 27th March 2011 the resident population was:
Census 2011 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
White 98.97% 98.21%
Irish Traveller 0.03% 0.07%
Mixed 0.25% 0.33%
Indian 0.16% 0.34%
Pakistani 0.03% 0.06%
Bangladeshi 0.01% 0.03%
Other Asian 0.15% 0.28%
Black Caribbean 0.01% 0.02%
Black African 0.01% 0.13%
Other Black 0.01% 0.05%
Chinese 0.24% 0.35%
Other ethnic group 0.09% 0.13%
Poverty rates between ethnic groups vary significantly, with some groups at a much higher risk of poverty than others. Ethnic minorities are also more likely to have higher rates of in-work poverty and child poverty. While the percentage of the population of Causeway Coast and Glens that is from a racial group other than White was 1.03% in the 2011 Census this is likely to have increased since then and barrier to accessing services for people from an ethnic minority background was an important consideration in developing and reviewing the Action Plan.
Age
Age: (Mid Year 2020) (NISRA statistics)
CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Under 15 28,600 (19.74%) 395,800 (20.88%)
16 - 64 89,200 (61.56%) 1,179,700 (62.24%)
65 - 84 23,900 (16.49%) 280,600 (14.80%)
85 and over 3,200 (2.21%) 39,400 (2.08%)
TOTAL Population 144,900 1,895,500
Age can have an impact on likelihood to experience poverty. The age groups for adults that have the highest poverty rates in the UK are 16–24 (22%), 30–44 (21–22%), 60–64 (23%) and 85+ (22%).
Marital Status
Marital Status:
Marital status by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2011):
Census 2011 Ballymoney BC Coleraine BC Limavady BC Moyle DC
Single 32.68% 34.78% 36.64% 34.96%
Married 52.52% 48.88% 48.94% 49.03%
Civil Partnership 0.07% 0.06% 0.08% 0.08%
Separated 3.13% 3.15% 3.58% 3.66%
Divorced/Civil Partnership Dissolved 5.23% 6.13% 4.99% 5.11%
Widowed/Surviving Civil Partner 6.39% 7.00% 5.78% 7.15%
Typically lone parent families have a higher prevalence of poverty than other family types. Anecdotally local foodbanks report an increase in young single males presented for support.
Sexual Orientation
There are no specific figures available on how many people may be Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual or Trans-gender or Trans-sexual (LGBT) specific to the Council area.
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2020) provides the following information on the sexual orientation of people in Northern Ireland (this information is not available at local government level):
%
I am ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ (homosexual) 3
I am heterosexual or ‘straight’ 94
I am bi-sexual 2
Other 1
In addition the NI Rainbow Project estimates between 6-10% of any given population could be considered as LGBT.
Men and Women Generally Gender: (Mid Year 2020 Population Estimates)2
CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Male 71,839 (49.6%) 934,155 (49.3%)
Female 73,104 (50.4%) 961,355 (50.7%)
Lone parent families, which are predominantly headed by a female, have the highest poverty rate of any family type and this is an important consideration in developing the Action Plan. Anecdotally local foodbanks report an increase in young single males presented for support.
Dependants
The Census information in 2011 showed:
People With or Without Dependents:
Census 2011 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Number of households 54,970 721,860
Households with dependent children 15,597 (28.37%) 261,251 (36.19%)
The poverty rate among carers continues to be above those who are not carers. Almost 1 in 3 children in the UK are living in poverty (31%). Nearly half of children in lone-parent families live in poverty, compared with 1 in 4 of those in couple families. Of the working-age adults, lone parents are by far the most likely of any family type to be struggling with poverty. The child poverty rate for children in families with three or more children is almost twice as high as the rate for children in one- or two-child families (47% compared with 24%). This means around 1 in 4 children in one- or two-children families are in poverty, compared with almost 1 in 2 children in families with three or more children.
Disability
People with a Disability/People Without:
People with a long term condition/illness by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2011):
Census 2011 Ballymoney BC Coleraine BC Limavady BC Moyle DC
People with a long term condition/illness 30.6% 31.31% 31.05% 31.68%
People Without 69.4% 68.69% 68.95% 68.32%
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Long Term Condition:
Mobility or dexterity 19%
Long term pain or discomfort 17%
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 14%
A chronic illness 11%
Deafness or partial hearing loss 9%
An emotional, psychological or mental health condition 9%
Other condition 9%
A learning, intellectual or social behaviour difficulty 3%
Frequent periods of confusion or memory loss 3%
Blindness or partial sight 3%
Communication difficulty 3%
Source: NINIS, Census 2011, KS302NI
Notes:
1. ‘Communication difficulty’ means a difficulty with speaking or making yourself understood.
2. ‘A mobility or dexterity difficulty’ means a condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting or carrying.
3. ‘An emotional, psychological or mental health condition’ includes conditions such as depression or schizophrenia.
4. ‘Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing’ includes conditions such as asthma.
5. ‘A chronic illness’ includes illnesses such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, heart disease or epilepsy.
6. ‘Long-term’ refers to a condition which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
Disabled people face a higher risk of poverty. The poverty rate for disabled people has remained broadly constant at around a third since 2013/14. The difference is particularly stark for working-age adults: those who are disabled are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than those who are not (38% and 17% respectively).
In 2019/20 in Northern Ireland, 96% of households with no disabled adults were food secure, compared to 88% of households with a disabled adult, and 83% of households with a disabled adult under pension age.
Screening Questions
1. What is the likely impact on equality of opportunity for those affected by this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
Section 75 Category - Positive impact (it could benefit) Neutral Negative impact (it could disadvantage)
Gender
Women Neutral
Men Neutral
Transgender men/women Neutral
Other please specify Neutral
Reason:
It is unlikely that the action plan will have a differential impact on equality of opportunity between people of different genders.
Race
The categories used in the Race section are those used in the 2011 census. Consideration should be given to the needs of specific communities within the broad categories.
Asian Positive/Neutral
Black Positive/Neutral
Chinese Positive/Neutral
Mixed race Positive/Neutral
Other please specify Positive/Neutral
Reason:
The action plan could have a minor positive impact on equality of opportunity between people of different race, by tackling barriers to people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with a first language other than English being able to access services.
Disability
Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc. Positive
Reason:
The Action Plan could positively impact people with a disability by ensuring that poverty intervention services are accessible and targeted at people with a disability as one of the priority groupings.
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others Neutral
Reason:
It is unlikely that the action plan will have a differential impact on equality of opportunity between people of different sexual orientation.
Age
Older People Neutral
Younger people and children Neutral
Reason:
It is unlikely that the action plan will have a significantly differential impact on equality of opportunity between older people and younger people and children as it will positively impact on equality of opportunity for people of all ages.
Political Opinion
Neutral
Reason:
It is unlikely that the action plan will have a differential impact on equality of opportunity between people of different political opinion.
Religious Belief
Neutral
Reason:
It is unlikely that the action plan will have a differential impact on equality of opportunity between people of different religious belief.
Martial Status
Positive/Neutral
Reason:
The action plan may have a minor positive impact on lone parents as they have been identified as a grouping that services should be targeted at.
Dependants
Positive
Reason:
The action plan may have a positive impact on people with dependents as they have been identified as a grouping that services should be targeted at.
Screening Questions
2. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within any of the Section 75 categories?
Gender
(Women, Men, Transgender men/women , Other please specify)
No. We don’t believe there are opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity as the action plan delivers services that are available to all irrespective of gender.
Race
The categories used in the Race section are those used in the 2011 census. Consideration should be given to the needs of specific communities within the broad categories.
(Asian, Black, Chinese, Mixed race, White, Other please specify)
Yes. The action plan could improve equality of opportunity between people of different race, by tackling barriers to people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with a first language other than English being able to access services.
Disability
Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc.
Yes. The Action Plan could improve equality of opportunity for people with a disability by ensuring that poverty intervention services are accessible and targeted at people with a disability as one of the priority groupings.
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others
No. We don’t believe there are opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity as the action plan delivers services that are available to all irrespective of Sexual orientation.
Age
Older People, Younger people and children
No. We don’t believe there are opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity as the action plan delivers services that are available to all irrespective of age.
Political Opinion
No. We don’t believe there are opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity as the action plan delivers services that are available to all irrespective of political opinion.
Religious Belief
No. We don’t believe there are opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity as the action plan delivers services that are available to all irrespective of religious belief.
Marital Status
No. We don’t believe there are opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity as the action plan delivers services that are available to all irrespective of marital status.
Dependants
Yes. The Action Plan could improve equality of opportunity for people with dependants by ensuring that poverty intervention services are accessible and targeted at carers, and lone parents.
Screening Questions
3. To what extent is the policy likely to impact on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?
Section 75 Category: Religious Belief
Details of policy impact: The action plan is unlikely to have an impact on good relations between people of different religious belief.
Level of impact: None.
Section 75 Category: Political Opinion
Details of policy impact: The action plan is unlikely to have an impact on good relations between people of different political opinion.
Level of impact: None.
Section 75 Category: Racial Group
Details of policy impact: The action plan is unlikely to have an impact on good relations between people of different racial groups.
Level of impact: None.
Screening Questions
4. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?
Religious Belief: No. The action plan is unlikely to provide opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious beliefs.
Political Opinion. No. The action plan is unlikely to provide opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different political opinions.
Racial Group. No. The action plan is unlikely to provide opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different racial groups.
Additional Considerations
Generally speaking people can fall into more than one Section 75 category. Taking this into consideration, are there any potential impacts of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities? (For example: disabled minority ethnic people, disabled women, young Protestant men, young lesbians, gay and bisexual people.)
The project will benefit all groups within the Section 75 categories, including those with multiple identities.
Provide details of data on the impact of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities. Specify the relevant Section 75 categories concerned.
N/A
Disability Considerations
Is there an opportunity to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
No
Is there an opportunity to encourage participation by disabled people in public life by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
No
Screening Decision
Likely Impact: Minor
If the decision is to subject the policy to an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact – Major), please provide details of the reasons for this:
N/A
If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = Minor) the Council should consider if the policy should be mitigated or an alternative policy be introduced:
Minor positive impact on certain Section 75 groupings in line with DfC policy direction.
If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = None), please provide details of the reasons for this:
N/A
Mitigation
When the Council concludes that the likely impact is ‘Minor’ and an equality impact assessment is not to be conducted, the Council may consider mitigation to lessen the severity of any equality impact, or the introduction of an alternative policy to better promote equality of opportunity or good relations.
Can the policy/decision be amended or changed or an alternative policy introduced to better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations?
No
If YES, give the reasons to support your decision, together with the proposed changes/amendments or alternative policy:
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Timetabling And Prioritising
If the policy/decision has been ‘screened in’ for equality impact assessment, then please answer the following questions to determine its priority for timetabling the equality impact assessment.
On a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the lowest priority and 3 the highest, assess the policy in terms of its priority for equality impact assessment.
Priority Criterion
Rating (1 to 3)
Effect on equality of opportunity and good relations N/A
Social Need N/A
Effect on people’s daily lives N/A
Relevance to the Council’s functions N/A
Monitoring
Please outline proposals for future monitoring of the policy/decision:
The Anti-Poverty Action Plan will be reviewed on an annual basis.