ROOF Blog

Economic gains in deprived parts of Wales in the past 10 years have been wiped out by the recession, and worse is still to come. A report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and New Policy Institute found that, compared with other parts of the UK, economic recovery since 1997 was slower to kick in and markedly weaker, with the danger of further deterioration as the recession continues. Unemployment stood at 6 per cent, but increased to 16 per cent among the 16- to 24-year-olds.

Research by the Prince’s Trust show that deprived young people are being hit by the recession worst, and more is to come. Claims for jobseeker’s allowance by 18- to-24-year-olds have risen by more than 80 per cent in the past year, totalling more than 450,000 young people. At the same time, youth charities are facing increasing demand for their services, and a drop in income as the recession hits the value of investments.

Young people housed by local authorities are entitled to ‘more than a roof over their heads’, a ruling by the House of Lords established. The Law Lords judged that councils have a duty of care to assess the wider needs of 16- and 17-year-olds coming to them following family breakdown or because they are refugees. Their judgment clarified whether young people asking local authorities for accommodation should be dealt with by housing departments, or children’s services, as they finally ruled. Solicitors have called the judgment a ‘huge step forward for children’s rights and required councils to rethink services’.

Six out of 10 people looking to buy a home think prices will not fall any further in the coming 12 months. The survey from Rightmove.com found that only 35 per cent of those questioned said they thought the property market correction had further to go – down from 69 per cent three months ago. Young people are the most optimistic, with 41 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds expecting property prices to rise this year. People still think it is a buyer’s market – with 71 per cent believing it is a good time to buy, compared with 2 per cent who think it is a good time to sell.

A consultation into the Town and Country Planning Act concerning homes in multiple occupancy (HMOs) was launched yesterday. The department for Communities and Local Government wants to identify ways of improving the problems occurring in areas with a high density of HMOs, such as antisocial behaviour and litter. The prospect of tighter legislation has not been well received.

A record number of young people are not in any form or education, employment or training (Neets), according to figures from the Conservatives. Nearly 860,000 people aged 16–24 were not in jobs, school or training, up from 629,000 in 2000. The Tories suggest that the recession, along with government cuts to sixth-form funding, apprenticeships and further education college capital spending have contributed to the problem, and they will create a £100 million fund to help young people engage in further training or employment.

In a new BBC survey, the recession tops children’s fears. More than 60 per cent said they had been affected by the downturn, and more than 40 per cent said their parents were worried about money, up from 30 per cent in 2007, while nearly 90 per cent said they would be willing to give something up such as pocket money to help their families cope in the worsening economic climate. One in five of those questioned said they were fed up with hearing about the credit crunch.

FRANK, the national drugs information service, has launched a real-time text messaging service for young people where they can get advice and information from trained personnel on drugs and drug-related issues. It has scope to reach more than 6.5 million 11- to 18-year-olds across the country.

And in the latest bid to remove antisocial young people from gathering on an estate, a pink light highlighting their spots has been installed. A spokesperson from the Layton Boroughs Resident’s Association in Mansfield, Notts, said they made the move in the hope of cutting antisocial behaviour in the estate by embarrassing the youths. The National Youth Agency said that anything that aims ‘to embarrass people out of an area is not on’.

Nearly one in three households, or eight million people, are seeing their cost of living fall as mortgage bills drop following the cut in base interest rates. This is an increase from just 2 per cent in September last year. Research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies has found however, that there are stark differences among social groups – the biggest drop in the cost of living (3.6 per cent on average) is among the richest fifth of people under 35; whereas millions of others, the elderly in particular are struggling to make ends meet, as they are hit with an annual inflation rate of up to 7 per cent as food and energy costs remain high.

Age Concern has calculated that the rate of ‘pensioner inflation’ is, on average, 10 times higher for pensioners than non-pensioners. A total of 2.5 million pensioners live in poverty before housing costs, and 1.4 million pensioners live in ‘deep’ poverty before housing costs. Age Concern said even the 5 per cent increase in the value of pensions due in April won’t be enough to keep up with inflation increase for the over-70s.