How are local areas responding to welfare reform?

ISSUE 509, MARCH 2013

*SPECIAL FOCUS ON WELFARE REFORM*

IN FOCUS: HOW ARE LOCAL AREAS RESPONDING TO WELFARE REFORM?

Across the country councils and voluntary sector organisations are preparing for the impact of welfare reform on their local communities. Matthew Jackson rounds up the initiatives and asks, is it enough?

FROM TRANSACTIONAL WELFARE TO RELATIONAL WELFARE 

Reform of our current welfare system is not working. We need a new set of services focused on helping people to grow and flourish, says Hilary Cottam

TACKLING POVERTY REQUIRES PEOPLE-CENTRED ACTION

From a people-centred perspective, the welfare debate is back to front: the goal must be to build capacity, not simply to reduce budgets, argues Julian Dobson.

HOW TO… PROVIDE A PEOPLE-CENTRED PERSPECTIVE TO THE SOCIAL FUND

The devolution of the social fund is an opportunity for local areas to pool their resources and provide funding and support systems for the long-term resilience of residents, as Nicola Steuer explains.

ABOLISHING THE SOCIAL FUND: WHEN ‘LOCAL’ SIMPLY MEANS ‘LESS’ 

What does the abolition of the social fund mean for local areas? Damon Gibbons finds out.