|
Who
uses the CAB?
Which
geographic and social areas does it serve
and what needs does it meet?
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is an outer London
Borough with inner city problems. Listed below are some sample data and
the suggested advice needs that follows from them.
The need for immigration and related benefits and housing
advice is evident from the many different communities now living in Waltham
Forest. Waltham Forest has well established Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi
and African-Caribbean communities as well as more recently arrived Somali
and Turkish communities. These changes are confirmed by census data and
the 1997 WF Poverty Profile. The local Pakistani community is the biggest
as a percentage of total population of any London Borough and WF has the
eighth largest Black Caribbean community in London.
The WF Poverty Profile confirms that black and ethnic communities
in WF experience disproportionate levels of deprivation.
Trend: The London Research Centre has carried out projections
to the year 2006. The growth in the Black and ethnic minority population
will rise as the white population declines. This in turn implies a future
increase in relative deprivation levels. 67% of our clients self assess
as non-white and 42% of our clients do not have English as their first
language.
The 1994 Borough profile confirms that the LBWF has levels
of unemployment considerably above the Greater and outer London average
for women and slightly higher than the average.
Trend: Unemployment levels in WF have risen by a third
since the 1991 Census. This suggests an increased need for welfare benefits
advice, something confirmed by our advice demand profile, details below.
It also suggests a need for advice on remedies for unfair dismissal etc.
The 1997 Poverty Profile shows that in February 1996 there
were a total of 69,670 people dependant on Income Support in Waltham Forest
(nearly a third of the population). Of all rented housing in Waltham Forest,
totaling over 36,000 homes, 64% receive Housing Benefit. These figures
indicate a need for welfare benefits advice, again this is confirmed by
our advice demand profile. The CLS partnership steering group has concluded
that the current LSC model of needs assessment for this area certainly
understates the level of benefits advice need in WF.
29% of the full-time adult workforce earned less than the
council of Europe Decency Threshold of £228.68 in 1995. 4,264 were
receiving Family Credit, the benefit for low wage earners (now replaced
by Tax Credits). This suggests a significant level of poverty and the
need for benefits and debt advice. See our advice demand profile summary
below.
Bow County Court, which covers Waltham Forest and Newham,
usually records the second or third highest number of possession orders
in the London area. This confirms the need for advice on housing, homelessness
and debt advice. Only 20% of those who present themselves as homeless
at the LBWF housing department are assessed as 'homeless in priority need'.
This confirms the need for advice in the area of homelessness. The CLS
partnership steering group has concluded that there is significant need
for housing advice in WF.
The 1991 census showed that one adult WF resident in ten
lives in overcrowded conditions and one in five children live in overcrowded
conditions. Disproportionate overcrowding occurs in Pakistani and Bangladeshi
households. This confirms the need for advice on housing and homelessness.
Trend: The projected increase in the numbers of Black and
ethnic minority households suggests a parallel increase in the level of
overcrowding.
According to the Poverty Profile, 25% of children in the
Borough live in households where no one is in employment. WF has the seventh
highest proportion of families with 3 or more children in London. Nearly
a third of children in WF primary schools are eligible for free school
meals. These figures confirm the need for advice to families on a range
of matters, including benefits.
Census data suggests that 12% of the local population has
a limiting long term illness or disability. This confirms the need for
advice on disability benefits, specialist housing advice and other related
advice.
There are over 33,000 people of pension age living in WF.
44% of pensioners living alone have long term illness of disability. There
is a high concentration of older people living in the north of the Borough
(where there is no advice centre). 30% of pensioners depend on Income
Support. 44% of all households with at least one pensioner have no central
heating, the second highest proportion in London. These figures confirm
the need for income benefits and debt advice.
Trend: Iit is expected that the numbers of residents aged
45 to 65 will increase substantially by 2006.
Young people under 25 in WF have the highest levels of unemployment
(23%). The rate for young black men is roughly twice that of young white
men. Cuts to JSA and HB benefits since the mid 1990s confirms the need
for money and benefits advice to this group.
The lack of an advice centre in the north of the Borough
(where there is a concentration of older people) confirms the need for
an accessible telephone advice service, and outreach advice services,
where possible.
The CLS partnership steering group has noted the concentration
of DLA/Attendance Allowance cases in several wards in the north of the
Borough.
Trend: There are no LBWF plans to fund an advice centre
in the north of the Borough.
Leytonstone CAB advice demand profile.
The top four categories of advice requested by clients in
the period from the first of January 2001 to the end of March.2001 were:
Welfare Benefits 40%
Housing 17%
Immigration 12%
Debt 10%
Client group
A recent Bureau survey produced
an analysis of the CAB client group. The main criteria analysed were:
Other also analyses showed:
- gender - 58% male - 42% female
- dependents - 34% having
dependent children
- caring - 10% of users were
carers
- health - 36% reported long
term health problems
- language - 50% did not have English as first language
Background information
page
Leytonstone home page
|