Press Release
Welcome for PM's new social exclusion initiative comes with warning to avoid stigma
5 September 2006
Leading social policy experts and practitioners today welcomed the lecture from the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, which gave new commitment to fighting poverty and social exclusion. At the event, hosted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), members of the invited audience warned that extreme sensitivity would be needed in implementing these measures to avoid stigmatising the people it is trying to help.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that measures to help excluded families go together with the ongoing fight against child poverty. There was wide agreement that anti-poverty measures would not in themselves solve all problems and that tailored help and early assistance play an essential role. But many felt that without further progress towards securing adequate incomes, such measures would not work.
The JRF welcomed the Prime Minister's reassurance that he is "not talking about 'baby ASBOs', trying to make the State raise children, or interfering with normal family life". However, audience members pointed out that if such approaches were perceived to be the Government's intent, its policies could backfire.
Following the lecture, the Director of the JRF Lord (Richard) Best said:
"I think everyone attending the lecture warmed to the Prime Minister's positive support for more investment in preventative work in children's early years. But if parents feel that their children are being labelled as future troublemakers, they may be put off from taking part. And it is very difficult - except in extreme circumstances - to make accurate predictions about which children are heading towards further problems.
So we would urge Government to give priority to inclusive, voluntary community-based support that avoids stigmatising children."
The lecture and surrounding activities are part of the JRF's work to influence public policy, including the forthcoming Action Plan from the Government's Social Exclusion Taskforce.
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