Social Exclusion

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|BA (Hons) Child and Youth Studies Submission Frontsheet |
|Student College and College Number |Moray UHI |
| |12003809 |
|Module |Social Policy |
|Assessment Details |Formative Assessment 1 |
|Personal Academic Tutor |Lindsay Todd |
|Word Count |1008 |
|Confirmed document submitted in rtf or word format |Word format |
|Date Assessment Due |11th November 2012 |
|Date Assessment Submitted |9th November 2012 |
|Date Assessment Received | |
|Weighting of Assessment | |

Numbers 1-8 to be completed by student

Numbers 9-10 to be completed by Marker

Please note that any case of suspected Plagiarism will be investigated according to current UHI Regulations. In submitting work using this assessment front sheet the responsible student is acknowledging they have read the Relevant sections of the Regulations and are aware of the possible penalties. Full information can be found on the following UHI web site:

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|For staff use only |For staff use only |For staff use only |
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| | | |Final total/100% |
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Social Exclusion 12003809

Social exclusion creates misery and costs lives (WHO 1998)

In the mid-1990s, the UK was distinguished from its EU competitors by high levels of social exclusion it topped the European league for children growing up in workless households, for teenage pregnancy rates and for drug use among young people (SE Unit, G Britain - 2001). The Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) was established in December 1997. Based in the Cabinet Office, the unit was tasked with providing, “joined up solutions for joined up problems.” they define social exclusion as a situation of disadvantage derived from a combination of adverse factors such as unemployment, discrimination; poor skills, low income, poor housing, high crime, ill health and family breakdown (Hothersall and Bolger 2010). Added to this list are other factors such as stigmatism, a lack of accessible and affordable transport and low educational attainment, all of which can contribute to the exclusion of an individual or group from communities.

Social exclusion is a very dynamic and multi-dimensional issue and is heavily interconnected with other adverse factors, such as homelessness, unemployment, stigma and poverty, however, there is a substantial difference between poverty and social exclusion, firstly, poverty is often seen a measurement of financial or material disadvantage, and secondly it is assumed that if everybody was provided with the same material and finances that poverty would be eradicated, however social exclusion is far more dynamic with a strong focus on the processes and factors with which people become detached from society.

Many assumptions have been made with regards to how poverty can be measured, but it has been defined in two parts, absolute and relative. Relative poverty refers to ‘a standard which is defined in terms of the society in which an individual lives and which therefore differs between countries and over time’, The concept of relative poverty is that, in a rich country such as the UK, there are higher minimum standards below which no one should fall, and that these standards should rise if the country becomes more affluent. Absolute poverty refers to ‘a set standard which is the same in all countries and which does not change over time’; the concept of absolute poverty is that there are minimum standards below which no one anywhere in the world should ever fall. (The poverty site 2002).

According to a study which was reported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation documented by ‘brighter-futures’ (brighter-futures.org.uk) poverty has two clear levels; Firstly a household is deemed to be in poverty if its income is less than 60% of median household income for the year in question, also referred to as the poverty line and Secondly, the second level was of “deep poverty” (household income at least one third below the poverty line).

It is easy to assume that those who are in poverty are socially excluded and all the socially excluded are in poverty, however most vulnerable individuals and groups have been recognised as children, the unemployed, older people, lone-parent families, large families, people suffering from illness or disabilities, carers and asylum seekers, and identified sources of support to these individuals or groups, could be family; such as spouses, parents, or grandparents, friends and other social contacts, or from sources of formal support such as Doctors, and voluntary and statutory organisations.

Following a report carried out by ‘The Rural Poverty and Inclusion Working Group’ in Scotland (The Scottish Government- 2001) who’s purpose was “to improve understanding of rural social exclusion in Scotland, including ensuring that existing indicators are appropriately developed for and measurable in rural areas; and recommend ways of promoting social inclusion in rural areas.” It was summarised that it was difficult to Measure the extent of deprivation, and progress towards tackling poverty and social exclusion is difficult in rural Scotland as the population is more scattered than in urban areas where there is usually more evidence of deprivation, however as a result of the evidence collected by the group it is understood that the effects of poverty and social exclusion in rural areas are similar to those in urban areas, but the causes and solutions to poverty and social exclusion in Scotland’s rural areas can be very different and there is a need to tailor the delivery of policies in rural areas to see significant results. More recent studies indicate that one in seven people living in rural Scotland are in poverty, seven factors that make rural living more difficult have been identified as, higher living costs, higher costs associated with fuel prices and travel, fewer opportunities for work, and ‘hidden’ poverty. (McKendrick 2011).

In 1999 The Scottish Government (Scotland.gov.uk) conducted a study to explore the process of social exclusion, as it had been experienced by individuals; to identify the factors which result in exclusion; and to consider current practices and future strategies for combating social exclusion. This report provided a detailed insight into the nature and causes of exclusion experienced by two groups in particular: those excluded through discrimination based on difference and through social isolation arising from crisis, it was identified that social exclusion needs to be tackled at a number of different levels for instance, support needs to be provided at the stages or periods that can create exclusion, or vulnerability to exclusion, with mechanisms for identifying and supporting those in need of help; policies which tackle the manifestations or symptoms of social exclusion are required and aspects of policy delivery may need reviewing to establish whether they are in danger of creating or escalating social exclusion. The study also has implications for the ways in which policies and services are delivered. It identifies the wide range of potential or actual sources of support for people experiencing social exclusion and suggests that the challenge is not simply to provide access to potential sources of support but also to tackle variability in experiences and in the quality of professional practice. Also the study indicates a number of challenges for the way in which agencies and services need to operate if they are to meet the needs of socially excluded people.

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References

Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence. (2003). Investing in Mental Health. Available: http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/investing_mnh.pdf. Last accessed 9th Nov 2012.

Social Exclusion Unit. (2001). Summary. In: SEU Preventing Social Exclusion. London: SEU. 5-7.

Hothersall,S Bolger,J. (2010). Poverty and Social exclusion. In: Hothersall,S Bolger, J Social Policy for Social Work,Social Care and the Caring Professions. Surrey: Ashgate Publishing Limited. 102-104.

Palmer, G. (2002). Relative poverty, absolute poverty and social exclusion. Available: http://www.poverty.org.uk/summary/social%20exclusion.shtml. Last accessed 7th Nov 2012.

Robertson, E. (2011). Thoughts on vulnerable groups and social exclusion. Available: http://www.brighter-futures.org.uk/images/uploads/Poverty_and_social_exclusion1.pdf. Last accessed 7th Nov 2012.

Rural Poverty and Inclusion Working Group. (2001). Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Scotland. Available: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/159178/0043304.pdf. Last accessed 9th Nov 2012

McKendrick, JH. (2011). Who lives in poverty?. In: McKendrick, JH, Mooney, G, Dickie, J and Kelly, P Poverty in Scotland. London: CPAG. 91-111.

O 'Connor, W and Lewis, J. (1999). Experiences of Social Exclusion in Scotland - Research Findings. Available: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1999/11/3328630f-78ac-4e7e-824e-0e27038bb031. Last accessed 8th Nov 2012

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References: Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence. (2003). Investing in Mental Health. Available: http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/investing_mnh.pdf. Last accessed 9th Nov 2012. Social Exclusion Unit. (2001). Summary. In: SEU Preventing Social Exclusion. London: SEU. 5-7. Hothersall,S Bolger,J. (2010). Poverty and Social exclusion. In: Hothersall,S Bolger, J Social Policy for Social Work,Social Care and the Caring Professions. Surrey: Ashgate Publishing Limited. 102-104. Palmer, G. (2002). Relative poverty, absolute poverty and social exclusion. Available: http://www.poverty.org.uk/summary/social%20exclusion.shtml. Last accessed 7th Nov 2012. Robertson, E. (2011). Thoughts on vulnerable groups and social exclusion. Available: http://www.brighter-futures.org.uk/images/uploads/Poverty_and_social_exclusion1.pdf. Last accessed 7th Nov 2012. Rural Poverty and Inclusion Working Group. (2001). Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Scotland. Available: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/159178/0043304.pdf. Last accessed 9th Nov 2012 McKendrick, JH. (2011). Who lives in poverty?. In: McKendrick, JH, Mooney, G, Dickie, J and Kelly, P Poverty in Scotland. London: CPAG. 91-111. O 'Connor, W and Lewis, J. (1999). Experiences of Social Exclusion in Scotland - Research Findings. Available: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1999/11/3328630f-78ac-4e7e-824e-0e27038bb031. Last accessed 8th Nov 2012 12003809