Making Birmingham an inclusive city

Commitment Three: Protect the most vulnerable
It remains the case that the single most significant factor that makes the greatest contribution
to wellbeing is meaningful occupation. However without the basic means for living it is
impossible for the most vulnerable in society to begin to engage in the social and economic
life of the city. Evidence shows that the planned welfare reforms will have a disproportionate
impact on the most vulnerable in society and therefore concerted and co-ordinated action is
needed to mitigate against the worst effects.
The steering group makes the following recommendations:
3.1 Prepare for Welfare Reform
Establish a welfare reform action committee to coordinate Birmingham’s response and
encourage greater collaboration between organisations
Birmingham City Council should develop a policy position on welfare reform including
how the Social Fund will be administered. Consideration should also be given to the
areas where there is discretion and how this will be managed.
An urgent data modelling exercise should be completed to identify who will be
affected by the changes and the scale and nature of the predicted impact.
An effective communications programme should be established to ensure that the
individuals affected by the reform understand the impact, whether they be claimants,
service providers or frontline staff.
Birmingham City Council should consider developing a policy around payment
holidays against Council Tax bills and other council debits when individuals secure
employment.
Agencies in the city should agree and implement a multi-agency approach to support
those in crisis, including wrap around support such as food banks, jam jar accounts,
and credit unions.
The city council and its partners should reinvigorate and re-launch the financial
inclusion partnership to tackle this challenge.
A multi-agency advice strategy should be developed and agreed including training for
frontline staff.
Protocols for information-sharing across agencies should be agreed.
Agencies should work together to ensure that job opportunities are made available to
those affected.
3.2 Use innovative and social solutions to support vulnerable people
Public health bodies and the voluntary sector should work together to support
vulnerable people. Rather than using medical intervention for loneliness and
exclusion, prescribe social solutions such as befriending schemes, peer solutions and
user groups.
The city council should encourage corporate social responsibility with food producers
and distributors to develop redistribution schemes for vulnerable people.
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