TWELVE months on, councillors will examine how Calderdale’s anti-poverty strategy is measuring up.

The ambitious strategy has three key themes – prevention, intervention and resilience – and action points across the council which aim to address issues through all its directorates.

On Monday Calderdale Council Cabinet will be asked to agree that the work of the borough’s Anti-Poverty Partnership – which includes the council, statutory bodies and voluntary organisations – continues for another 12 months.

Councillors are informed poverty can effect the health of people at all ages, including the life chances of the youngest citizens, says the report to Cabinet, and although the scope is wide and the action plan still has plenty to tackle, some successes so far are outlined and some of the next steps indicated.

As an example of what has been achieved, the council has increased take-up of its Affordable Warmth Scheme to more than 200 residents during the last year, compared to 37 the previous year, helping people to keep their homes warm.

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Another is the Holiday Kitchen scheme – recently also considered by the council’s Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Board – which fed, exercised, entertained and educated families through the summer, introducing healthy eating and budgeted menus.

In the year ahead measures to help improve people’s lives will include work to ensure private landlords provide good-quality accommodation, an autumn and winter campaign to raise awareness of how the council is supporting rough sleepers and people who beg – including extended opening times at the borough’s Winter Shelter – and jointly developing a Good Employers Charter with local employers to recognise those who pay the Living Wage, recruit local apprentices and offer in-work training and career progression.

The council’s Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden), says welfare reform, austerity measures and cuts to public services have all resulted in a reduction in financial support to people in the borough on low incomes.

“The reality is, almost anyone can experience hard times,” she said.

“Unexpected events such as bereavement, a rise in living costs, relationship breakdown, ill health or a drop in earnings through job loss or benefit changes is all it takes to move a family into poverty.

“We believe our Action Plan, alongside the Inclusive Economy Strategy and Cohesion Strategy provides a framework for real change.”