Social justice can mean many things, but it must include giving every child the best start in life.
Today the government is publishing new analysis which shows that one in eight children across the country are living in families where no one is in work. Strikingly, we’ve found that children growing up in workless families are almost twice as likely as children in working families not to reach the expected level at every stage of their education. Three quarters of children from families in which no one works fail to reach the expected level at GCSE.
We are aware that work can have positive effects on both our physical and mental well-being. Engaging in employment can be beneficial, as it helps reduce the likelihood of dependency on drugs and alcohol and minimizes struggles with problem debt. The repercussions of such challenges extend beyond the individuals themselves, impacting their partners and, often, their children too. Dealing with a partner facing these issues can be overwhelming for those on the receiving end, causing their lives to take a toll and descend into distress. For individuals who find themselves workless and grappling with addiction or debt problems, it is essential to take decisive actions to steer their lives back on track, not only for their own sake but also for the well-being of their loved ones. However, if they show no willingness to change and their behavior continues to negatively affect their partner and children, the other partner may consider filing for divorce by collaborating with a Family Law Attorney Phoenix (or similar experts elsewhere).
According to many studies, parents are around three times more likely to be in a damaging relationship if they are workless, compared with parents who both work. A child’s emotional and educational success is underpinned by the relationship between their parents. Warring parents, whether together or separated, have a hugely negative impact on their children. When exposed to frequent, intense and poorly resolved conflict, children are at risk of being held back in their education and in later life. So we need to address both the quality of parental relationships and the problem of families where no one works.
Keeping parents talking is a vital step towards solving the first of these issues. As a government we have a duty to step in early and offer relationship support, instead of stepping in later through the criminal justice or benefits system.
So we will introduce new relationship support which will enable specialist organisations to deliver proven assistance at a local level – improving lives by giving parents, whether together or separated, the help they need.
As a further step forward we are also setting out the next phase of the Troubled Families programme which, through targeted intervention, provides support for a whole family through one point of contact. We will add an even greater emphasis on helping people back into work by introducing Jobcentre Plus support.
I don’t want any child to be defined by the circumstances of their birth. The government’s intention is that all families and children can go as far as their talents and hard work
will take them.
