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Last updated: 20 July 2009
Ensuring no one is left behind - working across government to ensure the right support for the most vulnerable - is crucial to the work of the Cabinet Office.
The Social Exclusion Task Force (SETF) has a track record of ensuring government extends the opportunities already enjoyed by most people to those who have suffered deprivation and exclusion. It champions the needs of the most disadvantaged by identifying areas where public service reform can help everyone make the most of their potential and prevent people from becoming socially excluded.
The Task Force works to deliver improved life chances for vulnerable people, in particular by increasing the proportion in settled accommodation and in employment, education or training. Its work focuses primarily on four at-risk groups:
We share responsibility for delivering the Government's ‘Public Service Agreement 16’ (PSA16) with six other departments: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Communities and Local Government (CLG), Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Department of Health (DH), the newly formed department for Business,Innovation and Skills (BIS), and Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
The Task Force also develops studies and supports innovative projects which tackle social exclusion.
In December 2008 the Task Force, Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and Communities and Local Government (CLG) published Aspirations and attainment in deprived communities8.
This short study focused on raising aspirations for children. It found that close-knit social networks, a sense of isolation from broader opportunities, and a history of economic decline, could all play a part in lowering ambitions for young people.
The study recommended that locally tailored and community-wide campaigns could be effective in shifting attitudes, changing behaviours and improving outcomes for young people in these areas. The aim of such campaigns would be to mobilise communities to do the best for their young people. They would also provide a new model for local partnership working, led by a dynamic local leader, and drawing together a programme of activities to broaden young people’s horizons; provide advice and inspiration; raise parents’ own aspirations; and draw on the talents of the local community.
The project led to the announcement of the £10 million Inspiring Communities programme in the New Opportunities White Paper9.
I couldn't think of a job where my skills could be put to better use. I generally wanted to learn about how the governmnet works and what ways I can add my skills and experiences to improve what already stands. Matthew Tyler, Cabinet Office, Strategy Unit
Through the Strategy Unit the Cabinet Office led on delivery of the New Opportunies White Paper published in January 2009. It sets out a number of recommendations to help the most disadvantaged groups in society to get on and get ahead, including:
Evidence for the policy recommendations came from the Cabinet Office's Strategy Unit discussion paper, Getting on, getting ahead10, published in November 2008, which analysed the trends in social mobility.
The Task Force constantly draws on the knowledge and experience of outside experts and stakeholders. For example, a series of seminars took place in the spring, led by James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Liam Byrne, Minister for the Cabinet Office, to examine how to help more people from the at-risk groups into work.
The Task Force and the Strategy Unit also employ a young person with a learning disability, so that they can see how policies look from the customer’s point of view. Asked why he wanted to join the Cabinet Office team, Matthew Tyler responded:
‘I couldn't think of a job where my skills could be put to better use. I generally wanted to learn about how the Government works and what ways I can add my skills and experiences to improve what already stands.’
To mark the launch of the new short study on social exclusion and the economic downturn, Liam Byrne held a seminar on 19 May 2009 on this issue. This provided an opportunity to learn from leading experts and practitioners from across the country.
The Task Force will continue its work with government departments, local service providers and third sector organisations to tackle social exclusion. In particular:
The Short Studies team will continue to address social exclusion issues which cut across government departments. A report on older people and rural exclusion is being published in the summer of 2009.