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Local authorities prioritise innovative schemes amid spending cuts Local authorities prioritise innovative schemes amid spending cuts
(6 months later)
Amid the budgetary gloom, some local authorities are prioritising innovative programmes aimed at getting maximum social impact from their rapidly diminishing resources.Amid the budgetary gloom, some local authorities are prioritising innovative programmes aimed at getting maximum social impact from their rapidly diminishing resources.
Newham council in east London, for example, has introduced a jobs programme for local unemployed people, free school meals for all primary schoolchildren, and a free musical instrument and two years of tuition for all year five and year six pupils in its primary schools.Newham council in east London, for example, has introduced a jobs programme for local unemployed people, free school meals for all primary schoolchildren, and a free musical instrument and two years of tuition for all year five and year six pupils in its primary schools.
Other boroughs, such as Islington and Southwark, and the Welsh government, fund universal free school meals in primaries, arguing that this delivers wider and longlasting academic and health benefits for pupils. Similarly, Blackpool council is piloting a free breakfasts scheme for all its 12,000 primary school children.Other boroughs, such as Islington and Southwark, and the Welsh government, fund universal free school meals in primaries, arguing that this delivers wider and longlasting academic and health benefits for pupils. Similarly, Blackpool council is piloting a free breakfasts scheme for all its 12,000 primary school children.
In their different ways, these projects, along with attempts to protect Sure Start programmes and parenting schemes, are bold attempts to deploy shrinking resources strategically to help residents to develop skills and resilience to cope with the pressures of austerity.In their different ways, these projects, along with attempts to protect Sure Start programmes and parenting schemes, are bold attempts to deploy shrinking resources strategically to help residents to develop skills and resilience to cope with the pressures of austerity.
They are also a tacit acceptance that the comprehensive welfare and municipal services of the pre-austerity years are unlikely to return.They are also a tacit acceptance that the comprehensive welfare and municipal services of the pre-austerity years are unlikely to return.
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