Is Wales Fairer?

People
ViewsDecember 3rd, 2015

Is Wales fairer than in 2008? In some ways yes, but in many more ways no. Victoria Winckler identifies some shocking findings in a report written for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Gay couple 600

Image from Bevan Foundation’s media library

Wales has changed a lot since in the onset of the recession. There’re the obvious changes, like the disappearance of many household names from our high streets, the ubiquity of smart phones, and the big rise in the number of older people. And there’s the less obvious changes, which although invisible affect whether people are able to fulfil their potential as individuals. free from discrimination or abuse. Tracking those changes was a key part of the work we have just completed for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, published today.

In writing the report for EHRC, there were some findings that brought me up short because there were so shocking.  You can read the full report here for a balanced and measured analysis. This is my cry of outrage at three headline findings.   You may well have some of your own.

Barely a quarter of children from low income families get 5 good GCSEs.

In 2012/13, just over a quarter of children eligible for free school meals achieved achieving five GCSEs at Grade A*-C including Maths and English or Welsh. Although their attainment has improved, it hasn’t increased as much as other children’s attainment, with the result that the gap has widened over the five year period.

Stop and think what this means: after twelve years of schooling, three-quarters of children from low income families – and there are plenty of them in Wales – cannot even get five GCSEs.  The link between qualifications and future employment prospects, earnings, health and well-being is huge, and the failure at this stage sets the scene for a lifetime.

Young people have borne the brunt of the recession

While many people have been affected by the recession and slow recovery, it is children and young people who have been worst affected. Children are at increased risk of abuse and more are being taken into care. Young people have four times the unemployment rate of older people, the lowest average earnings, are less likely to participate in political activity, and one in ten have experienced discrimination, harassment or abuse in the last 12 months.

Wales’ suicide rate is increasing and is the highest in the UK

In the last five years, the suicide rate for people aged 15 and over substantially increased, with the increase being particularly large for middle-aged men.  For men, there are now 26.1 deaths per 100,000 adult males. Just do the maths  – Cardiff has a population of 180,000 males, Swansea and Rhondda Cynon Taf around 120,000 each.

Some things have got better

It would be unfair not to point out the areas – albeit limited – where inequality has reduced. Exclusions from school are down, attitudes to gay people are generally more tolerant, and victims seem more willing to report sexual violence, domestic abuse and hate crimes than in the past. Welcome though these changes are, they occur against a backcloth of generally static or worsening inequalities.

So what to do?

Well if the answers were simple, EHRC and many others would have found them.

But the first step is for us all to say this is not acceptable. Tell our MPs and AMs that we want a better deal for mental health and for poor children and young people. Ask headteachers what they are doing to improve the achievement of children receiving free school meals. Ask your employer how they support staff experiencing mental distress.

And last, but not least, recognise that there are deep fractures in Wales’ economy, society and culture that are not healed by platitudes but need urgent and concerted action.

Victoria Winckler is Director of the Bevan Foundation.  You can help us to develop solutions to inequality and injustice by making a one-off donation or subscribing – do it now! 

 

 

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