Families on the frontline

This report seeks to understand decisions being made about spending on local services from the perspective of families and children, presenting the findings of one strand of the Family and Parenting Institute’s research programme Families in the Age of Austerity. It analyses local authority spending during a period of upheaval for children’s services, as budget constraints collide with new policy pressures and rising demand among local populations.

Looking at a sample of eight local authorities in England, researchers from ESRO identify which service areas were more affected by revenue spending reductions from 2011- 13 and which appeared to be more protected. It finds that funding constraints were serving as a driver for significant change at the local level and identifies instances of ‘innovation in austerity’. However, it also warns that a number of the spending cutbacks being made could give rise to unintended consequences for families and that further savings will be much harder to find.

See the full report.

See the press release.

Watch the prezi for a summary of the research - click 'more' and select 'full screen'