Policy – The Magpie Project

Six week legal limit

One of our main asks in the NO CHILD IN A HOME WITHOUT A KITCHEN campaign was a stepping stone of making sure that no families were in B&B accommodation for longer than the six week legal limit. We are excited to see that this gained traction and attention and now is a major part of the child poverty strategy.

“The strategy will also end the unlawful placement of families in Bed and Breakfasts beyond the six-week limit. To support this, the Government is investing £8 million in Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots in 20 local authorities that have the highest use of Bed and Breakfasts for homeless families – continuing the programme for the next three years. Alongside this, the government will provide £950 million through the fourth and largest round of the Local Authority Housing Fund from April 2026 to deliver up to 5,000 high-quality homes for better temporary accommodation by 2030. Further details will be set out in the upcoming Homelessness Strategy.“

Gifty the head of our REACH team says:

We have been asking that no child is in a B&B for longer than the six week legal limit – and the local authority has been working hard to acheive it – but they have struggled to find alternatives especially if a child needs to be in the borough. The extra financial help to make this happen is very welcome.

Notification system for those in TA

Notifying local services when a child is moved in to temporary accommodation in their area – to ensure that they get the services to which they are entitled – is a welcome move – as it will place the responsibility back on those services to engage with families – rather than on fraught and exhausted families to find them. Thi is especially important when children are often moved across borough borders frequently and with little warning.

“A new legal duty will also be introduced for councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation, so no child is left without support. This enables health and education providers to deliver a more joined up approach to support children experiencing homelessness.”

This is good in terms of safeguarding and also families won’t have to keep explaining their situations to schools or health services to get the right support (and sooner). We often feel overwhelmed and alone navigating education, health, and housing systems but this will shift responsibility to councils and service providers.

Ending the discharge of mothers and newborns in to B&Bs

The Government will also work with the NHS to end the practice of mothers with newborns being discharged to B&Bs or other forms of unsuitable housing.”

A member of our REACH team says:

I think it is a beautiful step and it is a relief to hear this good news.
I experienced speaking to the midwife about my accommodation when I had my baby and they gave excuses .So helping mothers and newborns right from NHS level is awesome . And carrying other bodies along like the school and health visitors is just perfect.

But this is not good news for all children

For families going through the legal process of seeking asylum the six week legal limit does not apply – children can be in hotel rooms without cooking facilities for up to two years. The protections for the children of those fleeing war and persecution are not the same as for all other children. We don’t think this is right.

The No Recourse to Public Funds condition which withholds basic welfare protections from children born in to families with insecure immigration status means that while the government is doing its best to lift some children out of poverty, it is withholding vital help from others.

We would appeal to the government to include #AllOurChildren in any child poverty strategy – that means those who are in poverty through larger economic factors and the twists and turns of life AND those who are in legally mandated destitution – denied the basic welfare safety net that would keep them out of destitution through immigration regulations.

The REACH TEAM says:

It is not right that some Magpie Mums and Minis will be benefitted under this strategy and others will not.
We will not rest until we see improvements for #AllOurChildren.

Meeting on the health effects of temporary accommodation on unders fives.

Tuesday 8th June saw the Magpie Project give evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group on ending homelessness.

Evidence was given by:

Kemi, member of our Magpie Mums Leadership team.

Professor Monica Lakhanpaul – professor of integrated community child health at university college London and Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and consultant paediatrician at Whittington Health NHS Trust.

Maxine Jenkins – specialist community public health nurse and queen’s nurse representing 33 health visitors working with families experiencing homelessness nationally.

Dr Sarah Cockman – outreach paediatrician for homeless families, Shared Health Foundation.

Thelma, expert by experience.

Evidence presented

The panel presented evidence for the health risks of temporary or insecure housing on children, especially those under five. These include.

For developing foetuses and newborns this can include premature births, low birth weight or stillbirth.
For young children this may include lower rates of GP registration, school readiness, higher rates of
hospital admissions, missed immunisations, development delays (both physical and in the brain), or
chronic health issues.
For children between 5-19 years this can include substantial behavioural and emotional problems,
increased risk of injury, childhood obesity, lower school attainment, substance use, and suicide risk.
In the worst cases this can even lead to child mortality – 156 child deaths between 1 April 2019 and 31
March 2020 were directly attributable to housing problems or homelessness.

The impact of covid
Organisations working on the frontline of these sectors told the APPG how the pandemic has
worsened this – reports of child mental health ill-health, domestic abuse, poverty and nutritional deficits have all
increased, while contact with support services have reduced. This has also been exacerbated by rapid moves
between accommodation and digital exclusion.
These problems could be preventable with better data: Clear from their testimonies was that the majority of these
problems experienced by homeless children could be prevented and the urgent need for better data through a
notification system, which would strengthen the provision of targeted support for children in these circumstances.
As it stands, children who are homeless are often hidden from services that are designed to protect
them. Currently, local education, health, housing and other support services have their own data
systems for their clients.
This means that when vulnerable or at-risk children move into new or between temporary
accommodation settings, vital local services are not informed of their move into the area.
These children are effectively invisible to services and left without essential health, social and
emotional support.
Many of these children subsequently experience a multitude of preventable problems which can lead to
longer-term problems such as chronic ill-health, homelessness, destitution, or social exclusion.
A notification system would facilitate a greater understanding of the needs of children experiencing
homelessness and improve the provision of local targeted support.
Without the data from a notification systems, children will remain hidden from services, and unable to access the
vital support they need.

Key stats

• 98,300 households in temporary accommodation in England in June 2020, which included 127,240 children.

• Further 90,000 children are estimated to be sofa surfing situations England by the Children’s Commissioner.

•Number of children in temporary accommodation has Increased by 75% in the last 10 years.

• 391% increase in the number of households placed in temporary accommodation
outside of their local authority between the end of June 2010 and the end of June 2020.

• 156 child deaths between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020 were directly attributable to housing
problems or homelessness.

What we want MPs to do

Sign the cross-party letter to Ministers Jo Churchill and Eddie Hughes which is calling for the implementation
of a notification system to ensure that children and families who are homeless can be guided through the
system safely.
Sign up to be a member of the APPG on Households in Temporary Accommodation where you will have a
chance to learn more about the impact of prolonged stays in temporary accommodation and support the
recommended policy changes needed to protect the health and wellbeing of families staying in them.

What we want you to do

Write to your MP and ask them to become a member of the APPG for ending homelessness and the APPG on households in Temporary accommodation.
Ask your MP to call for a notification system for families moving in to temporary accommodation.
Ask your MP to back minimum, enforceable standards for temporary, emergency, Section 17 and Home office accommodation.

Account number	A 10-12 digit number given to your bank account. You can find your account number on your online banking page or on bank statements.
Card Number	A 16-digit number with that is found on the front of your debit/credit card.
Credit Card	A credit card doesn’t spend your money. It spends the bank’s money and you must pay it back. This means you can spend more than is in your account, but you might be charged extra for doing this, especially if you are late paying the bank.
Credit Score	A number that records how likely you are to repay your debts. High credit scores are better as it means financial products such as overdrafts and credit cards cost less.
Debit Card	A debit card is a card that lets you take out money from ATMs and make payments in stores or online from your account.
Financial Service Compensation Scheme (FSCS)	An organisation set up to protect the money you put in bank accounts. If you have a current or basic account, the FSCS will pay you up to £85,000 if your bank goes bankrupt.
National Insurance Number (NI)	The number makes sure that the National Insurance contributions and tax you pay are properly recorded on your account. It also acts as a reference number for the whole social security system.
Overdraft	An amount of money you can spend even when you have no money in your account. It is like a small loan from your bank. Overdrafts are often not free, so you need to be very aware what the costs are before using one.
Personal Identification Number (PIN)	A PIN is a 4-digit number that is given to you with a debit card. This is used when taking out money from ATMs or when making in-store purchases with your card. Never share your PIN with anyone as it could be used to commit fraud.
Security Code	A 3-4 digit number found on the back of your debit/credit card in the signature section. This number will be required for nearly all online payments. The code provides an extra layer of security to safeguard you from fraud.
Sort Code	A 6-digit number that is used to identify your bank. You can find your sort code on your online banking platform, on bank statements or on your debit card.
Standing Order	When a fixed amount that you choose is paid from your account to another person or organisation. This is different from the direct debit as the amount that is paid is the same each time.

Saves time – you don’t need to remember to pay a bill.	You need to make sure there is enough money in your account when the direct debit or standing order will be taken. If there is not enough money, you could be charged extra by the bank.
You will get money back for any incorrect payments for direct debits only.	You must remember to cancel standing orders when you want to stop paying someone regularly.
You can cancel a direct debit or a standing order at any time through your online banking account or by contacting your bank.	Sometimes you might think you are setting up a direct debit, but it is actually a recurring payment or continuous payment authority (CPA). Be careful if companies ask for the long number on your card instead of your sort code and account number. This will mean they can take money whenever they think they are owed.

Saves Time	Make sure there is enough money in your account when the direct debit or standing order will be taken. If there is not enough money, you could be charged extra by the bank.
You don’t need to remember to pay a bill	You must remember to cancel standing orders when you want to stop paying someone regularly.
You will get money back for any incorrect payments for direct debits only.	Sometimes you might think you are setting up a direct debit, but it is actually a recurring payment or continuous payment authority (CPA). Be careful if companies ask for the long number on your card instead of your sort code and account number. This will mean they can take money whenever they think they are owed.
You can cancel a direct debit or a standing order at any time through your online banking account or by contacting your bank.


Magpie Mums say: “Always use direct debits if you can, so you don’t forget to pay and are charged. If you can’t use direct debits, make sure you put the dates when you’re supposed to make payments in your phone calendar.” “I’m used to it. It’s easy on the phone. I try to avoid going to banks.”

Bank Examples	Forms of Identity Needed
Metro Bank	Asylum seekers can apply for a cash account and/or savings account. This requires an Application Registration Card (ARC), proof of address and confirmation of asylum seekers support allowance or other income.
Lloyds	You can apply for a Classic Current account with a BRP, ARC or a Home Office Immigration Status document. Refugees and asylum seekers can apply for a ‘Classic current account’. This includes an arranged overdraft. Fees are charged if you go into your overdraft.
Nationwide	You can get a ‘FlexBasic account’ (basic bank account) and an ‘Instant Access saver’ (basic savings account). They accept BRP, ARC and Home Office Immigration Status document.
HSBC	You cannot open a bank account if you are from outside the EU. They accept BRP but NOT ARC. They accept BRP but NOT ARC.
Monzo	Refugees can open a current account with a BRP and their UK address. However, Monzo do not accept ARC. You can get your benefits or salary (depending on your employer) paid into your Monzo account 1 day earlier.

Category: Policy

Child Poverty Strategy – great initiatives – but not for all children