Beyond social inclusion through employment : harnessing mutual aid as a complementary social inclusion policy
By: WILLIAMS, Colin C
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Contributor(s): WINDEBANK, Jan.
Material type: 
ArticlePublisher: UK : Policy Press, jan. 2001Subject(s): ChinaPolicy & Politics 29, 1, p. 15-27Abstract: This article argues that New Labour's reliance on a 'social inclusion through employment' approach is problematic - especially when applied in lower income areas. This is due to the significant gap between actual employment rates and a full-employment scenario in such areas, its unidimensional view that equates social inclusion with having a job, and its failure to recognise and value forms of work beyond employment. We evaluate whether and how one alternative form of work - mutual aid - could be harnessed to help activate social inclusion. Through 400 interviews in UK lower income urban neighbourhoods, we find little evidence that people use mutual aid, instead preferring to receive some form of payment. Based on this recognition, the article develops a proposal for an Active Citizens' Credits scheme to activate mutual aid, and in so doing, provide a complementary social inclusion policy
This article argues that New Labour's reliance on a 'social inclusion through employment' approach is problematic - especially when applied in lower income areas. This is due to the significant gap between actual employment rates and a full-employment scenario in such areas, its unidimensional view that equates social inclusion with having a job, and its failure to recognise and value forms of work beyond employment. We evaluate whether and how one alternative form of work - mutual aid - could be harnessed to help activate social inclusion. Through 400 interviews in UK lower income urban neighbourhoods, we find little evidence that people use mutual aid, instead preferring to receive some form of payment. Based on this recognition, the article develops a proposal for an Active Citizens' Credits scheme to activate mutual aid, and in so doing, provide a complementary social inclusion policy
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