Social care is not always a poor option
A REFRAIN popular among one faction of disaffected deputies runs along the lines of ‘let’s stop spending on nice-to-have social policies and focus instead on the economy’.
The argument follows that without thriving industries paying hard cash in wages and taxes, none of the ‘soft’ social policies such as the disability strategy, cheap electric bikes and free healthcare for those on benefits is possible.
It has a beguiling logic. Many social issues do not ‘need’ the money spent now. What harm is there in waiting until the golden times return?
That works, of course, unless you are the person affected. For those with mental health issues, a disability, low wages or a childcare crisis, each week, each month without help can be torment.
And asking those working in social care to wait years for more resources, a transformed support system or modern equipment is demoralising.
But turning our back on social issues is not only uncaring, it can cost far more in the long run.
A case in point is PE in School funding.
This is a classic ‘nice to have’ social policy: £200,000 spent each year by Education, Sport & Culture on getting children keen on sport.
Without ESC backing, the Guernsey Sports Commission scheme would almost certainly fail. Primary school children would lose out, but that £200,000 could then somehow be redirected towards ‘the economy’.
Education, despite being under huge Budget pressure, is right to disagree. Instead it has doubled down on its investment to improve the scheme.
That means more children developing a love of sport after being given high quality PE coaching with decent equipment. They learn new sports in an atmosphere that keeps everyone interested, not just the naturals.
In time, many should develop a lifelong affinity for sport and keeping active.
When 30% of 9- to 10-year-olds are already overweight or obese and there is a clear decline through the primary years, PE in Schools is a vital service.
Without action, the island risks a glut of serious and expensive health conditions associated with obesity, including heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
Focusing solely on the economy can be costly.