Welsh government provides funding for range of organisations across the country working with families in poverty
New funding has been announced to support efforts to tackle child poverty across Wales. The Welsh government is provided a little over £1.5m to 25 organisations already working with families in poverty.
Photo by Jochen van Wylick / Unsplash
The new funding, delivered through the Child Poverty Innovation and Supporting Communities Grant, will be used to better connect services so that families in need can more easily find and access support. The focus, says the Welsh government, will be on practical solutions that help lift children out of poverty and the creation of better opportunities for them.
As examples of where the money is going, Abergele Community Action works with young people who face exclusion of various forms. The action group offers them job skills and personal development, which in turn provides these young people a chance to build better futures.
A project in Powys funded through the new money will explore means to address the particular challenges of rural poverty, developing practical solutions tailored to specific needs of affected communities.
Meanwhile, National Youth Arts Wales will use the funding to provide free creative workshops to young people in Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.
The new grant funding is part of the Welsh government’s wider aim, in the financial year 2025-26, to help households struggling with poverty across Wales. It’s part of longer-term efforts, too: the Welsh government has already committed more than £7bn between 2022 and 2026 in interventions aimed at reducing the costs and maximising incomes of families in Wales.
Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, says: ‘Every child deserves the best start in life, and addressing child poverty remains our absolute priority. We’re committed to breaking down the barriers poverty creates and expanding opportunities for our children.
‘By investing directly in organisations who support families in poverty across Wales, we’re ensuring this funding reaches those who need it most. We will continue to do everything in our power to prevent poverty and provide meaningful support to those facing the toughest challenges.‘
Evan Dawson, Chief Executive of National Youth Arts Wales, adds: ‘Every young person in Wales has the right to flourish through inspirational cultural opportunities, boosting their wellbeing, education and future careers. This grant from the Welsh Government will bring together local and national partners to deliver creative experiences for young people in Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent, areas with some of the highest levels of child poverty and the least access to the arts in Wales.
‘We know the arts are transformative. They spark creativity, build confidence, strengthen wellbeing, and open up real opportunities. This project supports the aims of the Child Poverty Strategy for Wales and will help create lasting change for young people in these communities.’
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