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 Jenny Turner, Valleys Initiative"We believe that the communities of the Valleys need resources"  real 28k Chris Ruane MP"We see social exclusion as a big issue" real 28k |
Local solutions sought to poverty in Wales
 Communities are seeking answers to exclusion problems |
Welfare agencies and politicians in Wales have turned to community groups for help in finding ways to address poverty and social exclusion.
The Welsh Select Committee met community groups in north Wales to find local solutions to poverty and other social problems.
Wales has the second lowest level of disposable income in the UK after the North East.
There are also a greater number of people out of work and in receipt of benefits than many parts of the UK.
The exercise coincided with a speech by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on the government's attempts to address some of the fundamental problems arising from social exclusion.
MPs are visiting three initiatives in Rhyl, Wrexham and Bangor to discover different attitudes and approaches towards tackling key issues.
 Chris Ruane MP: Important tasks ahead |
Chris Ruane, MP for the Vale of Clwyd, said the work lying ahead of the Welsh Select Committee was extremely important.
He emphasised the need for positive solutions to youth crime, teenage pregnancies, rough sleeping and housing problems.
"We are not just looking at exclusion, we are looking at inclusion and at how people have got into groups to reached into their own communities," he explained.
The committee is due to hear evidence from Margaret McCarroll of Rhyl Credit Union on how cheap loans are provided to some of the poorest members of the community.
 The Valleys need resources in order to tackle the deep-seated problems they face.  |
| Jenny Turner Valleys Initiative |
The committee is also visiting a village shop in Gwynedd, which villagers saved from closure in order to prevent the loss of an asset.
Members will also visit a childrens' rights centre in Wrexham to see how social deprivation issues have been addressed.
"This is the first full blown inquiry we are having and we will be working hand in hand with Assembly Members," Mr Ruane added.
"We see social exclusion as a big issue."
The Valleys Intiative for Adult Education is staging a conference in Merthyr Tydfil, one of the poorest areas of the south Wales Valleys.
Spokeswoman Jenny Turner said the event would highlight local initiatives that could solve social exclusion problems through education.
'Target resources'
The allocation of European Objective One regeneration aid for hard-pressed communitites was one crucial step in the right direction, she said.
"We believe that the communities of the Valleys need resources to be targeted at them in order to tackle the deep-seated problems they face.
"We are holding this conference to show what must be achieved."
Ms Turner said it was crucial to turn to people in the community to find solutions to their problems.
"If there is going to be a regeneration of the Valleys there needs to be a bottom-up approach so that people can be part of the regeneration process."
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| Welsh Affairs Select Committee |
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