Solutions to poverty in Neath Port Talbot

The Bevan Foundation has contributed to solving poverty in one local authority.

Today the Bevan Foundation was a keynote speaker at symposium organised by Neath Port Talbot Council. The symposium brought officers from across the council along with other key stakeholders including staff from the health board, education sector and the police force.

In his presentation, Dr Steffan Evans, policy and research officer, highlighted current trends, including the growth of poverty within working families. He argued that the local authority needed to find solutions to poverty that not only helped people at high risk of poverty, but also people where there were large numbers on relative low income.

He said that the three drivers of poverty, namely unfair work, an inadequate social security system and high living costs, all needed to be addressed if people are to escape the grip of poverty in the long term.

The Bevan Foundation is looking forward to seeing how Neath Port Talbot Council develops its approach in the coming months.