Wales poorest areas must race for ‘Levelling Up’ cash warns The Salvation Army

Many of Wales’ most deprived communities have yet to see any ‘Levelling Up’ cash funding meant to tackle regional inequalities in the UK, The Salvation Army has warned.

Though the Church and Charity, which runs 35 local community services across Wales welcomed the Government’s White Paper to increase local opportunities, wages and decent housing, it’s calling for a rethink of how need is calculated.

The Salvation Army wants to see Levelling Up funds invested in communities where people are desperate for training and stable job opportunities. It believes the money should be used to help develop local labour markets in areas that rely heavily on low skilled and low paid seasonal work or in shrinking industries.

The areas in need of levelling up, which have so far not received any of the funding include Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Torfaen, Conwy and Denbighshire.

The Salvation Army’s Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant, said: “The people who come to our food banks, debt and employment advice services in Wales want to work but are often held back by things beyond their control. Poorly paid seasonal work, lack of access to affordable childcare or just no opportunity to retrain when a large local employer shuts, can trap people and entire areas in deprivation. The Levelling Up Fund is a chance to invest in the people of Wales that don’t want a handout but a hand up.

“We are not criticising where funding has been allocated so far. However, we are asking the UK Government to focus on what money is left in those areas with the highest level of deprivation.

“The commitment to Level Up is a bold policy, but an equal playing field means reaching out to those desperate for help to make a better life for themselves and their children. Without funding, these communities will fall even deeper into social deprivation.”

The Salvation Army is calling for the UK Government to:

• Reconsider how funding is allocated from the Levelling Up Fund, to ensure investment is made in the most deprived communities.

• Develop a new plan of investment to fund childcare so that parents can access work and training opportunities.

• Invest in skills and employment support to help individuals out of low-skill, low-wage employment.

• Engage with communities to identify what investment will best ‘Level Up’ their areas.

The Salvation Army works in some of the poorest communities across Wales running foodbanks, providing shelter to the homeless and helping people to find work and manage their debts.

*The Levelling Up Fund was announced in 2020 and is worth £4.8 billion, with £4 billion of this to be spent in England and £0.8 billion to be spent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

**A list of local authorities who have successfully bid for Levelling Up funding so far is available on request.

The Salvation Army is an international Christian church and registered charity which has been transforming lives for more than 150 years. Working in 132 countries worldwide, The Salvation Army offers friendship, practical help and support for people at all levels of need. In the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory this work includes more than 650 community churches and social centres. Registered Charity Nos. 214779, 215174 and in Scotland SC009359, SC037691.