Wrexham To Receive £1million In Funding To Support Deprived Areas

Wrexham County Borough Council is to receive over £1million as part of a Welsh Government programme to help deprived areas and tackle poverty in Wales.

In total more than £30 million has been announced by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, for the Communities First programme to continue helping deprived areas across Wales.

Wrexham County Borough Council will receive £1,252,447 which will be split between two clusters: Urban Villages Wrexham, Caia Park & Hightown.

Announcing the funding, Lesley Griffiths, said: “I am delighted to announce this funding which will make a real difference to communities right across Wales for years to come.

“Providing £31.7 million for our Communities First programme during a time of unprecedented budget cuts shows the Welsh Government is committed to supporting our most vulnerable communities and narrowing the economic, education and health gaps between our most deprived and affluent areas.

“Far too many people’s lives are affected by poverty. Too many families have nobody working and cannot afford basic essentials such as heating their home during this cold weather. Addressing this issue is a priority for me and the Government as a whole. This is why our Tackling Poverty Action Plan sets out our targets for improving the outcomes of families living in low income households.”

The £31.7 million of funding will benefit 52 areas, known as Clusters, and support the most vulnerable people in Wales by combating poverty and promoting education, health and economic prosperity.

Areas across Wales will benefit from the funding between April 2015 and March 2016.

Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates, a member of the Welsh Government, said: “This investment will benefit 52 areas, known as ‘clusters’, and support some of the most vulnerable people in Wales by combating poverty and promoting education, health and economic prosperity.

“As well as the Caia Park/Hightown patch in my colleague Lesley Griffiths AM’s constituency, the Urban Villages Wrexham cluster in – which includes Pant, Penycae, Plas Madoc, Gwenfro and areas of Brymbo and Cefn Mawr – will also benefit from further Welsh Government support.

“The funding is another boost from the Welsh Government for its work to support Wales’ most vulnerable communities and narrow the economic, education and health gaps between our most deprived and affluent areas.”