Community groups to host cost-of-living summit in Wrexham

A cost-of-living summit to highlight the issues being faced by residents across north east Wales has been announced for Wrexham.

We Are Plas Madoc, FDF Centre for Independent Living, Art and Soul Tribe, Flintshire City of Sanctuary supported by TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities) and Building Communities Trust have worked together to organise the event at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre on September 30

Charities, local groups, key-workers and volunteers are at the front line of the current cost of living crisis and have supported people through difficult years with limited resource.

The summit will be hosted by We Are Plas Madoc, an organisation already supporting people through the crisis by organising social sessions, affordable activities, a transport scheme for people to attend GP appointments and get their weekly shopping.

TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities) as an alliance aims to strengthen the dialogue between communities, elected leaders, local businesses and funders about local and national solutions that will support people in the years ahead.

Jane Bellis, from Art and Soul Tribe, has been asking people she works with how they are affected; responses included a dad of four who is a student and is worried about winter fuel bills and can’t turn his eating on, and a mum of two and full-time carer, working from home and struggling to pay bills.

Jan Thomas, Chief Officer of the FDF Centre for Independent living, said: “Many disabled people depend on electric powered equipment stair lifts, oxygen machines, hospital beds, rise and recline chairs, mobility scooters and power wheelchairs.

“They cannot choose to turn these machines off, some of them would deteriorate rapidly without this support.

“Many have extra washing and drying because of their condition. We need help and we need it now.”

Ruth Marshall at Yellow and Blue (YAB), another TCC member group attending the event, said: “People are currently relying on us at YAB, and this will increase, especially in the winter months.

“Yellow and Blue have also seen our energy bills and the cost of food almost double. I myself am classed as the working poor with my partner in full time employment and myself part time; we are also struggling and worry for the future.

“The working poor fall into the gap of no support but there is a big impact on our daily living costs.”

Commenting on the aims of next week’s summit, Claire Pugh, Community Development Manager from We are Plas Madoc said: “This is just the start of the conversation and will hopefully pave the way for improved communications and improved support to ensure no-one gets left behind during these difficult times.

“We want the event to focus on diverse groups of people working together for positive solutions, creating a hopeful space focusing on what we can – and will – do together.”

For more information on the event and TCC’s ongoing cost of living work, contact Amy Jones at TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities): [email protected]