23-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Pupils voice child poverty concerns to Powys County Council
PUPILS from a Powys high school have challenged the county council and its partners to do more to tackle child poverty.
Pupils from Ysgol Golwg y Cwm in Ystradgynlais made a strong impression at Powys County Council's third annual Child Poverty Task Force Conference last week.
In a session led by Child Poverty Action Group, the children shared their experiences and perspectives of poverty.
Their voices underscored the urgency of the work ahead and were met with a strong commitment from council leaders to deliver meaningful change.
The conference at Ystradgynlais Welfare Hall brought together professionals, community leaders, and public sector partners to review progress and plan future action.
Key national organisations including NSPCC Cymru and the Wales Centre for Public Policy also attended the conference.
The conference celebrated the achievements of the past year, including the delivery of community-led projects funded by £90,000 from the Welsh Government.
These included family cooking sessions in Ysgol Golwg y Cwm, literacy events in Llandrindod Wells, and youth engagement activities across the county.
The council also informed delegates about that it had secured a further £125,000 from the Welsh Government's Child Poverty Innovation and Supporting Communities Grant Scheme which will go toward the appointment of a young persons' engagement officer, a poverty truth commission and a support scheme.
Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: 'Our third Child Poverty Task Force Conference was incredibly informative and inspiring.
'We heard directly from young people about their experiences of poverty in Powys, and they've challenged us to do more. I'm taking that challenge back to county hall, and I'll work with councillors and staff to ensure we deliver real change.
