The lack of an anti-poverty strategy did not stop the Welsh Government from taking action during the pandemic to address poverty in Wales. From the provision of money, vouchers or packed lunches during the school holidays to children entitled to…
Running on empty: why we need reform in the cost-of-living crisis
During the initial months of the pandemic, when various protections were in place – such as the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit – the number of people who sought help from Citizens Advice on debt problems dropped significantly.…
Evidence and An Anti-Racist Wales
On 7 June, the Welsh Government launched its new Action Plan to forge An Anti-Racist Wales by 2030. The work will involve identifying and eradicating the systems, structures and processes that contribute to unequal outcomes for people from Black, Asian,…
A matter of costs
For decades, poverty has been measured by a household’s income relative to that of others. Although adjustments are made for housing costs and household size, the key metric is the amount of cash coming into a household. Public policy on…
Promoting pathways out of poverty – and preventing the pitfalls of poverty entry
Enabling ‘pathways’ out of poverty must be a fundamental goal of any anti-poverty strategy. But how should such a strategy seek to achieve this? And how can we ensure that these ‘pathways’ translate into meaningful reductions in levels of poverty…
Creating an anti-racist Wales
The Coronavirus pandemic has increased the urgency of actions to eliminate racial disparities in Wales. Analysis shows that the risk of deaths involving COVID-19 among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups is significantly higher than that of those of White…
Embedding Black and minority ethnic history, identity and culture into Welsh education
“Black history is Welsh history, and Welsh history is Black history” Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales (October 2020) The new Curriculum for Wales 2022 presents an interesting challenge for progressing the ambition to see the representation of Black,…
Why diversity in public appointments matters
Owing to the lack of diversity in board membership, many boards in Wales do not reflect the communities they serve, with Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidates and disabled candidates being currently underrepresented. The Wales Centre for Public Policy recently…
Post-Brexit Migration and Wales: Potential impacts of the new system and recommendations on the priorities for influencing UK immigration policy.
Following the end of free movement on 31st December 2020, thinking turns not only to the impacts of the new immigration system, but also to how devolved nations can seek to respond to these changes. A recent report by Dr…
Fairer Futures: Understanding Inequality in the Our Future Wales consultation
The Welsh Government launched the Our Future Wales consultation in May 2020 with the aim of identifying ideas and solutions for rebuilding Wales following the Coronavirus pandemic. The public consultation drew more than 2,000 responses from individuals, groups, and organisations…
