Friday 19 July 2013
Tackling poverty in York
Hull Road Councillor Neil Barnes visited the Tang Hall Community Centre today (Friday 19th July) to see the first opening of Tang Hall's new food bank. The food bank takes place on the same day as City of York Council's successful 'Advice Hub' which has been running for a while now.
These initiatives are all part of a multi-agency drive to tackle deprivation and poverty in York. The opening of the food bank is a positive move for the area but somehow feels bittersweet. It's shocking that in the 21st Century and a first world country we need food banks to make sure people are fed.
Tuesday 16th July's Labour Cabinet meeting saw a landmark new strategy approved unanimously - as reported in the Press on Weds 15th July: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10551825.York_s_landmark_anti_poverty_vision_is_agreed/
This is a bold new approach and The Press must be congratulated for their frank reporting this week - only by everyone pulling together can we properly tackle poverty.
Neil Barnes wrote a letter to The Press in support of the new strategy:
These initiatives are all part of a multi-agency drive to tackle deprivation and poverty in York. The opening of the food bank is a positive move for the area but somehow feels bittersweet. It's shocking that in the 21st Century and a first world country we need food banks to make sure people are fed.
Tuesday 16th July's Labour Cabinet meeting saw a landmark new strategy approved unanimously - as reported in the Press on Weds 15th July: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10551825.York_s_landmark_anti_poverty_vision_is_agreed/
This is a bold new approach and The Press must be congratulated for their frank reporting this week - only by everyone pulling together can we properly tackle poverty.
Neil Barnes wrote a letter to The Press in support of the new strategy:
The ‘Poverty in Focus’ Press special report makes for sobering reading in an era when poverty in the UK is far too easily glossed over.
I’m proud to be an elected representative within an organisation that takes such landmark action as the Labour-run City of York Council’s cabinet took on 16 July.
One of the shocking statistics I learnt about Hull Road Ward upon my election in May 2011 was that nearly a quarter of children in the ward are classified as being in childhood poverty. No doubt there are higher percentages in some areas of the country, but this is still a damning statistic for the 21st Century.
The council has taken action to address social deprivation and Hull Road ward itself has seen a number of initiatives introduced, including the successful Tang Hall Advice Hub. However, with a new food bank opening for the Tang Hall area, work is still to be done.
Therefore I applaud The Press for its frank reporting whilst wholeheartedly signing up to the strategy formulated by the multi-agency York Poverty Action Group - and hope to be a part of future action to address and end poverty in York.
Coun. Neil Barnes
Labour Councillor for Hull Road
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