Tackling residents living in poverty amidst the rising cost-of-living is ‘at the heart’ of the agenda, Wokingham Borough Council has announced. 

The council is set to approve its first ‘Tackling Poverty’ strategy when the decision-making executive meets on Thursday.  

The executive member for equality inclusion and fighting poverty, Councillor Rachel Bishop-Firth, says the council is doing “all it can” to support residents and “fight the causes of poverty” in the borough. 

“The cost-of-living crisis means that many of our essential key workers, carers and pensioners are living in poverty or at risk of falling into poverty,” she added. 

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This strategy has been developed alongside residents, the voluntary sector, and councillors to “understand more about the inequalities” that exist in Wokingham and how they can be improved. 

The council has created the ‘Hardship Alliance’ – with leaders from Citizens Advice Wokingham, First Days Children’s Charity, AgeUK Berkshire, and Wokingham United Charities – which is seeking to “prevent poverty” in the borough. 

The alliance aims to support people who are in financial hardship; help people move out of poverty and protect those at risk of falling into poverty. 

The council leader, Cllr Clive Jones, said it is putting tackling poverty at the “heart of our agenda.”  

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“We believe there is no place for poverty in society. We are proud to be working with local charity leaders to roll out a strategy that will make a real difference to our residents,” he added. 

The strategy will be underpinned by “annual action plans” which in the first year will include improving key services; making sure people have access to information about the support available; helping people to find jobs and upskill; lobbying for changes to government policy and increasing access to debt advice.

The alliance claims that the new collaboration can “make an even greater impact” to the situation by building on the “good work” the council is already doing. 

Manager of Wokingham United Charities and chair of the Hardship Alliance, Amy Garstang, said: “We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to the successful completion of the borough’s first Tackling Poverty Strategy.  

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“The Hardship Alliance has been meeting fortnightly to discuss key issues and how we can continue to involve key partners in the formation of the Hardship Alliance Action Group, which will assist in delivering the action plan.  

“The Hardship Alliance is excited to see how we can continue to work in partnership to implement this strategy over the course of the next few years.” 

Support is already available to residents who are struggling in the form of the Household Support Fund for families with children and pensioners, council tax reductions or exemptions, business rate relief, free school meals and Discretionary Housing payments.