On May 7th, Wales enters a new era. With the change to 16 new constituencies and 96 Members of the Senedd, the voice of the Welsh people has never had a larger platform. But as the Senedd grows, so must its ambition to tackle the most persistent shadow over our nation: poverty.
Today, nearly one in four people in Wales live in relative poverty, a figure that includes a staggering 31% of our children. This hardship is often tied to the lack of stable job opportunities across our communities, where unemployment levels now sit at 5.7% — notably higher than the UK average. Nowhere is this challenge more visible than in the Welsh Valleys, where the lack of investment and opportunity has created an even more concerning picture for families.
Philip Haines, Wales National Leader, Christians Against Poverty
Today, nearly one in four people in Wales live in relative poverty, a figure that includes a staggering 31% of our children. This hardship is often tied to the lack of stable job opportunities across Welsh communities, where unemployment levels now sit at 5.7% — notably higher than the UK average. Nowhere is this challenge more visible than in the Welsh Valleys, where the lack of investment and opportunity has created an even more concerning picture for families.
Wales has a “work problem,” but it isn’t a lack of will; it is a cycle of economic inactivity. Behind the statistics are real people in every Welsh town and village who desperately want to contribute but feel stuck, unsupported, and overlooked. They are trapped by debt, the rising cost of essentials, and a lack of local opportunity.
At CAP Wales, our local church partners are doing incredible work to break this cycle. We see people rediscover their purpose through face-to-face support that helps them out of debt and back into employment. We believe in helping people find sustainable work that restores their dignity and secures their family’s future.
Many people focus their political energy on Westminster, but because of devolution, it is our MSs in Cardiff who hold the primary power over our health, our education, and our economy. The decisions made in the Senedd over the next five years will have a more direct impact on Welsh poverty than any General Election.
We want our supporters across Wales to feel equipped to engage with this process. This isn’t just about casting a ballot; it’s about holding our future representatives to account.
There is a key question for any of us to ask our Senedd candidates: “How will you support local churches and charities that are helping Wales get back to work? What are you doing to address the 31% child poverty rate in our communities?”
Imagine a Wales where everyone is supported into work that provides dignity and security and where every child has what they need to reach their full potential. Imagine our communities truly thriving, where the crushing fear of debt is a thing of the past and no one is left to struggle alone. I truly believe that this vision is within our reach for Wales, but it requires both the political will of our newly expanded Senedd and the continued dedication of our local communities.
This May 7th, let’s use our votes to champion a Wales that leaves no one behind. Anyone can attend local hustings where Senedd candidates are laying out their plans, to share concerns directly with them. We can also tag prospective MSs on social media to ask how they will keep poverty at the top of their agenda. Together, let’s make poverty stop with us!
