Project to help the needy backed by churches and local MP (From Cotswold Journal)

Project to help the needy backed by churches and local MP

9:46am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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A PROJECT to help people suffering the most during the credit crunch has received the backing of Vale churches and Evesham’s MP.

Peter Luff met with representatives from Evesham and District Justice and Equality Network (EDJEN) at the town’s Methodist Church on Friday (June 26) to discuss what more could be done to support people living in property during the recession through the Get Fair initiative.

The project was set up by over 50 charities with the aim of ensuring poorer people do not suffer more during the economic downturn.

Issues addressed included a need for better transport links to allow more access to jobs, greater support for those in debt and people suffering from fuel poverty, and higher levels of basic benefit.

Figures obtained by EDJEN revealed the ward of Harvington and Norton is in top 20 per cent most deprived in England and in one local school, 37 per cent of families were described as ‘hard pressed’ compared to the Worcestershire average of 21 per cent.

Mr Luff, who signed the Get Fair commitment, said: “It was a really first rate meeting. I have had very few meetings of that quality when such a wide range of important issues for the disadvantaged people of Evesham were discussed.

“I’m taking action on a number of points and I hadn’t realised quite how inadequate the public transport system was in Evesham which is hugely important for access.

“We should be concerned about the gap between the highest and lowest earners and how we address that. We all want to end poverty but we need to decide what level of equality is acceptable.”

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