THERE are nearly 3,500 children in Ceredigion living in poverty – with the county seeing the second highest increase nationally since 2014/15 – a root and branch assessment of well-being in Ceredigion has found.

Child poverty in Ceredigion is higher than average the draft assessment of local well-being found, adding that it is a “key regional issue” affecting neighbouring counties also.

The assessment, reported as part of the Public Services Board regional meeting, adds that there is evidence “in-work poverty” is increasing and is a challenge for many households, particularly in Aberystwyth north and south constituencies as well as in Cardigan and Aberporth.

It also highlighted the challenges of the county’s ageing population.

At a recent meeting of the overview and scrutiny coordinating committee Cllr Mark Strong said there was a misconception that areas like Aberystwyth were well-off but that was not always the case, while Cllr Lyndon Lloyd highlighted the risks to older people of falling into poverty as prices increased but their incomes remained fixed.

“Poverty remains one of the biggest challenges for the county,” the assessment says.

“Low earnings and incomes, affordable childcare, Universal Credit reduction and high housing costs and housing affordability are the drivers of poverty in Ceredigion.”

The substantial piece of work examines all life stages from ‘new beginnings’ through to older people, highlighting main themes along with negative and positive aspects to living, working and the economy in Ceredigion, which feeds into regional work in west and mid Wales.

The report highlights several areas to ‘prioritise’ that are ‘critical issues’ for the county.

They include the cost of living increasing; that average earnings and incomes are below average; in-work poverty increasing; along with the higher than average child poverty rate.

The report said that “for many, the high costs make it impossible for older people to be cared for in a home, without financial support.”

The report also finds that the overall population of Ceredigion is projected to decrease over the next 25 years, “including a continuation of trends that have seen the working age population decrease and the outward migration of young people to other parts of Wales and the

UK.”

“At the same time the population is ageing,” the well-being assessment found.

“The impacts of these changes will be far reaching, affecting the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of the county.

“Ceredigion’s ageing population will place a significant strain on our local health service and on our local labour market.”

Public Services Boards across Wales are required to prepare and publish an assessment of the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of its area under the Well-being of Future Generations Act, before it publishes a five year local well-being plan for 2023-28.

Well-being in Ceredigion

The Ceredigion assessment of well-being report 2021 was put together by the county’s Local Service Board, which said that the assessment “has told us a great deal about the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of people and communities in Ceredigion.”

Examples of what the assessment found include:

• The cost of living is increasing and there is a strong link between poverty and longer-term health.

• Low socio-economic status can affect parental self-esteem, self-confidence and the quality of parenting. Average incomes in Ceredigion are lower and therefore the cost of raising children are challenging for some parents.

• Child poverty in Ceredigion is higher than average and has seen the second highest increase nationally since 2014/15. In Ceredigion 3,459 children are living in poverty.

• Housing affordability remains a key driver in the well-being of future generations in Ceredigion.

• Poverty remains one of the biggest challenges for the county. Low earnings and incomes, affordable childcare, Universal Credit reduction and high housing costs/ housing affordability are the drivers of poverty in Ceredigion.

• The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have affected the well-being and mental health of residents in

Ceredigion, who already have the 5th lowest score for mental well-being across Wales.