The Social Care & Tackling Poverty Service Transformation Committee endorsed Swansea Council's refreshed Tackling Poverty Strategy and Action Plan for 2027-2031. The committee also received updates on the progress of Dyfatty Junction, a place-based approach to supporting communities, and the ongoing work to maximise benefit entitlements for residents.

Tackling Poverty Strategy and Action Plan

The committee endorsed the draft Tackling Poverty Strategy and Action Plan for 2027-2031, which will now progress to Cabinet for approval. This strategy builds on previous work and aims to address the significant changes in the context of poverty since the last strategy was published in 2017, including the cost of living crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Councillor Fogarty, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Tackling Poverty, highlighted that the strategy adopts an everybody's business approach, recognising that tackling poverty requires cross-departmental effort. The strategy is informed by extensive consultation, including with people with lived experience of poverty, and focuses on four interlinked priorities: growing income, reducing living costs, improving experiences, and strengthening communities.

Councillor Lesley Walton raised a point about the term poverty premium, suggesting it should be explained more clearly in the executive summary. He also advocated for a change in language, suggesting that the terms rich and poor are barriers and should be avoided when discussing people's financial situations. Anthony Richards, Tackling Poverty Team Leader, agreed to clarify the definition of the poverty premium and acknowledged the importance of language in tackling poverty stigma.

Maximising Take-Up of Benefit Entitlements

The committee received an update on the work of Swansea Council's Welfare Rights and Financial Inclusion Team, which aims to help residents maximise their benefit entitlements. Councillor Fogarty emphasised the importance of a cash first approach, ensuring people receive the financial support they are entitled to.

Nick Jones, from the Welfare Rights and Financial Inclusion Team, explained that across Wales, an estimated £2 billion in support goes unclaimed annually due to various barriers, including lack of awareness, complex rules, and digital exclusion. The team undertakes holistic benefit checks for all referred clients and runs targeted campaigns, such as the current Pension Credit take-up campaign. A pilot of this campaign identified that eight households were entitled to Pension Credit, projecting an annual income gain of over £38,000. The team also identified other unclaimed benefits, including Personal Independence Payment and Council Tax Reduction.

Councillor Walton highlighted the issue of form-filling as a significant barrier and asked if the council was working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to simplify forms. Nick Jones confirmed that the team lobbies the DWP for improvements and that officers assist residents with form-filling. He also encouraged councillors to refer residents to the service and to help promote awareness within their wards.

Dyfatty Junction (A Place Based Approach to Supporting Communities)

Richard Davies, Enabling Communities Team Leader, provided an overview of Dyfatty Junction, a community space and multi-agency hub designed to bring residents and public services together. He highlighted that the Junction's value lies not just in the number of services available, but in its creation of a safe, welcoming environment where trust can be built with individuals who may be disconnected from traditional services.

Councillor Harrington noted that Dyfatty Junction is an integral part of wider council initiatives, including the Public Services Board's flagship project, Building a Better Dyfatty, and the Northgate Pride in Place programme. Councillor Myra Baker shared positive feedback from a visit to the Junction, describing it as a brilliant idea that is improving the lives of residents in Dyfatty.

Richard Davies acknowledged that the model is still developing, with challenges including inconsistent partner presence and the need for more specialist provision. The preferred direction of travel is to strengthen the Junction as an integrated neighbourhood platform, moving from co-location to genuine co-delivery, with a focus on building trust and providing accessible support.

Work Plan 2026-2027

The committee noted its work plan for the upcoming year. The next meeting is scheduled for 14 December 2026, with agenda items including Kinship Care, Fostering and Special Guardianship Support and Youth Work Strategy Development. Subsequent meetings in January 2027 and March 2027 will cover topics such as Childcare Offer Expansion, Employability Support Models, Integrated Working for Hospital Flow, and Children's Emotional Wellbeing - No Wrong Door.