A report examined the impact of indebtedness on deprived communities, drawing on data from the United Kingdom, but focusing on Wales wherever data were available. It said that: the best estimate of the extent of overindebtedness in Wales was 16 per cent of the population; indebtedness was strongly associated with socio-economic disadvantage, with particularly high levels of indebtedness found in the central and eastern valleys of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, and Blaenau Gwent, while the north Wales coast and some rural areas also indicated higher levels of problems on at least one measure; and indebtedness was strongly associated with low-income and financial exclusion, because of increased risk factors such as low levels of savings and low disposable incomes, although indebtedness was usually the result of a combination of circumstances, events, and behaviours.
Source: Victoria Winckler, Overview of Indebtedness, Low Income and Financial Exclusion, Public Policy Institute for Wales
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined the contradictions of citizen participation in regeneration, focusing on south Wales. It said the creation of the Welsh Assembly in 1999 had created a window of opportunity for a radical, bottom-up programme of 'non-prescriptive' regeneration (Communities First), but the programme had been captured by a New Labour policy agenda that shifted the priorities from citizen representation to 'community activation'.
Source: Bella Dicks, 'Participatory community regeneration: a discussion of risks, accountability and crisis in devolved Wales', Urban Studies, Volume 51 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
A study examined policy and practice on anti-social behaviour in Wales. It examined: the practices of social landlords; areas in which landlords might improve practice; and the effectiveness of Welsh government policy and guidance in supporting this work. The report highlighted the importance of partnership/collaborative working, early intervention, communication (with victims and perpetrators), and consistency, and noted the difficulty in evaluating both the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of outcomes. The report made recommendations.
Source: Anne Delaney, David Hedges, Simon Inkson, and Joanne McNally, Wales Anti-social Behaviour: Policy and practice review, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Summary | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2014-Feb
