Aid for working class families

Reporter: Lobby Correspondent
Date online: 16 December 2009

OLDHAM is in line for a £50,000 cash injection to give a better deal to working class families.

Ministers are concerned that despite Government efforts to help poorer areas, many working class families still feel they are being ignored or not getting a fair deal, particularly against a background of changes in the labour market and rising immigration.

Last night the Government named 57 areas, including Oldham’s Waterhead which will benefit from the second round of funding from its £12m Connecting Communities programme. The areas were identified by examining data around cohesion, deprivation and crime, perceived unfairness in the allocation of resources and feedback from people working locally.

Communities Secretary John Denham said: “Substantial investment has transformed communities across the country — but there are still communities who don’t seem to feel that benefit. They feel they work hard, pay taxes and follow the rules but others seem to have a better deal.

“The Government is determined to do everything we can to support all communities during the downturn. Getting it right means working with and listening to the people based in those communities who see the challenge close up and know what is needed to make a difference.

“If we fail, the danger is that extremists will try to exploit dissatisfaction and insecurity in ways which will pull communities apart.”

The council will now draw up plans to address the specific challenges in Waterhead.

Ministers say Connecting Communities is tackling head on issues both real and perceived.