Community

Commissioner calls for urgent action as 1 in 6 older people now living in poverty

Published

4 months ago

November 24, 2025

A NEW report published today by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales lays bare the scale and growing impact of poverty among older people — and warns that thousands face a dangerous winter without immediate support from both the Welsh and UK Governments.

The report, Older People and Poverty in Wales, uses older people’s own testimonies alongside the latest national data to show how widespread and entrenched hardship has become. It reveals that one in six older people in Wales now lives in poverty, with some groups hit far harder than others.

Among the starkest findings is that one in four women living alone is experiencing poverty, while nearly half of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic households are estimated to be affected. The cost-of-living crisis has pushed many more older people on fixed incomes to breaking point.

‘Heating or eating’ becoming normalised

The report highlights the “impossible choices” older people are being forced to make.
One in five has gone without heating, while a quarter have skipped meals or eaten less. These decisions are taking a serious toll on people’s health.

Cold homes increase the risk of hypothermia and worsen a wide range of conditions, while poor nutrition can exacerbate diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. Winter makes these dangers even more severe, with inadequate heating and diet contributing to higher mortality and avoidable pressure on the NHS.

In Wales alone, cold homes cost the NHS more than £40 million a year.

Commissioner calls for urgent reforms

The Commissioner, Rhian Bowen-Davies, is calling for coordinated action from Cardiff Bay and Westminster, including:

Ending the Pension Credit cliff edge, which leaves many older people just above the threshold losing out on support worth thousands.
Creating a Resilience Fund for older people in severe financial hardship who do not qualify for existing schemes.
Greater investment in energy-efficiency improvements, particularly important in Wales, which has some of the oldest housing stock in Europe.
Funding for councils to proactively identify older people missing out on entitlements and help them claim.
Streamlined, stigma-free applications for financial support.
A long-term national debate about the income required for a dignified retirement, forming the basis for a sustainable pension system.

The report also urges local authorities, utility companies and internet service providers to expand social tariffs and adopt wider community-based support.

‘A stark reminder’

Rhian Bowen-Davies said the findings should act as a wake-up call as the Chancellor prepares to deliver the UK Budget.

“With finances and living costs in the spotlight again this week, my report is a stark reminder of the realities faced by people living in poverty — an issue now affecting one in six older people,” she said.

“As the weather turns colder, many across Wales will be wondering how they’ll pay the bills. Too many may soon face a choice between heating or eating, putting their health at serious risk. Sadly, this has become normalised.”

She warned that discussions about cuts and efficiencies frequently overlook the cost of poverty itself.

“Cold homes cost the NHS in Wales over £40 million a year. People living in poverty are more reliant on health and social care services. Tackling poverty would save tens of millions and strengthen our public services.”

She said decisive action was needed both immediately and in the long term.

“In the short term, we need better access to support, simpler systems, the end of the Pension Credit cliff edge, improved energy efficiency, and emergency help for those in hardship.

“In the longer term, we need a national conversation about what constitutes a sufficient income to live and age well, which should underpin a sustainable pension system for the future.”

“As Commissioner, I will continue to press for coordinated action to tackle poverty and create a fairer, healthier and more inclusive Wales.”

Community

Campaign raises £4,000 in first week to save historic Boncath meeting cottage

Published

18 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Community investors urged to help reach £12,000 target before end of March

A COMMUNITY campaign to purchase and preserve a historic Victorian corrugated cottage in Boncath has already raised £4,000 in just one week.

The fundraising effort began following a public meeting in the north Pembrokeshire village, where residents discussed plans to secure the future of the building, which has served as a community meeting space for more than 130 years.

***Villagers promote the campaign to purchase Boncath’s historic corrugated cottage meeting room (Pic supplied)***

The corrugated iron cottage has had several uses over the decades. Since the 1930s it has been used as a meeting place for Boncath Women’s Institute, while earlier records suggest it served as an office for a local sawmill. Some residents also believe the building was originally owned by a nearby mansion estate and used as a rent collection office.

At the public meeting in Boncath Village Hall, Cris Tomos from the Narberth-based community development association PLANED outlined how the purchase could be achieved through community investment.

Mr Tomos said the group had set a target of raising £12,000 by March 31, 2026. The total would cover the £10,000 purchase price of the building along with approximately £2,000 in legal and marketing costs.

He told residents that investors could benefit from tax relief through the HMRC Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, which allows eligible UK taxpayers to reclaim 50 per cent of their investment.

Mr Tomos said: “Following the public meeting in the village hall it was agreed to set a target date of March 31 to reach the goal of raising £12,000 to buy the building. This includes the £10,000 purchase price plus £2,000 for legal and marketing costs.

“It is great to report that after just one week we have seen £4,000 raised, which is one third of the target. We now have a limited time to raise the remaining £8,000 by the end of March.”

Supporters are being asked to consider investing £500 in the project. Those who are UK taxpayers would be eligible for the 50 per cent tax relief.

Organisers say the model has already proven successful locally. The nearby community purchase of the Crymych Arms pub, just four miles away, raised £210,000 from investors to reopen the village pub.

Anyone interested in supporting the Boncath project can email [email protected] or download an investment form from the Bwthyn Boncath Facebook page.

Printed forms are also available from Boncath Village Shop and Post Office and can be returned there to be counted towards the community investment total.

If the purchase is successful, organisers say a further community share offer is planned at £50 per share to allow as many residents as possible to take an ownership stake in the historic building.

Community

Park backs community projects with sustainability funding

Published

22 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Five community initiatives receive support through Sustainable Development Fund

FIVE community-led projects across Pembrokeshire have secured funding from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) following a competitive round of the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

The authority’s Grants Committee met in late January to consider fifteen applications from across the county. Members said the quality of submissions was exceptionally high, making the selection process particularly challenging.

Projects were assessed on how well they supported the aims of the SDF, which promotes sustainable development, community resilience and environmental improvement within the National Park.

The five successful applicants were:

Transition Bro Gwaun
Yr Hen Ysgol, Dinas
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (Skokholm Island)
Angle Village Hall
St Davids City Council

The successful bids include plans to install renewable energy systems in community buildings and carry out energy-efficiency retrofit improvements to local hubs used by residents.

Bethan Jones, Sustainability Officer at the Park Authority said: “It was encouraging to see such ambitious ideas emerging from our local communities. These projects offer innovative solutions that will deliver a lasting, positive impact across communities in the National Park.”

Work on the funded projects has already begun following confirmation of the grants.

Details of the next round of Sustainable Development Fund funding will be announced once future budgets have been confirmed. Updates will be shared through Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) and other local community networks.

Further information about the Sustainable Development Fund is available at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/sdf.

Caption:

Yr Hen Ysgol Dinas Community Centre has benefited from the latest round of funding from the Sustainable Development Fund. (Pic: PCNPA)

Community

Town hall takeover plan questioned as cost figures conflict

Published

3 days ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CONSULTATION DRAWS JUST 25 RESIDENTS AS RUNNING COST ESTIMATES VARY BY TENS OF THOUSANDS

THE PROPOSED transfer of Fishguard Town Hall to the town council has come under scrutiny after documents revealed conflicting estimates of the building’s running costs.

Freedom of Information responses and council documents suggest the historic building could cost tens of thousands of pounds a year to operate, raising questions about whether Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council can afford to take on responsibility for it.

Budget links tax rise to town hall plan

A budget report prepared by Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council shows the authority planning £166,336 in spending for the 2025–26 financial year, an increase on the previous year.

Within the administration section of the proposed budget, the council confirms that £20,000 has been allocated towards the proposed Community Asset Transfer of Fishguard Town Hall from Pembrokeshire County Council.

The document also links a proposed 16 per cent increase in the council’s precept directly to the takeover proposal.

After two years with no increase due to the cost-of-living crisis, the report states the rise is “directly related to the proposed CAT of Fishguard Town Hall.”

The council plans to request a £147,070 precept for the coming year.

Dispute over running costs

However, debate over the plan has intensified after different figures emerged for the building’s running costs.

Pembrokeshire County Council has said the average annual cost of utilities — including gas, electricity, water and sewage — for the building over the past three years was between £25,000 and £30,000.

But other figures circulating locally suggest the costs may be far higher.

One estimate cited by residents claims energy bills alone could be around £47,000 a year.

Separate operational figures released through a county council Freedom of Information request indicate that when staffing, maintenance, utilities and business rates are included, the total cost of running the building could exceed £70,000 annually.

Consultation numbers raise questions

Consultation figures released by the Town Council also show relatively modest public engagement with the proposal.

According to the council, 25 people attended the public consultation meeting held at the Town Hall.

A further 93 paper survey responses and 17 online responses were submitted through the council’s consultation process.

The council has not yet published the draft business plan or energy survey relating to the building, stating the documents are still under review.

Transfer still undecided

The potential Community Asset Transfer of Fishguard Town Hall from Pembrokeshire County Council to the town council has been under discussion since 2024, but the arrangement has not yet been formally agreed by either authority.

If the transfer goes ahead, responsibility for operating and maintaining the building would pass from the county council to Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council.

Supporters of the proposal say it would give the community greater control over the future of the historic building.

However, critics argue the long-term costs could place significant pressure on the town council’s finances.