Local politicians fighting for Assembly seats put poverty top of the agenda during a debate and discussion held by Oxfam in Abergavenny last week.

Staff transformed the local high street store after-hours, bringing together local candidates and an audience to discuss personal experiences of poverty and pressing local issues ahead of May’s crunch election.

Robin Noble, manager of the Abergavenny branch, said, “It was a great opportunity for people to share their experiences, views and ideas about poverty and to have a more in-depth discussion with their local candidates about what can be done to tackle poverty on our doorstep.”

Carys Mair Thomas, head of Oxfam Cymru, said, “The election is fast approaching and we want to make sure that prospective candidates have the opportunity to hear directly from people who live in communities they represent; people who have and are still experiencing poverty and hardship.

“We know the Welsh government cannot do everything, but it can do more. Almost a quarter of Welsh families are struggling with the basics.

“In our recently published Blueprint for Change we set out a number of policy calls that would help the Welsh government do this. These include making Wales a Living Wage nation and appointing a Deputy Minister to work within the finance department, to ensure a cross-government approach to tackling poverty.”

The Welsh Assembly elections are set to take place on May 5 this year.