WIREDGOV

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, has announced the appointment of Councillor David Phillips as Chair of a new network to improve advice services across Wales.

The National Advice Network has been established to ensure a more strategic approach to delivering advice services in Wales, better partnership working between agencies and an improved service for people needing advice.

David Phillips has been a Councillor for over 20 years, principally in Swansea, where until recently he was Leader of the Council, holding the Cabinet portfolio for anti-poverty. He was also Swansea’s Anti-Poverty Champion, the chair of the authority’s cross-agency Local Service Board, and the Welsh Local Government Association spokesperson on anti-poverty and the impacts of the UK Government’s Welfare Reform programme.

The challenging economic climate, cuts in Legal Aid and reductions in public funding, means good quality, accessible advice services are increasingly important. In September the Minister awarded £2 million to advice services in Wales to help them manage the increased demand from people struggling to cope as a result of these changes.

Yesterday the Minister met David Phillips to congratulate him on his appointment and discuss his vision for the network.

Lesley Griffiths said:

“I am pleased to announce Cllr. David Phillips is to Chair the National Advice Network. His range of experience in the public sector, particularly his work on tackling poverty and welfare reform, means he is very well placed to take forward this important work.

“In today’s difficult economic times, services which provide advice and support for people who may be struggling to cope are more important than ever before. The new network will help ensure there is a more strategic approach to advice delivery, ultimately improving the service for people across Wales.

“I look forward to seeing the network’s contribution towards our ambition of tackling poverty in the months and years ahead.”    

Cllr. David Phillips said:

“It is long proven that prompt, quality advice to families in need not only benefits them but the local economy as well. We must learn from the many fantastic examples of good advice practice in Wales, but ‘one size does not fit all’.

“I am pleased and honoured to be given this responsibility, but I do not pretend that it’s going to be easy. The major advice providers face significant financial challenges, but I believe that by working together, focussing on outcomes rather than process, we can create the capacity to deliver more”.

The network was established in line with the recommendations of the Advice Services Review, which found a networked approach would enable more effective cross-referral, better use of resources and the ability to develop flexible responses to local need and service pressures.