Cash Injection On 25th Anniversary Of Miners' Strike

Local Government Minister John Healey has today announced an additional £750,000 cash injection to help provide practical advice to people in coalfield communities on getting through these tough economic times.

The announcement comes in the week of the 25th anniversary of the start of the national miners' strike.

The new funding will go towards a new £1million scheme to be run by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT).

It will give families and businesses facing new economic pressures, in historically deprived communities more targeted help on issues ranging from managing debt, getting back to work and avoiding repossession.

The collapse of the coal industry in the 1990s blighted coalfield communities. Over the past decade, the Government has already given over £500m to these communities, to help them recover.

A quarter of the male population in the coalfields lost their jobs, and nearly half of all ex-miners suffered long-term illness or injury - 25 years on, they are still among the 30% of the country's population in the country.

Coalfield areas had only 13% of the country’s population, but 25% of all derelict land in the UK.

John Healey said: "Twenty-five years ago entire communities were devastated by the collapse of the coal industry and the miners' strike - today these same communities are again being hit hard by the current global economic slump.

"Through the coalfield support, we have invested £half billion over the last decade to make significant progress in helping people retrain and get into work. But once again these communities are facing new challenges, and I am determined hat they continue to get the support they need.

"That's why I am announcing a cash injection to provide much-needed help for people in coalfield communities to find new jobs, stay in their homes and manage their way through these difficult times."

Each of the five coalfield regions - the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands and West Midlands - will receive £200,000, which will then be allocated to organisations including local Citizens Advice, Credit Unions and Law Centres.

The CRT already has considerable experience of doing that - since its launch in 1999 it has provided access to debt advice for nearly 42,000 people.

(JM/BMcC)