he Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the only organisation dedicated to supporting the 5.7 million people living in former coalmining communities throughout the UK, has welcomed the government’s levelling up programme.

Taking insight from the Executive Summary, shared on Wednesday 2 February, Chief Executive, Gary Ellis, comments: “We welcome the governments’ levelling up agenda and the 12 missions that have been identified as priorities in the programme.

“While we are working through the detail, as an organisation that has worked in some of the most deprived communities in the country for more than two decades, we can see the need for strategic action and the redirection of funds to create the opportunities our communities deserve.

“We also agree that the missions are not going to be achieved alone, and that is why we are putting forward our commitment to working with government, and those leaders with devolved powers, to make a lasting difference for generations to come.

“As an organisation that was referenced in the commons during the levelling up debate, we thank Michael Gove for agreeing to meet with us to discuss ways in which we can work together to level up the former coalfields.

“This is a positive step in the right direction for coalfield communities and brings an opportunity for us to meet with our ambitions to deliver infrastructure and prosperity in regions that need it the most.”

For more information about the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, please visit: www.coalfields-regen.org.uk.