New £27m funding to tackle causes of poverty
BBCAn extra £27m is going to be spent in part of the West Midlands to try to tackle the causes of poverty in the area.
The cash from the government has gone to Sandwell Council is part of its three-year financial settlement.
Local MPs, the authority and the West Midlands mayor, Richard Parker, were lobbying for extra money for the area since the ministers published their first draft finance settlement in December.
More than £6.5m extra funding will be used in 2026-27, more than £8.7m in 2027-28, and more than £11.9m in 2028-29.
The authority's leader, councillor Kerrie Carmichael, said: "We want to deliver a great future where everyone can be proud to call this their home.
"That's why we will be putting this money towards tackling the real causes of deprivation - not with one-off solutions - but to bring about meaningful change in people's lives for generations to come."
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