Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England has visited Swansea to meet with Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families, at the charity’s Cwtch Mawr Multibank project. The visit marked an important moment, bringing the lived reality of child poverty directly into conversations about national economic decision-making.
Interest rates affect every household. They shape the cost of mortgages and rent, influence food and energy prices, and determine whether families feel able to cope or are pushed further towards crisis. When rates rise, households already under pressure feel the impact first and most severely, and children are often the ones who carry the consequences.
Faith in Families works daily with children and families experiencing poverty across Swansea Bay. The organisation sees first-hand how financial strain shows up not just in household budgets, but in stress, mental health, relationships and a child’s sense of safety and stability. These pressures shape childhoods long before they appear in official data.
The meeting provided an opportunity to share lived experience, challenge assumptions, and ensure that the voices of children and families are heard at the highest levels when economic decisions are being considered.
“Child poverty is everyone’s business,” said Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families.
“We have a responsibility to advocate for those who are most vulnerable in our society, especially children, and to make sure their voices are heard at every level.”
“We have a responsibility to advocate for those who are most vulnerable in our society, especially children, and to make sure their voices are heard at every level.”
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