Get on yer bike!

I have previously written on the joys of being a valleys girl. However, I feel that it is time to draw attention to the major drawback of living in this environment.

It is no secret that South Wales has an issue with unemployment. Ever since the closure of the mines and associated factories, the valleys have been in a steady rate of decline, which has only been aided in part by public sector jobs moving here, and special measures brought in by the government to persuade businesses here. However, these measures have always fallen short of how much work really needs to be done in these areas – something akin to putting a plaster on the wound that you’ve just received from a hungry tiger who’s taken your leg off.

                               I am unemployment tiger, hear me roar!

For the people that live here, this means one of three things. You either grow up here, realise that you need to find something better, and you move away – starving the local community of the talent and ingenuity that it needs to get itself out of this black hole. Scenario two is that you get lucky, you find yourself a reasonable secure job, and you stay here. Alternatively, you stay where you are, but you don’t get that lucky break, and you are condemned to a life of being called a scrounge and scum because you have no other way to survive other than being on benefits. This in turn creates a vicious cycle of entire families who don’t work, and depend on the state to survive. I know that I paint a picture of people who are victims of circumstance, but for the majority of those on benefits, I do truly believe this to be the case, despite also knowing that there are some people who readily accept this lifestyle. However, this then brings about the argument that if you knew you were better off on benefits, with the freedom and security of having your housing paid for, being able to bring up your children yourself without having to depend on maybe getting a childcare place paid for whilst you go to work at all hours… Well, you can argue that it’s not morally right until you’re blue in the face, but you can see why it appeals to many. 

So with this in mind, you must also realise the difficulties for many in the valleys to just get on their metaphorical employment seeking bicycles and get a job.

Firstly, there is the issue of transportation. I’m lucky – my mother and I scraped up enough money for me to take driving lessons, get through the dreaded test of terror, and be on the car insurance, thus allowing me to drive around whenever I like. For many, this isn’t the case. The prohibitive costs of lessons, never mind insurance, a car, tax, and petrol stop many people from being able to do this. Remember also that many of us do not have the luxury of a choice of petrol stations that will fight over each other to be the cheapest – some of us only have access to one that will charge more as a result. In turn, this leads to the problem of distance, which in turn, leads to costs, again.

        Generic petrol pumps. Just in case you really didn't know.

Public transport isn’t even a haven from this. From here to the next town (around 5 miles away), it costs £7 or so for an adult return ticket. The issue of transportation is not specific to the valleys, but it does make life significantly harder, and in turn, makes it more difficult to be able to accept jobs – and that’s even if you can get to the interview.

 Secondly, there really is a lack of jobs here. There have been multiple factory closures here as businesses move abroad to find a cheaper workforce. Public sector job cuts have hit hard. Spending power has decreased as more people are made unemployed, in an area where people are more likely to be out of work anyway.  In turn, yet more businesses collapse, and the circle goes round again. Companies who used to offer full time contracts are now offering part-time, and ‘flexible’ contracts, making life for those who depend on the wages of full time work, or those with responsibilities more difficult. Incidentally, many companies will no longer accept people on contracts more than 16 hours per week, as those who work this amount of time are eligible for government provided tax credits, boosting the employees’ income. If the state will pay, why should the company?

I’m lucky. I get to go back to university in a few months, but it is my final year, and finding a job afterwards is of huge concern. I don’t want to have to leave my family and friends behind, but if I want to survive, that’s what I’m going to have to do. This post isn’t about lecturing people, but it is about informing you. I can’t bear to stand back and have people say “well can’t you find a job?” It’s not that easy, and there are a lot of people around here who can tell you exactly the same thing as I just have.