Bristol to host UK launch event for European Year 2010

Each year the European Commission designates a "European Year" dedicated to raising awareness about a particular social issue. 2010 will be the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, recognising the fact that 16% of the European Union's population - 79 million people - live below the poverty line.

Bristol City Council will be hosting the UK's National Launch event for the European Year at the Council House on 16 March 2010. Throughout 2010 events and activities will take place in each Member State across the European Union to increase public awareness of the existence of poverty and social exclusion, how it affects people and societies, and how it can be eliminated.

The Department for Work and Pensions will lead on all activities at national level in the UK, in the run up to and during the year. A national programme detailing what kind of projects and awareness raising campaigns and events will be funded during the Year has recently been published, and Bristol City Council and DWP are currently working on finalising the programme for the UK launch event.

More information on the event is available here. A briefing note about the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion can be downloaded here.