Barrow and Furness’ MP is supporting a new set of ambitious goals aimed at improving people’s life chances and access to careers in the area.
The Levelling Up Goals are the Governments response to the agenda to level-up Britain in the recovery from COVID-19.
They have been designed by a former cabinet minister alongside Britain’s leading businesses and universities to pinpoint key challenges that, if resolved, would create a level playing field on life and job opportunities.
Former Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, developed the goals with the aim of improving life chances, from early years through to adulthood.
Mrs Greening has campaigned to level up Britain by spreading opportunities more evenly across the country for years and in 2018 she co-founded the national Social Mobility Pledge with entrepreneur and philanthropist, David Harrison.
The Levelling Up Goals are chaired in Parliament by Robbie Moore MP.
The goals include closing the gaps in literacy that emerge in early school years as well as tackling the digital divide and building up personal financial security.
The 14 Levelling Up Goals are intended to set out how the ambition to level up Britain can be achieved.
Mr Fell said: “I was elected in 2019 to level up this fantastic community.
“In the first 12 months we’ve secured funding for a new bypass at Grizebeck, £25 million for Barrow as part of the Brilliant Barrow Town Fund project and both Dalton and Ulverston are in for £3 million each as part of the Borderlands Place Programme.
“The 14 levelling up goals are consistent with our own aspirations and my plan for Furness.
“No matter your background, everyone should have equal opportunity to excel and achieve. The levelling up goals are about giving everyone a chance and a fair opportunity.
“I am only too keen to sign up and lend my support to the campaign.”
Targets and measurements related to the goals are being developed by the Social Mobility Pledge in co-ordination with the University of York.
Ms Greening said: “If Britain is to achieve levelling up, I believe that we need a galvanising set of Levelling Up Goals that can unite Parliament, business, communities and civil society to work in partnership for the common good of our country.
“These goals give us a clear set of objectives to level up communities.
“Time is of the essence. COVID-19 has levelled down our country and therefore made levelling up not only more urgent, but even harder.
“While the solutions may vary, I believe that these Levelling Up Goals can transcend party politics and set clear objectives for the recovery we need to achieve in our communities.
“In particular, I know that for different communities, different Levelling Up Goals represent far greater challenges than others.
“With a clear understanding of the challenges we can work towards building the recovery in local communities.”
“It’s great to have MPs like Simon Fell committed to playing their leading role in supporting the local recovery from COVID-19.
“Levelling up is ultimately about change on the ground in communities up and down this country. Simon’s support will be absolutely vital. From mental health to supporting our young people to get their schooling back on track, we can work together to make real progress in the recovery from COVID-19.”
