CAMPAIGNERS will be 'standing up' against austerity in Haverfordwest on Saturday (May 27).

Organised by Pembrokeshire People’s Assembly Against Austerity, the event - aiming to highlight the 'damaging effect of government cuts' - will take place on Castle Square at 1pm.

The group wants to address what it calls 'the elephant in the room' - how austerity has affected child poverty, food bank use, student debt, homelessness, and daily life for those living with a disability.

It says campaigners from across the politcial spectrum have agreed to support the event, as the deadline for the June 8 election looms.

"We hope this will show the people of Pembrokeshire that, even during an election period, all parties are willing to work together to fight injustice at any level, and fight what they see as an ideologically driven austerity agenda which has brought great suffering to vast swathes of our society," said a spokesman.

"We welcome all to come along and participate, especially students and young people who are being unfairly penalised by the current government’s policies," they added.

"We also welcome disabled people and the elderly who we believe will take a severe blow if the Tories are re-elected in June."

"People need to know how bad things really are out there and we aim to expose the realities of austerity to the people of Pembrokeshire and encourage people to think long and hard before casting their vote in June."

Group member Lynda, who has worked with young people in the charitable sector for nearly 20 years, said: "I have seen an increase in young people who are unable to access adequate mental health care services, an increase in the number of young people sanctioned and reliant on food bank assistance.

"Social care provision for vulnerable young adults has not improved at all, and colleagues in social services appear to be feeling ever increasing pressure to provide an adequate service with ever decreasing resources.”

Contact pembrokeshirepeoplesassembly@gmail.com for more information.