A glance at the news has been pretty depressing lately.
In the last couple of weeks we’ve gone from riots and children looting to the desperate scramble for university places before the fees go up … it can only have left some people wondering what’s going on in the minds of young people in Britain.
While there can be no justification for what is ultimately criminal behaviour, we all need to be aware that we’re in danger of producing a generation without hope of playing a fair and equal part in society.
It really can’t be easy for people going through school and perhaps further and higher education without any confidence that there’s a decent job for them at the end of it – or even a job at all.
But there is hope and I witnessed it myself in June when I attended the Caerphilly County Borough Council Standing Conference on Community Planning.
We all know we live in a county which still suffers socially and economically as a result of industrial decline. High levels of unemployment and child poverty are two of our hallmarks.
But we heard what the local authority was doing to tackle it, from the ongoing regeneration scheme in Bargoed to the development of tourism in the county borough.
It was truly impressive and, while nobody pretended it was going to solve our problems, it did leave me feeling optimistic that Caerphilly is really serious about addressing the issues.
However, it also made me realise that we can’t just leave it up to our council. We all have a responsibility to look after our communities and businesses have a key role to play.
Meanwhile, the CBF stall at the Big Cheese was buzzing with people who had entrepreneurial ideas. That also filled me with hope.
But clearly getting these ideas off the ground and developing them is key to the future of our communities.
Michelle Rose-Innes
Vice Chair, Caerphilly Business Forum
For more information about Caerphilly Business Forum and its events call 029 2125 1395 or email info@cbforum.co.uk