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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Oxford's Bill Heine will be in the chair for a special debate next week as people from across the region come together to tackle poverty and social exclusion.

The debate, in partnership with CSV, marks the launch in Oxfordshire of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion and will bring together key national representatives of organisations working to help change people's lives.

The panel will include Director General for Employment at the Department of Work & Pensions, Adam Sharples; Director of Oxfam's UK Poverty Department, Kate Wareing; Chief Executive of Age Concern Oxfordshire, Paul Cann; CEO of Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, Jacinta Thorley; Head of Policy and Advocacy for Save the Children, Sally Copley; and Director of Gatehouse, Andrew Smith.

Highlights from the debate will be broadcast on Bill Heine's ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Oxford Drive Time programme on Thursday (11 February) where the discussion will continue.

Bill will be joined by some of the panel and listeners can join in with their comments and questions.

Organiser Anne Jackson, CSV Outreach Manager for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Oxford, says the debate gives local groups the chance to highlight the issues faced by people in the region.

"This is a perfect opportunity to bring local issues around social exclusion in front of key policy decision makers and stakeholders," she says.

"We will be aiming to tackle the main problem areas concerning deprivation, share good practice and identify potential changes.

"And we hope that, at the end of the debate, people will come together and pledge to make One Big Change."

Areas for discussion include: child poverty; working age poverty; people most at risk of social exclusion and deprivation; and older people experiencing poverty and social exclusion.

Entry to the debate is free but is on a first-come, first-served basis.

It will start at 10.00am on Thursday 11 February 2010 at Oxford Town Hall.

For more information on how to take part visit bbc.co.uk/oxford or email anna.jackson@bbc.co.uk.

HB