Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has joined the NSPCC’s campaign to Talk Pants to help children recognise what abuse is and how to speak up if anything doesn’t feel right.
Rebecca MS said: “I am pleased to join the Talk Pants campaign. It is aimed at parents and carers of children aged 3-11, giving adults advice on how to talk to children in an age-appropriate way about sexual abuse. We know that simple conversations can make a big difference, and that’s what the Talk Pants campaign is all about.” Resources which can be found on the NSPCC website The School Essentials Grant can provide up to £200 to help families on lower incomes with essentials such as school uniforms, shoes, bags and school activities.
Last year, the grant helped 100,055 children across Wales. Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS said: “I know that during the cost of living crisis, many families will be anxious about making sure children have all they need. This grant can help children with some of the barriers to attending and feeling comfortable in school, as well as taking part in activities with their friends. ‘With the colder months approaching, the grant can help with essential clothing items, such as coats or shoes.” The grant is currently open and will close on 31st May 2024. Families should check with their local authority if they are eligible to apply for support. Gower Member of the Senedd, Rebecca Evans MS has welcomed the Welsh Government announcement that Rhossili Public Toilets, will see refurbishment and access improvements to the sum of £160,000, benefiting from the Brilliant Basics capital fund.
The £5 million fund for 2023-2025 is being shared between 29 projects across Wales, supporting local authorities and national parks to develop and improve areas seeing increased tourism. The funding will help projects to improve accessibility and make the destinations more environmentally sustainable. Rebecca Evans MS said: “It is good to see Rhossili Public Toilets being recognised as a space that deserves investment. “They are a vital resource for the community, and those who visit this wonderful area, and these improvements will have a positive impact for those who use them.” Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the Welsh Labour Government’s announcement that families and people living with autism and other neurodivergent conditions can now access 24 hour support and advice.
The helpline is being delivered via an expansion of the Community Advice Listening Line (C.A.L.L), with its skilled and experienced staff receiving additional training on neurodivergence from the National Autism Team. Mrs Evans added: “The initiative forms part of Welsh Government efforts to deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to improve services and support for neurodivergent people. “The helpline will provide a safe space to talk about your struggles where someone will listen, without judgment. I hope that the positive impact this will have on the families and the individuals living with neurodivergent conditions will be significant.” C.A.L.L Helpline Manager Luke Ogden said: “We are pleased to be able to offer support to more people in Wales including those living with neurodivergent conditions, their families and friends. By having the training, provided by the National Autism Team, we will be offering a more inclusive service. “The helpline can offer emotional support to anyone living in Wales, can provide information on services across the country, and can provide literature on a range of subjects, to those who request it.” The listening line can be accessed by calling 0800 132 737 or texting ‘Help’ to 81066. For more information visit callhelpline.org.uk Local Member of the Senedd, Rebecca Evans MS has welcomed the expansion of free school meals in all primary schools in Wales.
£70 million in funding will go to supporting the expansion of the programme, which has so far served nearly 5 million additional free meals since it began in September 2022. This next stage will begin in September 2023, with the offer of free school meals growing to include most learners in years three and four. The programme will then expand again in April 2024, to include learners in years five and six. The rollout of the programme to date by Local Authorities has been impressively swift, with the majority of learners across Wales in Reception, year one and year two already benefiting from the offer of free school meals since the start of the summer term. Welcoming the announcement Rebecca Evans MS said: “No child should go hungry, and all children deserve access to nutritious food. We know how difficult it is for families during the cost-of-living crisis. This investment in universal free school meals will help schools in Gower, so children can focus on and enjoy their time learning.” Local Member of the Senedd, Rebecca Evans MS, has supported the announcement of new guidance by the Welsh Labour Government which is designed to help schools make sure that uniforms are affordable, including an end to compulsory schools logos.
The Education and Welsh language Minister Jeremy Miles has published new statutory guidance today (02/05/23), following a public consultation on school uniform guidance. 56% of those who responded to the consultation agreed that logos should not be required on school uniforms, and nearly 90% of respondents also felt that schools should avoid single supplier agreements. Almost all people who responded believed that schools should offer uniform exchanges, or recycling schemes, and today’s guidance calls for these schemes to be available for parents and carers. Welcoming the announcement Rebecca Evans MS said: “Purchasing expensive uniforms should not be a pressure which families have to face, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. “Our Welsh Labour Government is doing what it can by supporting many lower income families with its School Essentials Grant. This is the most generous scheme of its kind in the UK and provides families with up to £300 to purchase school uniforms and essential equipment. “I also know that many schools are doing all they can to help keep costs down for families. The new guidance from the Welsh Labour Government will help them do even more. “I am confident that this guidance will benefit parents, carers, and learners alike in Gower, during these difficult financial times.” The new guidance calls on school governing bodies to review their current school uniform policies with affordability being the priority. It also asks schools to make sure that any changes to uniform policy are fed back to families before the end of the current school term. On Friday 2nd February, Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, will be joining Time to Talk Day by holding a Tea and Chat morning.
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Happening every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. Rebecca Evans MS said: “Please come along and join me and volunteers from Mind for a cuppa at our Tea and Chat morning. Society has made great strides to combat the stigma that has for too long surrounded mental ill health, but there is still more to do. “Conversations can literally save lives. This is an opportunity to come together, raise awareness of the importance of taking time to talk, and offer support to one another in a safe, comfortable environment.” The Tea and Chat morning will take place on Friday 3rd of February 2023, 10 – 11.30am at Gorseinon Library. Everyone is welcome. Rebecca Evans added: “We know the more conversations we have, the better life is for everyone. Talking about mental health isn’t aways easy, but a conversation really does have the power to change lives.” Rebecca Evans, Member of the Senedd for Gower, is backing the new the All-Wales Cancer Community.
Launched by Tenovus Cancer Care, the Community is for anyone who has a cancer story to tell. The invaluable experiences of members will be used to inform and support the cancer research community, health and social care partners, and Welsh Government, with the aim of improving outcomes for people affected by cancer. Real-life experience of any cancer – either individually or through a loved-one – is all that’s needed to join the pioneering platform of people. Rebecca Evans MS was pleased to meet the new recruits to the community. Mrs Evans said: “People across Gower will have been, and will be, affected by cancer. To know there is a community which can come together to support and influence the policy, research and service development landscape in Wales is important. “I would encourage anyone who wishes to know more, to find out more via the Tenovus website.” Judi Rhys MBE, Chief Executive at Tenovus Cancer Care, said: “We want everyone affected by cancer, anywhere in Wales, to have a voice, and for their voices to be heard. “This is more important than ever as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. The indications are there are thousands of missed cancer diagnoses, for a variety of reasons. We need to be prepared in Wales for that reality, so that our wonderful NHS and social care staff are ready and that all support services are in place.”. All-Wales Cancer Community member, Gill Morton, said: “I hope as many people as possible join our new community and take this opportunity to speak openly about their personal experiences as there has never been a more important time to do so. “Not only will joining the All-Wales Cancer Community mean being part of a movement of people campaigning to help people with cancer live their best lives but it will also help people with experience of cancer to have a voice and be heard. Having recovered from cancer I understand the challenges faced by all those affected, and the extra support needed during such difficult times.” Visit https://www.tenovuscancercare.org.uk/ for more information or to sign up to the All-Wales Cancer Community. Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, is promoting the Keep Wales Tidy and Local Places for Nature scheme, which provides free garden packages to communities across Wales.
Since launching in 2020, it has created and enhanced over 800 green spaces in Wales for people and nature to enjoy. This year they have hundreds more free garden packages to give away to eligible organisations. Rebecca Evans MS said: “Local organisations are being offered the opportunity to receive free garden packages. They can help enhance the beauty of our local communities across Gower and help to reverse nature’s decline. I would encourage organisations across Gower to get involved. The natural benefits to the community will be evident, but people who get involved will also feel the benefit to their wellbeing.” “We have already seen the benefits of this scheme across the constituency, in Pontlliw Park and with the Forget Me Not Club in Llangyfelach.” Each prepaid package includes native plants, tools and other materials. Keep Wales Tidy will handle the orders and deliveries, and their project officers will even provide support on the ground. The packages fall into three categories. Starter Packages, for community or volunteer groups looking to create small Food Growing Garden or Wildlife Gardens; Development Packages, for community-based organisations that are ready to take on a bigger project and build a Food Growing Garden or Wildlife Garden ; and Community Orchard packages, for community-based organisations who are looking to create a small community orchard on land that is 'not for profit ownership'. Learners at Bishopton Comprehensive School and Penyrheol Comprehensive School were treated to a unique form of political engagement on Friday 25th March, by taking part in a ‘Digital Dialogue’ event with their Member of Senedd Rebecca Evans; a video conference call that brought her directly into their classroom.
Rebecca took part in two Digital Dialogue events, speaking to a class from each school. In both sessions the learners discussed a wide range of topics, including Rebecca’s career before politics, voting at 16, impact of COVID-19 on small businesses, young people’s mental health and what Rebecca would do if she was Prime Minister! Digital Dialogue events are 45 minute to one hour long video calls between politicians and their student constituents, and are one of the key components of social enterprise The Politics Project’s Digital Dialogue: Wales programme. The Digital Dialogue: Wales programme is a political literacy initiative, developed by The Politics Project and funded by the Welsh Government. It is run in schools across Wales and equips students with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in politics and in their local communities. The programme is designed to give young people a voice letting them have direct conversations with their political representatives about issues that matter to them. Learners at both schools took part in preparatory workshops in advance of their Digital Dialogue events with Rebecca, which focused on helping them understand what the Senedd is and how Members represent them and how to construct questions while improving their confidence in public speaking. COMMENT FROM CLAIRE RATTIE, TEACHER AT BISHOPTON COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL: “I think this has been a fantastic opportunity to bring politics to life for our young pupils. We are extremely grateful to the Politics Project for facilitating the meeting and developing some brilliant resources to be used in schools and also to Mrs Evans for taking time out of her busy schedule to meet the pupils. They have thoroughly enjoyed the session and as expected asked some very pertinent, relevant, and thought-provoking questions about issues that are very close to their hearts.” COMMENT FROM HOWARD EVANS, ASSISTANT HEAD TEACHER AT PENYRHEOL COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL: “At a time when 16 year olds in Wales are about to have the opportunity to vote for the first time in their lives I cannot over emphasise how valuable the Digital Dialogue project has been in raising the awareness of the democratic process with pupils from Year 7 to Year 11. From the workshops delivered in school - supported by high quality teaching resources - to the digital surgery with Rebecca Evans MS the experience has been an enjoyable and highly beneficial one for our pupils. The maturity and challenge of the questions posed by the pupils, the sharing of their concerns and hopes for the future to the open and honest way in which Ms Evans answered the pupils' questions made, I am sure, for one of those moments in a pupil's time in school that is remembered for many years to come.” COMMENT FROM REBECCA EVANS: “It was such a pleasure to spend time talking to pupils from Bishopston Comprehensive School and Penyrheol Comprehensive School as part of the Politics Project. The pupils asked insightful questions, and they had obviously spent a lot of time thinking about the issues that matter to them most. We covered a lot of ground in the sessions, from mental health and the environment to regenerating our high streets and the cost of living. Listening to young people talking about their hopes for the future was wonderful, and it highlighted why it is so important that politicians get things right for our future generations.” COMMENT FROM IAN POPE, HEAD OF PROGRAMMES AT THE POLITICS PROJECT: “Thank you to Rebecca Evans MS and the learners and teachers at Bishopton Comprehensive School and Penyrheol Comprehensive School for two fantastic Digital Dialogue: Wales events. In both events the questions were of an impressive standard. It was great to see how engaged the learners were and how well they had prepared for their dialogue events. The Politics Project wants to make sure that during their time at school every young person can have the chance to have a meaningful conversation with a politician and build positive relationships. We really appreciate Rebecca’s support in helping us achieve that aim.” |
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