The new £20million Future Proofing Fund from the Welsh Government will help up to 2,500 micro, small and medium sized business across Wales.
 
 
The funding will be available to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors and is focused on helping businesses to reduce their running costs.
 
 
Rebecca Evans MS said:
 
“I want to see all our micro, small and medium businesses in Gower thrive. 
 
“This grant can help businesses keep their bills down so that they can focus their time and energy on their staff, profits and ideas.
 
“I would encourage all businesses owners to find out if they’re eligible.”
 
 
Applications are now open and grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 are available to businesses in Wales which meet the criteria.
 
Find out if your businesses is eligible here

​Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, has attended an ‘Introduction to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’ event at the Senedd.
 
Rebecca Evans said: “ I was grateful for the opportunity to attend this very interesting event. It was a wonderful chance to talk to people and to better understand their faith.”
 
Also at the event was a display of many translations of the Quran.
 
Rebecca Evans said: “It was wonderful to see such a large number of translations of the Quran.
 
“There is yet to be a full Welsh translation. However, I know that Sketty Mosque and the University of Wales Trinity St David, Swansea University, and the Muslim Council of Wales are working on an exciting project to publish a first Welsh language version by the end of 2030.”

​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.