 Gower Assembly Member, Rebecca Evans AM, has welcomed additional money for social services to deal with winter pressures. The Welsh Labour Government has made an additional £10m available to local authorities across Wales to enable social services to support people in their homes and communities. Rebecca Evans AM said: “Health and social services in Wales, like the rest of the UK, have been under significant pressure this winter. “The extraordinary level of demand this year has been compounded by an increase in patients suffering with flu, norovirus and respiratory illness attending GP practices and A&E.” The Welsh Government recognises that getting people out of hospital and into a more appropriate care setting is hugely important, both for the individuals concerned and the NHS. Wales saw a 7% reduction in Delayed Transfers of Care in December, meaning that the total number of delays during 2017 was the lowest since records began 12 years ago. Rebecca Evans AM said: “Our health and social care services are heavily dependent on each other. This additional investment recognises that, and will help people working in social services to respond to the extra pressures at this time of year.”  Macmillan’s first dedicated all-Wales mobile information support service bus, called “Bronwen”, will be visiting Knab Rock Car Park, Mumbles, on Tuesday 20th February between 9am and 4pm. “Bronwen” was launched at the Gower MacMarathon last September. This mobile service has on-board a team of highly-qualified information specialists. Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, said: “The mobile service is a service for everyone - whether you or a loved one has a diagnosis of cancer, or you are worried about cancer and want to know more about signs and symptoms. "The bus has professionals aboard to address your concerns and questions, whether they be financial, emotional or physical. Just pop in, no appointment is needed, and speak in confidence with a member of the team or pick up information pamphlets to take away with you.” More information can be found on the Macmillan Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/macmillan.cymruwales/  Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, has pledged to help stop bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Wales. Every year 2,200 people are diagnosed, and over 900 people die from the disease, making bowel cancer the second biggest cancer killer. After meeting people affected by bowel cancer at the launch of Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer’s ‘Spotlight on bowel cancer’ report at the Senedd, Rebecca Evans AM said: “Early identification is crucial. Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage of the disease will survive, however survival rates drop significantly for people who are diagnosed at the later stages. “For Wales’ screening programmes to reach their full potential, uptake needs to increase and we must continue to invest in more accurate and accessible tests. That is why I am pleased that Wales will be implementing better and more user-friendly testing for bowel cancer screening this year.” Lowri Griffiths, Head of Wales at Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer, said: “I’m delighted that Rebecca Evans AM has pledged to stop bowel cancer. By working together with people affected by the disease and the clinical and research community, as well as AMs, the charity can achieve its vision that by 2050 no one will die from bowel cancer in Wales and the rest of the UK.”  During February, local charities and community groups in Gower have the opportunity to apply for between £500 and £20,000 from the People’s Postcode Lottery. Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, said: “Community groups often tell me of the big difference that a relatively small amount of grant funding can make. On 14th February, the latest funding rounds for the People’s Postcode Trust, Postcode Local Trust and Postcode Community Trust will open for applications, and I know that there will be groups in Gower which could benefit.” There are three funds. The People’s Postcode Trust is seeking applications for projects that focus on the prevention of poverty, promotion of human rights and equal rights. www.postcodetrust.org.uk The Postcode Local Trust supports community gardens, play areas, wildlife and green energy projects. www.postcodelocaltrust.org.uk The Postcode Community Trust focuses on grass-roots sports, arts, recreation and healthy living programmes. www.postcodecommunitytrust.org.uk Since 2009, the People’s Postcode Trust has awarded more than £14m to over 1,800 projects across Great Britain. In 2017 alone, the People’s Postcode Trust awarded just over £3.2 million to over 230 organisations working to make a difference for people across the country. Applications can be made until 28th February.  Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, has welcomed the news that £420,000 has been awarded to Swansea Council by the Welsh Government to improve road safety measures around schools and progress Swansea Urban Connections City centre schemes. The schemes will accelerate delivery of a range of active travel improvements linked to Welsh Government transport priorities in and support of the landmark Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013. Rebecca Evans AM said: “Improving the infrastructure to ensure that it is as easy, safe and enjoyable as possible for pupils to walk or cycle to school is really important. “Wales received international acclaim and recognition for its world-leading Active Travel legislation for good reason. Walking or cycling gets the school day off to a great start, and as well as being good for the environment and a way of tackling traffic build-up, it can also help boost pupils’ concentration and attainment.” Economy and Transport Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates said: “We face major challenges in securing our nation’s physical and mental well-being, both now and for our future generations. Increasing opportunities to safely walk and cycle is a key commitment for the Welsh Government and these schemes offer a very straightforward way of achieving multiple benefits. “They present a great opportunity to build physical activity into our everyday lives and bring with them associated health improvements, a reduction in motorised traffic and decreases in air pollution, carbon emissions and congestion. These projects will also help people and communities feel safer and more connected.” Fifty-four Active Travel and road safety schemes across Wales will receive a share of over £8m. Notes to Editors Full allocation for Swansea below:
 Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, is urging her constituents to embrace the opportunity to apply for grants from the Welsh Government under the Women’s Suffrage Centernary Grant Scheme.
Rebecca Evans said: “The Welsh Government is marking the 100th anniversary of the vote being extended to women by providing grants of between £500 and £20,000 to third sector organisations and community groups for projects and/or events which will mark the centenary. “I would encourage organisations in Gower to take advantage of this funding opportunity to celebrate the beginning of votes for women.” The projects and events will be aligned with the centenary’s key themes:
Full details are available via the Welsh Government website, or by contacting Rebecca Evans AM at [email protected]  Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, is once again backing Safer Internet Day. This year, it is being held on 6th February. The focus this year is on encouraging everyone to play their part in building a better internet. Rebecca Evans, a long-time campaigner on internet safety, said: “I am pleased to support Safer Internet Day 2018. This day gives us an opportunity to celebrate all that is good about the internet, but also to explore what more we can all do to make the internet a safer place for everyone.” Rebecca Evans has previously raised the issue of safety of children online in a debate that she led in the Senedd. She talked about the importance of equipping parents and children to deal with the daily challenges that are faced by children in their use of the internet. Rebecca Evans said: “Many children now have a phone with internet access, with nine out of ten of them saying that there are no parental restrictions on its use. For most children, their virtual lives are synonymous with their real lives, and what happens online affects them offline.” This year, young people, children, parents, carers, and schools are being encouraged to make a pledge to do something great and positive online, with the hashtag #ItStartsWithUs |
