Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, is joining Swansea Council, Citizen’s Advice Swansea, Age Cymru West Glamorgan, Swansea Carer’s Centre, and Care and Repair Western Bay, in raising awareness of Pension Credit take-up.

Rebecca Evans MS: “If you are over State Pension age, you may be eligible to be in receipt of Pension Credit to assist with the daily costs of living. You could be entitled to this even if you have a pension, savings or your own home. For those who are eligible for Pension Credit, assistance can also be available for payment of rent, a free TV license, NHS costs such as travelling to and from appointments, dental and eye needs, and council tax and heating bills.”

The aim of this campaign is not only to maximise benefit income in relation to Pension Credit but to look at all the benefits that someone aged 66 and over may be entitled too. 

Rebecca Evans MS added: “Across the UK people are missing out on £3 billion in unclaimed benefits every year, with 2 out of 5 people not claiming the Pension Credit they are entitled to. I encourage residents of Gower to call the helpline and find out if they are entitled to this extra help.”

To check eligibility and for further information, call the helpline for free on:
​0800 112 4763, Monday – Thursday, 10am – 3pm.

Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, is once again backing Safer Internet Day, which will take place on 9th February 2019 with the theme 'Together for a better internet’.

Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally in February each year to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology by children and young people. This year the focus is on creating an internet that can be trusted.

Rebecca Evans MS has a long track record of campaigning on internet safety and has championed the issue in the Senedd.

Rebecca Evans MS said: “The internet is a wonderful, valuable resource. It can be an enriching learning environment, helping develop knowledge, skills, ideas and global citizenship, as well as being a forum for socialising and entertainment. 

“But there is also a darker side and this why we need this day each year. It reminds us of the importance of speaking with children about internet use, and what they are accessing. Safer Internet Day assists in empowering children and their parents to know how to keep themselves safe online, increases awareness of when and where to report inappropriate content, and highlights where to go to for help.

“The theme this year is timely as there has been a stark increase in the inaccurate information seen across the internet in response to the current pandemic. It is vital that the internet is monitored to ensure, true, reliable and clear information is provided.” 
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In the Senedd, Rebecca Evans has highlighted the challenges and dangers posed to children and young people online by cyberbullying, online grooming, easy access to explicit adult material which may be extreme or violent, and the pressures of modern trends such as sexting.

Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, is pleased to share the announcement that the Welsh Government has pledged an extra £9.4 investment in children and young people’s mental health services.
 
Rebecca Evans MS said: “The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring support is available to meet the changing mental health needs of the children and young people of Wales.
 
“This additional funding, which has been announced at the start of Children’s Mental Health Week 2021, recognises the effect being away from school and regular support networks has had on young people during the pandemic”.

The Welsh Government has demonstrated that it is committed to addressing the issue of mental health across society and spends more on this than any other aspect of the NHS – with a protected minimum spend of £783m for 2021-22, representing an extra £42m additional funding into mental health support. 

​Rebecca Evans concluded: “In my role as Finance Minister, in light of the pandemic, it was vital that I provided an increase in financial support to respond to mental health needs of the children and young people as part of the 2021-2022 Budget. I have seen first hand the impact the pandemic has had on the mental health of children and young people and the concerning rise in anxiety, depression and self-harm during these difficult times. Our children and young people have been through so much in the last year, and we in the Welsh Government will continue do all we can to assist them, through these challenging times and beyond.”