Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, has shown her support for women with ovarian cancer across Gower at a special event in the Senedd.
Rebecca Evans MS said: “Over 4,000 women in the UK die of ovarian cancer each year, and awareness of the key symptoms remains too low. We must come together and act now to make sure everyone knows what look out for, so that those affected by ovarian cancer face better outcomes.” The symptoms of ovarian cancer are:
Alexandra Holden, Deputy Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “We know that much more needs to be done to increase awareness of ovarian cancer and save lives. It is so important that we continue to come together at events like this to work to transform the future of ovarian cancer. We look forward to continuing to work with these MSs to make improvements in diagnosis and survival that women with ovarian cancer and their families deserve.” Visit targetovariancancer.org.uk to find out more. Rebecca Evans MS, Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the announcement from the Welsh Government that a specialist endometriosis nurse has been appointed in Swansea Bay University Health Board to improve services for the chronic condition which affects one in ten women.
The post is part of a million pound investment by the Welsh Labour Government which includes wider plans to improve women’s health services. Welcoming the new announcement, Rebecca Evans MS said: “I welcome the announcement from the Welsh Government that a new specialist endometriosis nurse has been appointed in Swansea Bay University Health Board. “Endometriosis affects one in ten women. It can cause serious pain and seriously impact quality of life for those affected. This new appointment will help raise awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of this serious condition. “I am determined that people with endometriosis in Gower get the service they deserve.” Rebecca Evans MS, Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the announcement from the Welsh Labour Government that an additional £7.7m in funding has been confirmed to continue providing SilverCloud Wales - the free online mental health support tool for a further three years.
SilverCloud Wales is a free online therapy service designed to help people who experience mild to moderate anxiety, depression, or stress, manage their mental health and wellbeing. Rebecca Evans MS said: “I’m pleased that the Welsh Government is expanding the services offered through SilverCloud. Mental health affects different people in different ways so it’s important that there’s a range of resources to help people. “Making use of the SilverCloud service can really help you if you have low level mental health needs – the service is available 24/7 and you don’t need a GP referral to access it. “If you do need immediate help in managing your mental health and wellbeing, you can access the SilverCloud service here https://nhswales.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/” Following an all-Wales pilot scheme launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the service has helped people access online mental health support. As we move out of the pandemic the additional funding will expand the service and will offer access to digital therapy for young people aged 11 and over. It will also provide perinatal support. During the pilot over 23,000 people have accessed SilverCloud’s mental health programmes and 64% of people reported a positive outcome following self-referral. As well as being an online self-help service, SilverCloud Wales is backed up and supported by a team of psychologists and online cognitive behavioural therapy co-ordinators. It has the benefits of both being an ‘access from home’ service as well as professionally led one. Feedback received by the Welsh Government has shown that people felt SilverCloud really helped them through a time where they needed a bit of support. Mike Hedges, Julie James and Rebecca Evans, Welsh Labour Members of the Senedd for Swansea East, West and Gower, have welcomed the announcement from the Welsh Labour Government that 4,346 unpaid carers in the City and County of Swansea Council will receive a £500 payment in recognition of the pivotal role they have played during the pandemic.
The payment is part of a £29m investment in unpaid carers from the Welsh Government and recognises the financial and emotional hardship many have experienced. Unpaid carers who are receiving Carer’s Allowance on March 31st this year will be eligible for the payment. Welcoming the announcement, Mike Hedges MS for Swansea East said: “I’m pleased that the Welsh Labour Government is investing £29m in our army of unpaid carers. It shows how much they value and appreciate those who care for others. Julie James MS for Swansea West said: “Unpaid carers have played a pivotal role throughout the pandemic – they have gone above and beyond to care for family or friends. Rebecca Evans MS for Gower said: “The physical and emotional impact of caring can be overwhelming – I hope this £500 payment will go some way to support during this cost-of-living crisis.” An unpaid carer is someone who cares for a partner, relative or friend who has an illness of disability. Carers Allowance is paid to people caring for at least 35 hours a week, who care for someone receiving certain benefits and who earn no more than £128 a week. The payment will benefit thousands of the most vulnerable unpaid carers in Wales, who frequently care for the longest and are on the lowest incomes. Unpaid carers will be able to submit their claim to local authorities later this year. Further details on how and when to register for the payment will be available shortly. The payment is being launched after a survey of more than 1,500 unpaid carers found nearly half had to use their personal savings and give up work or study to care, while more than half had to give up on hobbies or personal interests because of their caring role. Combined with the cost-of-living crisis and the fact many of those in an unpaid carer role will be caring for individuals with complex needs who require warm homes, specialist medical equipment and certain foods – it is recognised unpaid carers will be exposed to greater financial pressures than others. It is hoped a payment of £500 will go some way to easing these pressures, as well as recognising the value of their caring role over the last year to Wales’ health and social care system. Rebecca Evans MS, Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the announcement by the Welsh Labour Government that eligible families in Gower will receive a cash boost to help with school costs.
The £13m support package to help families pay for school uniforms and PE kits comes as welcome extra help comes as the cost-of-living crisis is deepens, as fuel and energy prices soar in the wake of the Ukrainian conflict and new UK Government tax rises are due to come into force next month. The new funding will provide families across Wales who are eligible for help through the Pupil Development Access Grant with a one-off £100 top-up payment in 2022-23 to help with the costs of sending their children to school. It is part of the Welsh Labour Government’s Household Support Fund and is directly aimed at helping households meet the rising costs-of-living. It follows recent announcements by the Welsh Labour Government to extend the PDG Access Grant to learners in all school years who are eligible for free school meals and £21.4m to extend free school meal provision through the Easter, Whitsun and summer holidays. Welcoming the news, Rebecca Evans MS said: “Household budgets are under significant pressure and many parents will be worried about how they can afford the things their children need for school. “Families in receipt of the PDG Access Grant will already be using the £200 to help pay for their children’s school uniform. This extra payment will help cover other costs, such as PE kits, school shoes and other equipment, helping household budgets go a little bit further. “I’m pleased that the Welsh Labour Government is able to provide more help to families at this difficult time and remove some of the financial barriers to education.” The extra funding for PDG Access complements Welsh Labour’s commitments to help families with the cost of the school day. Children in Wales, funded by the Welsh Labour Government, is working with schools across Wales to make a real difference for their pupils by supporting school leaders and teaching staff with this issue. Rebecca Evans MS, Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the Welsh Labour Government’s announcement that the Childcare Offer will be extended to parents in education and training and parents on adoption leave.
From September, parents in education and training and parents who are on adoption leave, if it is in line with the child’s Adoption Support Plan, will be eligible for up to 30 hours of government funded early education and childcare for children aged three and four. Welcoming the announcement, Rebecca Evans MS said: “Welsh Labour is committed to supporting working families with the costs of childcare. Our manifesto for the Senedd election outlined our pledge to provide more childcare for parents in education and training. I am pleased that the Welsh Labour Government is able to continue expanding the Childcare Offer, increasing the number of families who are able to access the offer. “Increasing support with childcare costs for parents in education and training reflects the value the Welsh Government places on supporting people to improve their employment prospects by gaining qualifications, retraining or changing career paths.” The Welsh Government has also announced an extra £6 million per year to increase the hourly rate for childcare providers from £4.50 to £5 per hour from April. The 11% increase will help provide greater sustainability across the childcare sector in Wales. Ministers have committed to reviewing the rate at least every three years. The maximum amount settings can charge for food will also increase from £7.50 to £9 a day, reflecting the increase in both food prices and utility and energy prices. In addition, a further £3.5 million will be invested in Flying Start childcare and £1.5 million will be used to support the continued alignment of the Foundation Phase nursery and childcare funding rates under the Childcare Offer. |
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