|
I will be holding an advice surgery in West Cross on Friday 24th June, between 10am and 12 noon, at the West Cross Community Centre on Linden Avenue to enable anyone to meet me and raise concerns or issues.
If you would like to book an appointment, please get in touch by either ringing 0300 200 7160 or emailing [email protected]  Rebecca Evans, Assembly Member for Gower, attended an event at the National Assembly entitled ‘the truth about diabetes.' The event was organised by Diabetes UK to mark National Diabetes Week (12-18th June) and to set the record straight on what it means to live with diabetes. At the Senedd event, people with diabetes had the chance to talk to Rebecca and address some of the myths and misconceptions about diabetes that surround this complex and often misunderstood condition in order to drive up awareness. Mrs Evans said: "Diabetes is on the increase in Wales. The event in the Assembly gave AMs the opportunity to hear what it is really like living with diabetes, and to hear about what kind of services and support are really making a difference, as well as hearing about where the gaps are." Diabetes UK Cymru's Director Dai Williams added: "The Diabetes Week event at the Senedd is a brilliant way for people across Wales to talk about their experiences of the condition with their local AMs. We want to thank the supporters who joined us, Rebecca Evans AM and other AMs from across the country. "Diabetes Week provides an opportunity for people affected by the condition to share their concerns and tackle some of the myths about diabetes with their representatives. It is also a fantastic opportunity to highlight that with the right healthcare, support and management, diabetes doesn't have to hold anyone back." Diabetes UK Cymru is highlighting the scale of diabetes in Wales, forecasting that by the end of this Diabetes Week 4,500 people in the UK will have been diagnosed with this life-changing condition. The highest prevalence of diabetes in the UK now being in Wales where7.1 per cent of people aged 17 and over are living with the condition.  Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, is championing the Black Oil Beetle – a native to Gower – which is sadly declining across the UK. At an event organised by Bug Life Cymru at the Assembly today Mrs Evans learnt just how critical Black Oil Beetles are to local life cycles and how they are a good indicator of the health of our countryside. The beetle relies on solitary bees and other pollinators as part of its life-cycle and is therefore dependent on the health and diversity of wild bees. South and West Wales remain national strongholds for the Black Oil Beetle, Violet Oil Beetle and Rugged Oil Beetle, which are all known for secreting oil from their joints to deter predators and can often be encountered on one of Gower’s coastal paths. Speaking about the plight of the Black Oil Beetle, Mrs Evans said: “We are lucky in Gower not only because we have spectacular scenery but also because we have an abundance of wild flowers and grassland. We all know how important pollinators are for the environment and the Black Oil Beetle relies on them to survive. “I am happy to become a champion for the Black Oil Beetle in Gower and will continue to support measures that protect and enhance our environment and support biodiversity and thriving habitats." According to Bug Life Cymru there are several steps we can take to ensure the continued existence of species such as the Black Oil Beetle such as: • Increasing the abundance of wildflowers in the countryside to benefit the solitary bee hosts of oil beetles, as well as other pollinators. • Extending and reconnecting areas of wildflower-rich grassland which can allow the beetles populations to expand, and could help to reconnect fragmented populations. • Providing information on the distribution of oil beetles in Wales to help target conservation work. Clare Dinham, Conservation Officer, Buglife said: “Buglife is very pleased to welcome Rebecca Evans AM as Wales Species Champion for the Black oil beetle. We look forward to working with Rebecca to raise awareness about this unique species and the important issues that it highlights such as the loss of wildflower rich habitats and the need to connect habitats at a landscape scale.” More information on the Black Oil Beetle and the work of Bug Life can be found at www.buglife.org.uk  Dear Editor, As your Welsh Labour representatives in Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, we are united in the belief that our country and our communities are better off in the European Union. EU countries buy 41% of Wales' exports, worth £5 billion a year to us. Companies invest here precisely because we are in the EU, giving them direct access to the largest single market in the world. But if we leave, we would soon see our big firms switching their investment to continental Europe with the loss of thousands of jobs here. The funds we receive through the EU makes a real difference in our local areas, funding skills training and apprenticeships, helping regenerate our town centres, supporting our universities and improving the environment. Wales receives from the EU much more than we pay in – we are better off to the tune of £838m a year. The average family saves around £450 a year due to lower prices – from mobile phone charges to travel costs. Membership of the EU has also brought us rights at work – equal pay, paid holiday leave, paid maternity and paternity leave and anti-discrimination laws. It helps us tackle the big challenges we face today –cross border crime, protecting the environment and supporting biodiversity - challenges which we can’t tackle effectively alone. On June 23rd, we believe that the best future for our constituents, our communities and for the United Kingdom is as a full member of the European Union and we are asking our constituents to vote to Remain. Rebecca Evans AM, Geraint Davies MP, Nia Griffith MP, Carolyn Harris MP, Mike Hedges AM, Julie James AM, Stephen Kinnock MP, Jeremy Miles AM, Christina Rees MP, David Rees AM, Lee Waters AM.  Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, is helping to highlight this year’s Carers Week which runs from the 6th – 12th June with events across the City and County of Swansea. Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. Mrs Evans, who visited an information display at Gorseinon Library today, backed Carers week saying: “Carers are often the unseen heroes in people’s lives. The Annual Carers Week gives us an opportunity to show carers that they are appreciated. It puts a spotlight on carers, providing a chance for the public to gain a better understanding of what carers do, and the great service that they provide to the community. “The Welsh Government's new Social Services and Wellbeing Act means that carers now have enhanced rights, ensuring that the needs of carers are better met in future." Events are taking place across Gower throughout the week, with information points at Pontarddulais, Gorseinon and Oystermouth Libraries throughout the week. Rebecca Evans, Assembly Member for Gower, has met with the Muslim Council of Wales (MCW) to hear about a range of initiatives and community projects being undertaken by the MCW across South Wales.
The Muslim Council of Wales is an independent body representing mosques, Muslim associations and institutions across Wales. Rebecca Evans said: "It was very useful and productive meeting where we explored the ways in which the MCW is promoting community engagement and active citizenship. It was particularly good to hear about the work that the MCW is doing to help young Muslims advance their leadership, management and team working skills. "We also talked about the need to ensure that people affected by mental ill health and domestic violence have access to the help that they need, and about the value and importance of ensuring we have the right support services in the community. "It was pleasing to hear how the Wales Interfaith Forum, established by the Welsh Government and chaired by the First Minister, is fostering strong and productive relationships amongst the different faith groups in Wales." Saleem Kidwai Secretary General, Muslim Council of Wales, Said: “I was pleased by the interest and understanding that Mrs Evans showed in our various projects and the challenges the Muslim community is facing" |
