​Gower Assembly Member, Rebecca Evans AM and Gorseinon Councillor, Kelly Roberts, have taken part in a Blindfold Walk facilitated by Guide Dogs Cymru. The local politicians walked along the streets of Gorseinon blindfolded with only the use of a cane to aid them as they attempted to safely avoid obstacles.
 
Visual impairment is a fact of life for more than 100,000 people in Wales, and work is being done to try and assist those with limited or no sight to be able to walk the streets, take buses and engage with community life.
 
Rebecca Evans said: “Guide Dogs Cymru does remarkable work. The organization and their volunteers are committed to ensuring that all blind or partially sighted can enjoy access everything the local area and community has to offer. I am really encouraged that Gorseinon has such an active and passionate local branch.”
 
Cllr Roberts said: “I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of the Blindfold Walk, as it gave me a clearer understanding of the issues faced by people with limited or no sight when out and about in our community. As a community we must all play our part in removing any barriers that can make life more difficult and dangerous for people.”

​Gower Assembly Member, Rebecca Evans AM, is supporting a new bill which will include reform of local authority electoral arrangements, including reducing the voting age to include 16 and 17-year-olds.  
 
The Bill was one of a number of bills announced by the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, who has set out a new legislative programme that includes measures to protect children, strengthen NHS governance, reform local government and lower the voting age.
 
The Welsh Government will introduce new legislation to end the physical punishment of children in Wales. The bill will be part of a package of measures to ensure children have the best start in life and provide support to parents. 
 
Another new bill will be introduced to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses on welfare grounds. 
 
In addition to the Welsh Government’s legislative programme, the National Assembly will be asked to undertake a substantial programme of correcting regulations under the EU (Withdrawal) Act between October and March in preparation for EU exit.
 
Rebecca Evans said “Having led on several pieces of legislation myself, including the wide-ranging Public Health Act, and the Act which ended the selling off of council houses so that we can keep them for the people who need them most, I know what a difference good law can make to people’s lives in Wales.
 
“It is clearly going to be another busy year of law-making, and will be keen to hear the views of local residents on these new Bills as they come forward.”

​Rebecca Evans AM, Mike Hedges AM and Julie James AM, have warmly welcomed the recommendation that a single Adult Thoracic Surgery Centre should be located at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, serving patients from South East Wales, West Wales and South Powys. 
 
This is now the subject of a public consultation running until August 27th, which the Swansea Labour Assembly Members are encouraging people to support.
 
Thoracic surgery involves operations on all parts of the chest, including the lungs.  A large part of a thoracic surgical team’s work is on patients with lung cancer. They also operate on patients with other noncancerous conditions such as punctured lungs or complications from pneumonia, and carry out biopsies on people with certain types of lung disease to help get a diagnosis.
 
Rebecca Evans, Gower AM said: “This is an exciting recommendation. If it gets the go-ahead, Morriston would be one of the largest thoracic surgery centres in the UK, offering the best support and care for patients, and putting us on the map for this kind of expertise.”
 
Swansea West AM, Julie James said: “It is great news that Morriston Hospital has been recommended as the primary site to provide care for thoracic patients in South Wales. This is about providing the best level and quality of care for patients across South Wales and ensuring that specialist services are sustainable in the long term.”
 
Mike Hedges, Swansea East AM, said: “The quality of the workforce and the site at Morriston is second to none. The current transformation of hospital services will hopefully revolutionise the treatment patients in Swansea and the whole of South Wales receives.”
 
People across Swansea are being encouraged to respond in support of the recommendation via: ​http://www.whssc.wales.nhs.uk/thoracic-surgery-services-in-south-wales 

Gower Assembly Member, Rebecca Evans is supporting the Royal British Legion in marking the final year of the World War One centenary. At an event in the National Assembly for Wales, Rebecca Evans AM said her own ‘thank you’ and urged the public to take part in the movement which aims to thank the entire First World War generation who served, sacrificed and changed our world.
 
The charity is calling on the nation to honour not only the 1.2 million British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who lost their lives, but also those - military and civilian - who played their part on the home front and those who returned to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come.
 
During the last 100 days of the centenary from 08 August to 11 November, the Legion is inviting the British public from all cultures and faiths, community groups, schools, companies and sports clubs to join the movement to express their gratitude to those who gave themselves to the war and its aftermath, and rebuilt a better nation from its darkest hour.
 
Rebecca Evans AM, said: “The First World War left so many legacies, from ground-breaking social change to pioneering innovations.”
 
The Legion’s Area Manager Wales, Ant Metcalf said: “We all have a connection to the First World War and everyone living in Wales today has a reason to say ‘Thank You’ to this special generation. We are grateful to Rebecca Evans AM for saying her own special thank you and hope it inspires others across Wales to do the same”
 
Notes to Editors:
 
The Legion is asking the nation to plan their ‘Thank You’ activity to take place from the 8th of August onwards, to coincide with the anniversary of the so-called ‘100 days offensive’.
 
For further information and to find out how you can get involved in the ‘Thank You’ movement, please visit rbl.org.uk/thankyou

Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, has welcomed the launch of the Wales Hub of ‘Employers for Carers’.  
 
The Hub which will be run by Carers Wales, has been funded by Welsh Government with the aim of encouraging employers across Wales to create carer-friendly work practices, ensuring more unpaid carers can stay in work.
 
Mrs Evans said: “We can never overestimate the contribution carers make not only to those the care for, but also to society as a whole. Their role is challenging - often both physically and emotionally - but nonetheless they selflessly dedicate themselves to whom they care for.”
 
One in nine people in the workforce care for someone who is older, seriously ill or is disabled. Recent surveys have revealed that almost half of unpaid carers have had to give up work completely to care.
 
Mrs Evans added: “Currently there are more than 180,000 carers in employment in Wales. With this is mind it is critical for employers to support carers who are juggling work and care, so they can stay in the workforce.  Keeping more carers in work has a triple benefit - for the carer ensuring they have a life outside caring, the business by retaining valued and experienced employees, and the economy by having more people in work.”   
 
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