Blog Archives

Gower MS welcomes £1 million fund for carers

28/10/2020

Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the Welsh Government announcement that a new fund worth over £1m is to be available to help Wales’ unpaid carers cope with the financial pressures of COVID-19.

Rebecca Evans MS said: “I have been an unpaid carer myself, so I know that there are all sorts of pressures involved in looking after a loved one. Many carers find that in caring for their loved one their own financial situation is badly affected.”

The Welsh Government’s Carers Support Fund is open to carers across Wales and will see grants of up to £300 made available for a range of essentials, including food and household items such as furniture or white goods, or electronics such as a laptop to help the carer access to support and services.

Rebecca Evans added: “Our army of carers are doing incredible, selfless work looking after their loved ones, and are among the unsung heroes of this pandemic.”

The Carers Support Fund will be available up to 31 March 2021 and more information will soon be available about how to apply on carers.org/wales

Gower MS welcomes new funding for Llanmorlais Community Hall

26/10/2020

Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the announcement that funding is being provided for improvements to Llanmorlais Community Hall through the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme.

Rebecca Evans MS said: “I am thrilled that Llanmorlais Community Centre is one of the facilities that will benefit from this funding. They will receive £15,500 towards the replacement of the of the roof, and to help with the installation of a new PA system. This will enable the Community Hall to continue providing a vital service to the people of Llanmorlais.”

Across Wales the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme support many local projects, enabling them to grow and meet the needs of the specific area.

Mrs Evans added: “Despite the unprecedented challenges we have faced during the pandemic, community spirit and the resilience of Welsh people has shone through. This funding will continue to help bring communities together through support for local projects.”

Free School Meals Extended For Holidays Until Easter 2021

19/10/2020

Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has announced that in her role as Minister for Finance she will be making funds available to ensure that free school meals provision during holidays will continue until Easter 2021.

Rebecca Evans MS said: “The Welsh Government have responded to the urgent need of the most vulnerable children in Wales, so that provision is put in place to ensure the most vulnerable children of our country are supported when they need it most.”

The move has been backed by footballer Marcus Rashford saying he welcomed “the Welsh Government's swift response to this urgent need in protecting the most vulnerable children across the country.” Marcus Rashford MBE said: "Holiday provision is vital to stabilising households during the school closures, given the devastating effects of COVID-19.
“Having this framework in place for the foreseeable future will have a significantly positive impact on children who are struggling to engage in learning due to anxiety and fear, not to mention the noise of their rumbling stomachs.
“No child in 2020 should be sat in a classroom worried about how they are going to access food during the holidays, and the impact that will have on their parents when matched with unemployment, ill health and, in some cases, personal loss.    “There is still so much more work to be done to protect this next generation but I welcome the Welsh Government's swift response to this urgent need in protecting the most vulnerable children across the country. Our children and their welfare should never not be the priority.”
The Welsh Government has committed to funding of £11m for school meals over every holiday up to and including Easter 2021. £700k has also been allocated to support colleges with the equivalent provision for eligible learners.

Mrs Evans added: “These are uncertain and worrying times for us all, but for those living in poverty the burden is even heavier, with many parents faced with the dilemma of how to feed their children during the holidays. The Welsh Government will always have the needs of the children of Wales at the top of our agenda."