Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

The Welsh Assembly Government Dignity in Care group are arranging Listening Events to cover issues within the wider dignity in care agenda. If you wish to attend, there are two events on 25th March 2010 at the Thistle Hotel Cardiff and 31st March 2010, Halliwell Centre Carmarthen.  For more information or to attend please contact dignityincare@careandrepair.org.uk

The Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones, has published a wide-ranging plan to improve the blue badge scheme for disabled parking. For more information go to the Welsh Assembly Government website.
Source: Welsh Assembly Government Website

Please find a link to the latest statistical bulletin for the Spatial Plan data project, including the publication of updated datasets and new statistical profiles for each of the six Spatial Plan areas.
Further detail can be found in the newsletter for the Spatial Plan data project.

Source: Welsh Assembly Government website.

“In Safe Hands” sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s framework for adult protection procedures across Wales. It was issued in July 2000 & the guidance has been updated and extended by supplements issued in 2003 and in April 2009. The latest update replaces the earlier guidance on the role of the Inspectorate. Copies of the latest guidance are available on the  “In Safe Hands” sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s framework for adult protection procedures across Wales. It was issued in July 2000 & the guidance has been updated and extended by supplements issued in 2003 and in April 2009. The latest update replaces the earlier guidance on the role of the Inspectorate. Copies of the latest guidance are available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.

Source: Welsh Assembly Government website

Carwyn Jones – First Minister
Ieuan Wyn Jones – Deputy First Minister, Economy and Transport
Jane Hutt – Business and Budget
Edwina Hart – Health and Social Services
Jane Davidson – Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Leighton Andrews – Education, Children and Lifelong learning
Carl Sargeant – Social Justice and Local Government
Elin Jones – Rural Affairs
Alun Ffred Jones – Culture

Deputies:

Lesley Griffiths – Skills, Innovation and Science
Jocelyn Davies – Housing and Regeneration
Gwenda Thomas – Social Services
Huw Lewis – Children
John Griffiths – Counsel General and Leader of the Legislative Programme

Janice Gregory – Chief Whip

The National Assembly for Wales’ press office is in the process of compiling a list of third sector organisations in Wales so that it can adopt a more proactive approach to the work of this sector and likewise, so that the sector can be made aware of reports/inquiries being carried out by the Assembly.

The Assembly’s press office is particularly interested in the reports, surveys and accompanying news releases that are produced by organisations in the third sector, because these reports are often not known about until they are issued to the press – by which time it is too late for the Assembly to have any input into their findings.

So, for example, if Barnados were to produce a report about child poverty in Wales, the Assembly would like to see an embargoed copy of the report and get the chair of the relevant committee to comment on it, on behalf of the National Assembly.

Similarly, where one of the National Assembly’s committees have carried out a report and they are issuing a press release, they would like to keep any relevant organisations informed (those who may not have been involved in the inquiry), to strengthen links and make sure that their role is not always reacting but also being proactive.

This will from part of a long-term strategy to create a more inclusive communications strategy between third sector organisations and the Assembly. Ideally, the Assembly the list will be made up of media/press contacts from each organisation, but where this is not possible any contact from the organisation will be absolutely fine.

If you are interested in being added to the contact list of the press office please contact Anna Milewski, Media Relations Coordinator: Anna.milewski2@wales.gsi.gov.uk Tel: 02920 898171

An article detailing the latest meeting betweeing the Third Sector and the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Dr. Brian Gibbons is now available to download on the information section of our website.

The Assembly Government has launched its Green Paper, ‘Paying for Care in Wales’.  Consultation on the Green Paper proposals will run until 28 February 2010.  As part of the publicity around this consultation, a leaflet has been prepared for distribution within local libraries, GP surgeries and Citizens Advice Bureaux.  The A4 bilingual leaflet advertises the fact that the consultation is taking place, promotes the website www.payingforcareinwales.net, and encourages people to respond. The leaflet is available to download in English and Welsh.

The National Assembly for Wales has recently appointed four Outreach Managers to cover the four corners of Wales. Gaynor Jones is the Outreach Manager for South West Wales. She will primarily be covering the area between Carmarthenshire and Bridgend and will be based in Burry Port.

The remit as Outreach Managers is to increase awareness of the work and procedures of the National Assembly for Wales. They aim to do this by developing strategic partnerships with external stakeholders, such as the Voluntary Sector, Community groups, the Business Sector and Local Government, working with them to help raise the levels of understanding about Welsh democracy, find out how the Assembly affects the lives of the people of Wales and how they can influence its business by encouraging participation in the democratic process.

The Sustainability Committee's Inquiry (organised by Outreach) into flooding, which visited various towns in Wales during the month of June asking people to come forward with their evidence and stories of how flooding had affected their homes/lives/communities

Iif you have any ideas, want to work with the team on a project or even want to know a bit more about their roles  please contact Gaynor Jones on Mob: 07854 229650, Tel: 01554 832512 or via E-mail: Gaynor.Jones3@wales.gsi.gov.uk.  There is also a generic email address which is monitored by the whole outreach team: OutreachTeam@Wales.Gsi.Gov.UK

From Welsh Asssembly Government website:

The latest labour force survey for Wales and the UK – published this morning by the Office for National Statistics – shows that the number of people unemployed in Wales fell again, while total UK unemployment rose again. This month’s statistics showed that unemployment fell by 2,000 over the quarter. The total number of people unemployed in Wales stood at 108,000 – an unemployment rate of 7.6 per cent compared with a UK average rate of 7.8 per cent. For more information go to the Welsh Assembly Government website.