Voluntary organisations across Wales in the health and social care sector are set to benefit from a bumper Christmas package of over £13 million in grant funding over the next 3 years, the Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas announced today (Wednesday, 19 December).

The grants will go to a range of organisations in the physical and/or sensory disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health, carers and older people sectors.

Said Gwenda Thomas: “The awarding of these three year grants is a demonstration of our continuing commitment to the voluntary sector.”

“ This latest round of three year funding awards will give these organisations the financial certainty they need to enable them to effectively plan ahead.

“ All Wales voluntary organisations within health and social care provide a valuable contribution to both helping inform and shape our policies and providing ongoing help, advice and support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“ This £13 million in funding will ensure this important work continues over the next three years”.The grant will be made available on a three-year basis from April 2008.

For Further Information, click here: http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/presreleasearchive/1876092/?lang=en

Improved support for stroke patients was announced today by Deputy Minister for Health Gwenda Thomas at a summit in Cardiff.

A new requirement will mean that, by March 2009, all stroke patients will be admitted to dedicated beds staffed by a specialist team.

The announcement follows a recommendation from a partnership set up by the Welsh Assembly Government to advise on improving care.

The Government sought their views after an audit by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), published last May, concluded that there was not enough specialist beds and support for stroke patients.

Although the numbers of people in Wales dying from a stroke have been falling in recent years, a total of 2,380 people died in 2005.

Gwenda Thomas said:

“The Government is committed to improving stroke services in Wales.

“Currently, those people who survive a stroke are often left with varying degrees of disability and rehabilitation needs.

“The RCP report was a damning commentary on our stroke services. When the Health Minister met the Stroke Association in June, she assured them that this was one of her priorities.

“The NHS across Wales has now been required to work with social services departments to map current services against the stroke standards set out in the National Service Framework for Older People.

“To ensure these improvements are implemented promptly – and as part of the One Wales commitment to improve services for long-term conditions such as stroke – £2.5 million is being made available from 2008-09. Decisions on the use of this funding will be made in the light of the mapping work the local NHS is doing.

“To oversee and co-ordinate improvements to stroke services at a national level, we have also established an independent panel, the Stroke Partnership. This partnership will encourage, advise and support the NHS and social services in their efforts to provide the quality of care that stroke patients need.

“We need our doctors, nurses and other health professionals to champion and lead the change programme. That’s why we have established the Wales Stroke Alliance, led by Dr Anne Freeman, a physician and a Trustee of the Stroke Association, to directly underpin the Stroke Partnership and input into and support its work.

“We intend this programme of work to act as a firm and positive driver and a focus for the improvements we need to achieve. The programme will be reviewed periodically in the light of progress.”

Trish Hughes, General Manager for Wales, the Stroke Association, said:

“We welcome this announcement by the Deputy Minister and look forward to working in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government to improve stroke services in Wales.

“As the Minister acknowledges, stroke care in Wales has lagged behind that of the rest of the United Kingdom. Stroke is a long term condition and will need long term funding. There is a long way to go, but we feel reassured that the Assembly Government is now addressing what is the third biggest killer in Wales.”

Look out for each other, says Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas

For most of us the festive season is a happy time for families to gather around the Christmas tree. But for some of the more vulnerable people in our community – the children and older people who need care and support – Christmas can unfortunately be the hardest and loneliest time of year.

That is why it’s important that as a caring society we help support and keep an eye on these vulnerable groups not only during Christmas but throughout the year.

It’s also important that as an Assembly Government we help support vulnerable groups which is why we have made several One Wales commitments that echo this thinking.

Improving the lives of older people is one of the key aims of the Welsh Assembly Government. To reflect this commitment we will be shortly announcing in the new year the appointment of the first ever champion for older people.

The Commissioner for Older People will not only benefit older people but also sets a standard for other parts of the UK, Europe and the world to follow.

The Commissioner will ensure that the interests of older people in Wales, who are aged 60 or more, are safeguarded and promoted.

As an ambassador and authority on older people’s issues, the Commissioner will speak up on behalf of older people and help them to resolve problems when things go wrong.

We will make an announcement about the appointment of the Commissioner early in the new year.

I am delighted Wales is setting an example and that this adds to the work already started through the Welsh Assembly Government’s 10-year action plan to deal with things that matter most in the lives of older people in Wales.

Demographics are changing and by 2026 about 29% of people in Wales will be over 60 years old. This appointment will mean that older people are put at the centre of all policy making.

To complement the work of the Older People’s Commissioner we will shortly be announcing the appointment of the new Children’s Commissioner to make sure that the children and young people of Wales have a stronger voice.

To further strengthen the voice of children we sought extra powers over the summer to improve the welfare of children and young people in Wales.

Vulnerable children and tackling child poverty are central to the Assembly Government’s programme for children and young people.

Although we have made good progress in recent years, with poverty rates for children in Wales now below the UK average for the first time, we are not complacent. There are still some 28% of children in Wales living in poverty.

Assembly Government budgets have provided increased investment in children, especially in the early years and a lot has been done through our anti-poverty programmes like Cymorth and Communities First. This year will see the continued roll-out of Flying Start, which is targeted at the 0-3 age group in the most deprived communities in Wales . About £46m is being made available between 2006 and 2008 to support disadvantaged children in their early years, £15m in 2006-7 and £31m in 2007-8.

There are 4,800 children in local authority care in Wales and some 1,600 young people who have left care. The Assembly Government and local authorities, as corporate parents, have a unique responsibility to ensure that the experience of children in care is positive and they get the right opportunities and support so that when they leave care they have the right skills and confidence to allow them to live independent lives as responsible adults.

I am pleased that the Vulnerable Children and Child Poverty Legislative Competence Order (LCO) that we introduced over the summer aims to allow the Assembly to make a real improvement in their lives.

The LCO aims to empower the Assembly to implement changes in the law relating to the welfare of children and young people that could see free child care for two-year-olds in greatest need and top up payments to Child Trust Fund accounts of children in Wales, with more for those living in poverty.

We issued another LCO at the end of last month that sought further powers for the Assembly to secure a fairer deal for vulnerable people who need care in their homes across Wales.

The charging for home care and other non-residential social services is currently at the discretion of individual local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales.

Under the current system weekly charges for a similar service can range from a maximum of £16.20 to £185.

This new LCO – Charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care) – aims to enable the Assembly Government to legislate against such disparity and help produce a fairer and more consistent system to close the gap.

As the Deputy Minister for Social Services and Carers I’m proud to say how the Assembly Government places such an emphasis on the needs of vulnerable people in our community.

Having taken a brief look back at the year I’m confident that, although our work is far from done, we are certainly moving in the right direction.

But there is still more that we can do as a Government and that we can all do as individuals.
We could offer practical support, like writing Christmas cards or getting some shopping in, putting up decorations or even something as simple as dropping by with a neighbour regularly for a chat.

And if we have some time on our hands, we could always invite an elderly neighbour or relative around for a Christmas lunch in the week leading up to Christmas.

This will help make sure they have a good meal and company and you may find you make a friend.

Assembly Government Deputy Minister for Social Services and Carers Champion, Gwenda Thomas, today visited Rhydycar Leisure Centre at Merthyr to help raise the profile of carers in Wales as part of Carers Right Day.

During the event, the Carers Champion met carers and witnessed first hand the ‘Telecare’ technology that is now available and currently being rolled out in Merthyr Tydfil to support older people and those with long-term needs live independently.

Carers Rights Day, arranged by Carers UK and co-ordinated in Wales by Carers Wales, is an annual event with the aim of raising carers awareness of their rights, increase the take-up of benefit entitlements and guide carers towards practical support.

It’s estimated that only 30,000 of the 340,000 carers in Wales currently take up the Carers’ Allowance. It’s hoped that today’s series of events throughout the country will raise carers awareness of the support – both financial and practical - that they could access.

Said Gwenda Thomas: “Family, friends and neighbours have a crucial role in supporting people in the community who are frail, sick or vulnerable.

“ The Assembly Government’s Carers’ Strategy recognises that people who plan, provide and commission services have to be aware that carers have needs of their own and may need help to look after their loved ones.

"Equally, we know that many carers do not even think of themselves as carers and may not therefore know about their own rights and entitlements. So I commend the events that are being organised across Wales today and am confident that the vital role that carers play – and their rights - will be highlighted as a result."

Gwenda Thomas talks to Natalie Valios about her role as the Welsh assembly's carers' champion and deputy minister for social services.

Interview can be read here - http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2007/12/05/106697/gwenda-thomas-carers-champion-for-wales.html

Earlier this year, I invited every primary school in my constituency to take part in a competition to design my Christmas card for 2007.

All of the entries contained an important message, some were of an extremely high standard with a few that would outdo some professionally made Christmas cards in terms of quality, effort and imagination. It just goes to show that our children, given the opportunity, support and encouragement, really can achieve their full potential.

I’m delighted to be able to announce that the winner this year is Cerys Stanton, of Clyne Primary School. Congratulations to Cerys, and my heartfelt thanks to all the children, their teachers and parents who helped make the competition the big success it has proven to be.

(Photo used with kind permission of Cerys' mother. Proof on file.)

"Last week in the Assembly, I began the process to devolve the power from the UK Government in Westminster to the Welsh Assembly Government to enable changes to be made to the way that older people and vulnerable adults pay for social services in their own homes.

"As Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services in the Labour-led Assembly Government, this is the second legislative competence order (known as an LCO) that I am I taking through the Assembly, using the new, enhanced powers that the Assembly now has. As well as the LCO on vulnerable children and child poverty I am taking through, other ministers are, or will be seeking powers over services for children with special educational needs; on environmental protection and waste management; affordable housing and the welsh language.

"At the moment, charges for home care and other non-residential social services are currently at the discretion of each of Wales’ 22 local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales. Current local authority maximum weekly charge rates for home care services range from £16.20 per week to £185 per week. This LCO, if approved, will enable the Assembly to pass Welsh laws to make sure that users of home care services and other non-residential social services pay a fairer charge for services - based on their individual needs, and not on where they live. We could also look at exempting certain services, and certain groups of people from charges altogether.

"A fairer charging policy will help older people and the disabled get the services they need. More people are choosing to remain in their own homes and value their independence. For this to become a reality many need the invaluable day-to-day support they receive from the committed and hard working staff that work within social services, as well as from their own carers.

"If you wish to contact me for advice or assistance with any matter for which the Assembly has responsibility for, please contact my constituency office in Pontardawe on 01792 869993 or e-mail . You can also keep up-to-date with my activities as your AM by logging on to gwendathomas.com

- AM backs action on local regeneration

REGENERATING communities is at the heart of Welsh Labour’s plan to improve housing and supply more affordable housing in the Upper Amman Valley.

Amman Valley's Labour Assembly Member Gwenda Thomas has welcomed the Assembly Government’s announcement of grants totalling £1.9m to improve the housing and environment in Neath Port Talbot, including in the Housing Renewal Area in Lower Brynaman and Gwaun Cae Gurwen.

The money has been set aside to fund street repairs and the uplifts to houses and shop fronts in these areas with the aim of kick starting local investment and regeneration.

Gwenda Thomas AM said:

"This regeneration money from the Labour-led Assembly Government is great news for Lower Brynaman and Gwaun Cae Gurwen. The money can be used to repair and renovate housing, shop fronts, pavements and gutters or even fund traffic calming measures to make our roads safer.

"The housing renewal scheme is already giving the area a facelift, improving the quality of housing and give local people a sense of pride in their community.

"I would like to thank Cllr's Arwyn Woolcock and Lynda Williams for their hard work to bring housing renewal area status to the Upper Amman Valley, which will dramatically Improve the quality of housing in the area.