I am taking the unusual step for me of speaking in Welsh here in the Chamber. It’s not because I am fluent in Welsh, but because I’m not fluent in Welsh, but I’m trying to get there. So, if Members are willing to bear with me, I will try my best to take faltering steps towards fluency on a very public stage. This is high risk. [Laughter.]

In the Bridgend and Ogmore region, like so many other regions, we have many people in so many organisations who contribute their time and effort to make things a little better, a little easier, in so many ways. From the Wombles in Pontycymer and Ogmore Valley Pride in Ogmore Vale, tidying up their local environment, to the Caerau Community Growers providing fresh food and horticulture skills to their communities, from the Bridgend Samaritans providing someone to listen to when times are tough to the many food-bank volunteers in almost every town and village: this is a sad reflection of these austere times, but a reflection too of the generous spirit of our communities.

So, would the Minister commend the work of all of these organisations and volunteers, and the companies and employers, who often now give time off to staff to volunteer, and to those co-ordinating organisations like BAVO, the Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations, in Bridgend?

Would the Minister also agree with me that it’s not that hard value, in terms of pounds and pence, that’s important, but the human value of giving and of being there when others need you? That goes on every hour of every day throughout Wales, and it is right that we celebrate that during this Volunteers’ Week.