7. Will the Minister outline what support the Welsh Government gives to YMCAs in Wales? OAQ(5)0050(CC)

Help and advice are available to YMCAs through the £4.4 million core funding I provide to third sector organisations in Wales.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. The YMCA in Neath saw 27,000 visits last year, as part of a network of YMCAs across Wales, which together supply supported accommodation, training, education and fitness and well-being as well as a range of other services. Many have operated on the basis of clusters for collaboration purposes. Does he welcome that and what further support can the Welsh Government give for that principle?

I’m grateful to the Member for raising the good work that the YMCA does across the UK and, indeed, in his constituency. I’m certainly aware of the many services that are provided. Unfortunately, I’m unable to directly support all 33,000 third sector organisations in Wales, but the YMCA currently already benefits from indirect funding and support from the Welsh Government. However, I do thank the Member for raising that issue with me today, raising the profile of the YMCA, and I wish them luck in developing more services in your community and in others.

The YMCA, of course, embraces young people from all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds and has a very good record of working with other groups. I hope that they will look at the example of Matt’s Cafe in Swansea, which works with a number of supermarkets to take unsold food to use in a community cafe. Considering that it was announced yesterday that the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board threw away 230,000 meals last year and that health boards in Wales dispose of an average 3,000 meals per day, what discussions are you having with your Cabinet colleagues about limiting food wastage through supporting those community organisations such as YMCA and Matt’s Cafe? You can deal with the demand, even if your Cabinet Secretary colleague deals with the supply problem.

I think it’s an innovative approach to managing our waste streams as well. I will talk to the Cabinet Secretary for the environment on that very issue.