It's a pleasure to speak on this statement today, and I'd like to focus particularly on a success story in my own constituency. The annual Newport 50 Plus Information Day took place on Saturday, and the day is organised by the city's 50 plus forum and has been supported by the city council for over 20 years. It was a great opportunity for the new Older People's Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots, to see the energy and enthusiasm in Newport to support ageing well, and everyone was glad to hear of her commitment to be an advocate for older people and their rights. I'm looking forward to working with her in the future.

The information day is incredibly popular and has grown year by year. It's not just an opportunity for the public to find out what information and advice is available, but it's also a great opportunity for local groups to network. Stallholders range from community activity groups and carer support networks to those providing housing and legal advice. This year, there was a particular focus on intergenerational working, with a group of students from Bassaleg school, as well as cadets volunteering to support the over-50s committee. The idea of involving young people came from forum members themselves, and they're a committed group of volunteers.

Until this year, the group was chaired by the inspirational Shirley Evans. Shirley showed great dedication to the forum and the people it represents for some 20 years. And as with many things, it's often a small group of volunteers who drive forward these events and activities, and Shirley certainly led the way. Peter Walters has now ably taken over as chair, ensuring that the forum continues to listen to and champion older people across our city. Shirley still regularly attends meetings, and is a prime example of remaining active and not allowing age to become a barrier.

Marking the beginning of Age Positive Week, Saturday's event was a real celebration of older people and all that they contribute to our city. And as the Minister says, older people form the backbone of our society. Events like these are so important to showcase services and activities available for older people, so perhaps the Minister can ensure that this good practice is fed into other areas of Wales, and I'm sure that Newport 50 plus forum would warmly welcome the Minister to the popular event next year. Thank you.