The Voluntary Sector

Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 2 February 2021.

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Photo of Jayne Bryant Jayne Bryant Labour 2:34, 2 February 2021

Thank you, Deputy Minister, for that answer. Voluntary groups and charities do exceptional work to support some of the most vulnerable in our society. One such group is the Sparkle Appeal, which supports children, young people and their families with disabilities and developmental difficulties, at the Serennu centre in Newport. Their work is crucial. However, they themselves have had an incredibly hard year, with COVID restrictions seeing their work and funding opportunities limited. They greatly appreciated the Welsh Government grant last year, which was aimed at covering six months of core costs; however, nine months in, their financial state is suffering. How are the Welsh Government supporting organisations such as this, to ensure that they can continue to support the most vulnerable through this period, because the work that they do is vital, and we can't afford to lose them?