2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 8 November 2022.

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Photo of Tom Giffard Tom Giffard Conservative 2:35, 8 November 2022

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Age Cymru West Glamorgan is an independent charity supporting older people across South Wales West, and, for the last 20 years, they've run the Afan Nedd community centre and have provided a lunch club for over 120 people. However, in the last week, they've been forced to close their doors. And while the charity's seen utility bills rise, they've also seen their income significantly impacted by a decision of the local health board. Swansea Bay University Health Board previously announced a third sector procurement timeline so that voluntary organisations could apply to deliver local services. Age Cymru West Glamorgan invested time and funds so that they were up to spec for this, and the health board was due to award contracts this month. However, the health board has now pulled plans and will not be procuring until 2024. That decision, in part, has led to its closure, and now this means many residents will be unable to access the support on which they'd previously relied, while charities like Age Cymru West Glamorgan find themselves in financial difficulty. So could I request an urgent statement on how Welsh Government expects health boards to work with local providers and for an update on the support available for the charities affected?