Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank Jenny Rathbone for tabling this debate today? We know that our health and well-being are not determined by access to healthcare services alone, but by a whole host of social, economic and environmental considerations. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact. The direct health impacts of COVID and long COVID, the changes to the way that we work and the disruption to education have all contributed to increasing levels of anxiety for both ourselves and for our families.

In particular, the pandemic shone a light on the public health impact of loneliness and social isolation. Tackling this is a national priority through our connected communities strategy, and one I feel very strongly about. And now, just as people are starting to pick themselves up after the pandemic, we are hit with an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis. This will undoubtedly impact on the mental health of so many people. One of the lessons from the pandemic is the vital role of our relationships and connections with others, whether they be our loved ones, friends or our community, they are more important than ever. This is why I'm such a passionate advocate for the power of community connection to support our well-being. The role of positive relationships and connections, be that the community we live in or a community based around shared interests and values are crucial in supporting our well-being. A strong community can be a powerful, protective factor in people's lives, especially when times are tough.

I am proud that the Welsh Government recognises this and has put in place a number of commitments to build stronger, more resilient communities in Wales. Our programme for government commitment to develop a national framework for social prescribing is progressing, and I recently consulted on a suitable model for social prescribing across Wales. Our social prescribing framework underlines the importance of community assets and the vital role they play in supporting well-being.

The Welsh Government has also developed a wide array of policies to support communities. In July, we set out our commitment to a communities policy to be developed in Wales that will promote better working between Welsh Government, external partners, including the voluntary and community sector, and the communities they serve. We are committed to working co-productively with all partners at a local level to enable local communities to become more empowered, connected and thriving, and ultimately more resilient.