After a lot of communication via Facebook and Twitter with local candidates for the forthcoming Welsh Assembly elections, Sheila Meadows OBE and I have organised a hustings for recipients of the Welsh Independent Living Grant, their friends and families and personal assistants to listen to the prospective party plans for independent living and help them decide who to vote for on May the 5th.
Below I have copied the flyer that Sheila and I wrote that is to be emailed to those affected in Wrexham and Clwyd South. We are hoping that the meeting will be well attended as we have had confirmation that a number of prominent local politicians will be attending. Expected attendees include Carrie Harper and Mabon Ap Gwynfor of Plaid Cymru, Duncan Rees of the Green Party and Lesley Griffiths and Ken Skates of the Labour Party.
Aled Roberts AM of the Welsh Liberal Democrats who represents North Wales will also be present.
Andrew Atkinson of the Welsh Conservatives is unable to attend, but hopes to send a representative to reflect his party’s position.
The flyer reads as follows:
Independent living is at risk for disabled people across Wales. In the run up to the May 2016 Assembly elections we have managed to arrange a meeting with local candidates about how they, and their party, plan to support disabled people if elected.
Meeting to be held at:
Maesgwyn Community Centre
Lilac Way, Wrexham,
LL11 2BB
Monday 25 April – 1:30-3:00pm
The Welsh Independent Living Grant (WILG) will remain in place until March 2017. A total of £27 million will continue to be transferred from the Westminster Government to Wales until 2020. How this sum of money will be administered is anyone’s guess. Should Wales establish their own Welsh Independent Living Fund to provide long-term security? Perhaps you accept the funding should come via the Local Authority but require assurances over ring-fencing? Whatever your standpoint, this is our chance to meet, discuss the issues and question the politicians that will influence our lives over the next political term. Don’t miss your opportunity to be heard…
If you have a question that you want to put to the candidates, or for us to feed back to the Welsh government, email your questions to either Sheila Meadows (sheilamdow@aol.com) or Nathan Lee Davies (nathandavies01@hotmail.com).
We look forward to seeing you all on 25 April at Maesgwyn Community Centre.
