It was good to catch up with the team at brilliant Mold-based ‘Same but Different’ Community Interest Company, which works to raise awareness of disability and rare diseases. Their Rare Aware project, which uses striking photography to highlight people affected by rare diseases and to help reduce isolation and counteract prejudice, is the only Welsh finalist in the Arts Category of the National Lottery Awards 2018. We discussed their focus on health and education, their engagement with schools, Glyndŵr University, student nurses employers and North Wales Police, and their hope that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will deliver on proposals for joint working with them. Rare diseases affect 1 in 17 people in the UK, and 75 per cent of them affect children.
As Chair of the Cross Party Autism Group, I joined Sally Holland, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, at Dyserth Community Centre for a meeting with autistic children and their parents from North East Wales. I was encouraged to hear the children explain to Sally how poor autism understanding amongst ‘experts’ in education, health and social care had caused them harm, and what is needed to place children's rights at the core of every autistic child's experience.
North Wales has had very strong links with both military aviation and the RAF over the last 100 years and it was a privilege to attend the National Service of Commemoration and Celebration, and parade, at Bangor Cathedral to mark the Centenary of the Royal Air Force.
I was pleased to attend Denbighshire County Council’s Merchant Navy Day Event and flag flying ceremony at County Hall, Ruthin, recognising the seafarers on whom the UK so heavily depend and remembering the bravery and invaluable contribution of our Merchant Navy during the two World Wars.
Having accepted Flint and Holywell Rotary’s kind invitation to become an Honorary Member, I enjoyed attending one of their meetings at the Springfield Hotel, Pentre Halkyn. The Rotary Club of Flint and Holywell Rotary was chartered on April 16th 1956 and its diverse range of members work together on projects that have included aid to areas of disaster, addressing child literacy both at home and abroad, and helping individuals or groups in the local community who require support. Rotary’s principal motto is ‘Service Above Self’ and 2018 is the Centenary of Rotary in Wales.
I was also fortunate to be a guest at the uplifting BBC Proms in the Park at Stadiwm ZipWorld, Colwyn Bay.
If you need my help, please email mark.isherwood@assembly.wales or ring 0300 200 7219.