North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has praised voluntary sector organisations for the great work they are doing, but expressed concern at the “avalanche” of cuts in the sector due to the Welsh Government's failure to protect the funding for the vital services they provide.
Responding to yesterday’s Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: ‘Volunteers’ Week’, Mr Isherwood asked what provision the Welsh Government is making or considering for the service cuts announced by the sector.
Speaking in the Senedd, he said:
“Our brilliant voluntary sector organisations and the legions of volunteers at their heart work with individuals and families from the ground up, delivering key services that improve lives, whilst also reducing demand on statutory services.
“I work with many and visit voluntary sector projects almost weekly. But as the sector and I warned during the passage of the Welsh Government's 2025-26 Budget, the Budget starved charitable and community service providers of resources, thereby generating false economies and far higher cost pressures for statutory service providers.
“What provision, therefore, is the Welsh Government making or considering for the avalanche of key voluntary sector service cuts since announced, ranging from hospice and palliative care to homelessness prevention provision, from cancer support to dementia care providers and, worryingly, many, many more?”
In her response, the Cabinet Secretary acknowledged how engaged Mr Isherwood is in the voluntary sector in North Wales and how important that is to those he supports.
She added:
“Indeed, I've visited with you many of those projects. I recall visiting the Ukrainian and the Polish support centre in Wrexham, I recall, when they were particularly focusing on supporting those volunteering, supporting Ukrainians at that particular time when they were fleeing conflict.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“These false economies, which see key early intervention and prevention services, delivered by the voluntary sector, starved of funding, add millions to the cost pressure on statutory services.
“Instead, the Welsh Government should be working with the sector, truly co-productively, to spend that money better, deliver more, and actually save more from the Welsh Government's budget too.”
