North Wales Member of the Welsh Parliament and Shadow Communities Minister Mark Isherwood has this week challenged the Welsh Government over the financial support it will be giving to hospices and services providing specialist domestic abuse, elder abuse and sexual violence support, who are struggling as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In recent weeks, Mr Isherwood, who Chairs the Cross Party Groups working in these areas, has been contacted by a variety of key voluntary sector providers across Wales who have expressed concern about the immense pressures they are currently facing due to the increased work load generated by the coronavirus crisis.
Taking part in this week’s virtual Welsh Parliament Plenary meeting, Mr Isherwood raised their plight and asked the Finance Minister how they will be supported.
Speaking via ‘Zoom’ from his home in North Wales, he said:
“The Welsh Government is receiving £35 million of the £750m charity support announced by the UK Government, including £1.7 million from the extra £76 million announced to support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery, and ensure vulnerable children and young people receive the help they need , and £12 million in consequence of the £200 million for hospices in England.
“How much of this will the voluntary sector providers delivering these specialist services in Wales receive?”
Responding, the Minister said with regards hospices: “I think that we've provided a settlement that does enable them to continue to do the vital work that they're doing at this moment. I haven't heard that the funding has not been sufficient for that, but certainly if Mark Isherwood has evidence or representations to make on that I'd be happy, of course, to listen to them.”
With regards funding for other specialist services, she said: “The funding that we announced very early on was over and above the funding that then came from the UK Government for the third sector. But I do have to be clear here that we're not just a halfway house for UK Government funding, where we just administer it to the same projects; we will take decisions based on the needs of our society and of our economy.”
Speaking following the meeting, Mr Isherwood said: “The Minister talks about the needs of Wales as if she understands them, but Hospices and other end of life care services in Wales tell me that if the pandemic lasts much longer they will be struggling, and services providing specialist domestic abuse, elder abuse and sexual violence support across Wales tell me that they are facing a crisis due to the levels of support they are being asked to provide and the unprecedented strain the lack of resources is putting on them at present. A Welsh Government that understood the needs of Wales would spend more in these areas in order to save more elsewhere!”