Leighton Andrews

Leighton Andrews supports the World's Biggest Coffee morning for Macmillan

Leighton Andrews supported Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning on Wednesday 27th September 2013 at the Senedd. 

He is also calling on the people of The Rhondda to get involved by holding their own coffee mornings, to help make the cancer charity’s fund-raiser the biggest and best ever.

Leighton said: “In Wales more than 18,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year.  I know that a considerable number of constituents have personal experience of cancer, and I know that Macmillan has been there to support many of those in need. 

“Macmillan Cancer Support is there for people from the moment they are diagnosed, with medical and practical help, as well as emotional and financial support. 

“It is a great idea because everyone likes tea, coffee, cake and a chat - it brings people together and is an easy and fun way to raise money for Macmillan.  Every penny you raise will help people with cancer.”

Last year thousands of people across Wales took part in coffee morning helping to raise funds for Macmillan. This year the charity hopes to raise even more money to help fund vital cancer services across the country. 

Susan Morris, General Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, commented:

“Macmillan in Wales would like to say a huge thank you to Leighton Andrews for supporting the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.  The money raised will fund cancer services in Wales.

“With the number of people living with cancer in Wales expected to reach 240,000 by 2030, Macmillan Cancer Support wants to ensure that no-one faces cancer alone.

“Money raised by events such as World’s Biggest Coffee Morning helped Macmillan to spend £3.2m on its services in Wales last year alone, including funding our nurses and providing £545,000 in grants to people affected by cancer.”

Now in its 23^rd year, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning raised an amazing £15m for Macmillan last year alone.

To sign up to host a coffee morning, call 0300 1000 200 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee.

For information or support relating to cancer, call Macmillan’s Support
Line on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday) or visit www.macmillan.org.uk.

"Made in the Valleys" Craft Exhibition 28/29th September 2013

The "Made in the Valleys" Autumn craft exhibition will be held on the 28th - 29th September at the Rhondda Heritage Park, Treforest. Be inspired and entertained by South Wales' creative talent. Bring the family to experience the work of artists, designers and makers for the home, garden or gifts. Learn about the work from the creators and enjoy 'have a go' sessions.

11:00 - 16:00 daily.

For additional information, please telephone 01443 682036 or visit www.rhonddaheritagepark.com

 

 Details of exhibitors are listed below:

 CONFERENCE ROOM

 Mel De Castro Pugh - "Spiny Sharkly Things" -
Artisan Jewellery collective

Gaynor Lewis - "Fashionned in Glass" - Handmade
Glass Jewellery & beadwork

"Cornelia Weinmann Design" - Printmaking: lino
prints, etchings (demonstrating/tasters)

Megan Phillips - Animal sculptures

VILLAGE STREET

 John Binet-Fauvel - Sculpture: knitted recycled wire, mainly
creatures (demonstrating )

Melissa Warren - Knitted Textiles: accessories, garments,
textile jewellery

"Lemon Blues" - A selection of hand made local
Welsh craft

Julie Croad - Books and individual poems by Julie Croad,
local writer.Laugh out loud poems concerning everyday events.

 THE FANHOUSE

Julie Taylor - "Taylored Craft" - Crotcheted and
stitched accessories and homewares ( demonstrating )

Christine Clare - "Artfully" - Art: Acrylic on
canvas

Michelle Lewis - "Woolly Wumpkins"- Dyed wool
yarns, crotchet, patterns, kits

Helen Silvers - "Silver Stitches"- Hand made dolls
& machine embroidered accessories

WORKSHOPS

FANHOUSE

Sat 11.00-2.00 or 2.30-4.30"Make a Street"
suitable for all ages, £3.50 or £5 for two people with Gayle Rogers and Chris
Williams

Sun 1.00-4.00 "Make a Pinboard" with Gayle Rogers
& Chris Williams £29 Pre Booking essential to Chris [email protected] 07981859075/01443441182

Sat and Sun Creative Art workshops for children, making
masks, sticky faces etc using mainly recycled materials £1

Michelle Lewis - Circular hand knitting workshop, kits available,
£1 to participate.

Helen Silvers - Dressing and decorating your own Spirit
doll, made by Helen £5, just turn up any time!

 VILLAGE STREET

 Sat 2pm & Sun 2pm"Is there a book in you?"
FREE Workshop with Julie Croad

Sat and Sun drop in between 11.00 and 3.30 Any age, £2 Make
a Lavender Bag with Melissa Warren

 

One year to save the union

One year from today, the people of Scotland vote on the future of the UK. Last week I took part in a debate on this subject organised in London by the Institute of Welsh Affairs.

You can see the first part of the debate here where you will also find a link to the second part.

Backing the unions

Last week the Welsh Government announced that it is taking action to deal with the blacklisting of trades unionists by some private companies.

 

Public sector bodies in Wales can exclude blacklisters from bidding for public sector contracts under new Welsh Government guidance that aims to eradicate the practice. Blacklisting is a practice where individuals have been denied employment opportunities because of their trade union membership or their involvement in trade union activity. It is known to have been used by construction companies operating in Wales, and to have involved Welsh construction workers.

This is an issue on which a number of trades unions including Unite and the GMB have been campaigning for some time and it has been discussed in the Rhondda Labour Party’s monthly meetings as well.

 

A Procurement Advice Note has been issued to all Welsh public bodies to outline the necessary steps that can be taken through procurement to help eradicate blacklisting – which can be very damaging to the careers and livelihoods of trade unionists.

The guidance makes clear those circumstances where Welsh public sector bodies can exclude blacklisters from bidding for a public contract.

The use of blacklists is wholly unacceptable and we fully sympathise with the individuals and their families who have suffered a terrible injustice as a consequence of contractors engaging in this practice.

Procurement is an important part of the overall policy toolkit of the Welsh Government. Under no circumstances is it acceptable for any business in receipt of public procurement expenditure to use blacklists.

We are determined to take action in Wales. We hope other Governments in the UK will take similar action if they have not already done so.

 

Another issue where Labour has been active on employment law has been in relation to zero-hours contracts. Ed Miliband made Labour’s position clear at the TUC conference last week and I have been working with my Pontypridd colleague Mick Antoniw AM on this issue after it was raised with us by the GMB.

 

Finally on trades union issues I am pleased that the teaching unions have recognized the different approach of the Welsh Government and have decided not to stage strikes in Wales this autumn. We opposed regional pay for teachers when I was Education Minister and we were critical of the UK government’s plans in relation to teacher’s pensions.

 

(My column in this week's Rhondda Leader)

South Wales NHS programme summer update

The South Wales Programme proposes fundamental changes to the way in which
hospital  services are delivered to the Rhondda and to others throughout
South Wales. The consultation document refers to a ‘best-fit’ model based on a
five-hospital Option 3 with key services of consultant-led maternity and
neo-natal care, inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine based at
the Heath in Cardiff, Morriston in Swansea, the new critical care centre
planned for Cwmbran, Prince Charles in Merthyr  and Princess of Wales in Bridgend.

I believe that this proposal is not the best option for either my Rhondda
constituents or the South Wales population as a whole.

I do not dispute the case for change, nor the challenges facing the NHS in Wales.
However, my conclusions from assessing the evidence are different. I believe
that the interests of South Wales and South Powys are better served by Option
4, with these key services of consultant-led maternity and neo-natal care,
inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine based at Heath in Cardiff,
Morriston in Swansea, the new critical care centre planned for Cwmbran, Prince
Charles in Merthyr  and the Royal Glamorgan hospital.

I sent in a full submission to the consultation, arguing

• 
  Option 3 will result in serious and unequalled
  pressures on maternity and neo-natal services at UHW
• 
  Option 4 would address this risk
• 
  The financial arguments are significantly in
  favour of Option 4
• 
  Option 3 will produce worse health outcomes
  and accentuate health inequalities
• 
  Travel issues for patient visitors and
  elective patients have not been properly considered
• 
  Emergency journey times would increase and
  treatment outcomes for those in the most significant areas of deprivation could
  be worsened
• 
  As an alternative, the SWP should consider a
  further option, based around a joint governance model for the two M4 corridor
  hospitals at PoW and Royal Glamorgan, with consultant-led facilities being
  managed across the two hospitals
• 
  Finally, it is essential that the long-term
  security of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital is maintained, with serious
  consideration given to its adoption as a centre of excellence for specific
  designated clinical disciplines.

 Apparently, there have been over 50,000 responses to the
consultation. That shows how passionate people are about the issues. I want to
thank everyone from the Rhondda who has got involved. The number of responses
means the decision will not be finally taken until much later in the year.

(This was my Rhondda Leader column in August)