Blog by Ann Jones MS Once again this year we celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities to the theme of ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’. 2020 has been a challenging year for us all, and whilst we endeavour to adapt the way in which we live and work, we must ensure that, whatever the future holds, it is a future inclusive for all. Those whose disabilities may not be immediately apparent face additional barriers and we must, as a society, seek to improve awareness and understanding of such disabilities and their impact. Some of you may have noticed the use of Sunflower lanyards ..read more

The Senedd’s Public Accounts Committee is running an inquiry into the wellbeing of the Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The Committee is gathering views on how well the Act has been implemented since it was passed in 2015, and how it can be implemented better in the future. We want to hear about young people’s: awareness of the Act. experiences of how the Act has been implemented. views about what the barriers to implementing the Act are. how it can be better implemented in the future. We have prepared resources for schools and youth groups to deliver an activity to gather young peopl ..read more

Blog by Charley Oliver-Holland, Welsh Youth Parliament Member Being 13 years old and unsure about the world around me was hard. On national coming out day 2016, I decided to come out. In my head, it was a big deal. I felt like I was different to everyone around me and that no one would accept me for loving those the same gender as myself. You hear growing up, the endless male and female stereotypical fairy tales, which makes the choice of coming out massively harder. But for me personally, coming out let me be myself, and I now live being 100% authentically me, regardless of what anyone else ..read more

Guest blog from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales Each year on October 1, the world takes a moment to celebrate older people and the many ways they contribute to our lives as part of the UN International Day of Older Persons. This year, with the world around us having changed so much, things are a little different, of course. But today is a good opportunity to not only pause and reflect on the ways that Covid-19 is affecting older people throughout the world, but also to consider what we need to do to ensure that older people are not left behind as we begin to move forward, a concern ..read more

I’m Llyr Gruffydd, a Member of the Senedd and the Chair of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee has a very important remit and is responsible for considering and reporting on proposals laid before the Senedd by Welsh Ministers containing the use of resources. The Committee can also consider and report on any other matter related to or affecting financing, or expenditure from the Welsh Consolidated Fund. One of the Committee’s functions is to scrutinise the Welsh Government’s budget which is approximately £18 billion a year. Wales receives its budget allocation from the UK Government w ..read more

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, the Senedd has led the way in innovation to ensure the people of Wales continue to be represented by their elected members, and that government is still subject to robust scrutiny. First online meeting of the Senedd in April 2020. From developing its own voting app for Members, to being the first UK legislature to hold virtual Plenary meetings, it has sought new solutions to the unprecedented challenges facing the Welsh Parliament. When lockdown hit, the Senedd adapted quickly. It was the first UK parliament to hold a virtual Plenary meeting on 1 April with ..read more

Following the declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Senedd committees, like so many other organisations, moved the emphasis of their work to focus on responding to the crisis. For the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee, this meant pausing some of our planned work while we found new ways of working. External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee meeting via Zoom The past ten weeks have given us the chance to adjust our working practices in line with Welsh Government guidelines and revise our work programme to reflect the wider situation. While responding ..read more

Assembly Members celebrating International Women’s Day Today is International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is #EachforEqual. The campaign is raising awareness of how all our actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets can have an impact on society. Together, each one of us can help create a gender-equal world. Equality at our core The Senedd We’re proud champions of equality at the National Assembly for Wales. Established in 1999 ..read more

Guest blog by Ann Jones AM. Ann Jones AM and the panel The National Assembly for Wales holds an annual event each March to celebrate International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is #EachforEqual, and I feel really proud that we’ve committed to taking equality seriously at the Assembly since it was established 20 years ago. I’m one of the original Assembly Members voted in for the first time in 1999. This has provided me with a good overview of the Assembly and the way it works. I can truly say that it is committed to the principles of #EachforEqual. We have a legal duty to promote equality and ..read more

It’s Dydd Miwsig Cymru (or Welsh Language Music Day!), an annual event celebrated across Wales to raise awareness of Welsh language music. This year, members of staff at the National Assembly for Wales are taking the opportunity to join in with Welsh Language Music Day, as part of our continued commitment to promoting the use of the Welsh language across the organisation. We’ve been snapping selfies, making playlists and blasting Welsh language music across the Estate. Here’s a little bit of what we’ve been up to: Dydd Miwsig Cymru Selfies Thank you to staff and Members who’ve taken the time t ..read more