Influencing Opportunity (18) - News from Welsh Government
As part of our commitment to influencing and engaging, we share the information below with you.
If you believe this is a priority area for further discussion at one of DVSC’s network meetings or Membership Forum do let us know.
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News from Welsh Government
In his outline draft Budget for 19-20, Mark Drakeford announced £500 million extra for health and social care and £15 million more for education. More detail will be given when the draft Budget is published on 23 October. Welsh Government has published its Well-being of Wales Annual Report, examining the country's progress towards achieving the seven well-being goals. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething AM, has announced pilots to reduce the reliance on prescription medication by prescribing interventions to improve mental health. Mind Cymru and the British Red Cross have been given £1.35m to deliver projects across the country. Welsh Government has announced that the Early Intervention, Prevent and Support Grant will be delivered in two streams – the Children and Communities grant and the Housing Support grant – from April 2019 after an interim evaluation of work across local authorities to test the grant was published. In questions for the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Gareth Bennett AM raised the third sector’s concerns that Public Service Boards have felt too bureaucratic. The Cabinet Secretary said he wants to see more streamlined structures: 'I want to see less meetings and more action, and what I hope the PSBs are doing is starting to deliver that.' WCVA, WEFO and Welsh Government's Social Business Growth Fund has announced an additional £1.5 million of funding, plus another £1.2 million for a Community Asset Development Fund. These are both distributed via the European Regional Development Fund. Welsh Government has launched is Prosperity For All Economic Action Plan and Prosperity For All Annual Report.
Brexit news
The Finance Committee has said that any replacement for EU funding in Wales should be managed by Welsh Government.
Consultations and surveys
Count me in! How publicly-funded bodies can use culture to tackle poverty and social exclusion in Wales - closes 14 December.
The Charity Commission has reported that charities must do better at communicating with the public through their annual reports and accounts.
