The Welsh Government is asking children and young people, families and community members, and organisations that support and speak out for children in poverty to help us make decisions about what we should do to tackle child poverty.

This engagement work is the start of work to decide what we will include in a draft Child Poverty Strategy for Wales. This will then be shared as a 12-week formal consultation exercise.

This evidence has helped us to start to think about what we need to talk to people about. A strategy explains what we plan to do, why we plan to do it and how we will know if we are achieving what we want to achieve.

We need your help to decide what to include in a formal consultation on a new Child Poverty Strategy for Wales

 Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil will be holding two short session engagement events to enable community members and Third Sector to feed into the pre-consultation.

To attend or for further information contact Karen Vowles at karen.vowles@vamt.net

March 9^th 10:30 – 12:30 at Voluntary Action Centre Merthyr Tydfil

March 17^th 2pm – 4pm at Treharris Boys & Girls Club.

For further information contact Karen Vowles karen.vowles@vamt.net

CLOSING DATE FOR SURVEY IS MONDAY 27TH FEBRUARY

We are looking at how we reward and recognise people who get involved in Mental Health Services in Cwm Taf Morgannwg. For example, sharing ideas, experiences and opinions, it could also include working with others to design, deliver and evaluate services, mental health policies and procedures.

We want to hear from people with experience of mental ill health and the friends and families (carers) who support them. The information we collect in the survey will be used to find the best way to reward and recognise the involvement of people with lived experience of mental illness in improving services in the future.

Please click on link to take part in this survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JT69MZC

If you have any questions please contact Sharon Jones, Mental Health Service User Involvement Officer on 07553 102266 or email sharon.jones@vamt.net

Are you concerned about your energy usage, worried about your energy bills, or just in need of a bit of advice?

Citizens Advice Merthyr Tydfil are holding a drop in at Trelewis Community Centre on Tuesday 7th March. Come have a cuppa and chat with one of their advisors who will be on hand to help.

Come along to the Cost of living advice day at Calon Las Community Hub 20th March 2-4pm.

Many organisations will be attending to offer advice and support.