Myfanwy works with Breakthro’ Llanelli to win cash promise from County Council

Following concerns raised by members of the Breakthro’ Llanelli group, Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, and Breakthro’ sponsor, supported committee members when they met with Robin Moulster the Senior Principal Officer for Learning Disabilities on Friday. The group which supports social activities for children and adults with learning disabilities also helps them integrate in to society. Last year Carmarthenshire County Council asked the group to separate its activities for children and adults leading to doubling staff costs with no additional income. Myfanwy raised the issue of funds for the group and asked for a meeting with a senior official at the County Council. At the meeting which was eventually held last Friday, Myfanwy and the committee members described the range of activities that Breakthro undertakes and their value to the children and adults. They also explained how the shortfall of £5,000 in funding would mean that the group could not continue after this year. Myfanwy and committee members were delighted that Mr.Moulster pledged £1,500 in funding immediately and also promised to try to find funds to meet the remaining funding gap.

Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:

“I’m delighted that the Council has decided to support the important work that Breakthro’ in Llanelli does. Social activities might not seem to be a priority but they are the chance for many of these young people to have a social life. The young people also have tasks in Breakthro’ like organising rotas, collecting funds and in some cases learn skills like DJ-ing and sitting on committees. The skills the young people learn help them integrate and nobody who has seen them raising funds in the town centre would say that they are not happy and confident in each other’s company”

“We still have some way to go to address the rest of the funding gap. As ever, we will be raising money for the activities but alongside that, we’ll be working to find those with the County Council and others to restore the money that will allow us to pay a part-time wage to our convenor who is currently working for free”.