Swansea street football tournament tackles social exclusion

Participants came from across Wales to play teams, including players from Swansea, in a unique Street Soccer tournament. Street Football Wales works with players who come from a variety of socially excluded back grounds including players experiencing homelessness, addiction recovery, people with learning difficulties and those experiencing mental health challenges. Through the power of sport, Street Football Wales say they bring people to together to play in a fun and inclusive way, where participation is valued more than performance.

South Wales West MS, Tom Giffard visited the event held on 11 April and congratulated all those that participated in the tournament, as well as Street Football Wales for all the work they do.

Tom Giffard said: “Playing football teaches people from across Wales invaluable skills, and that was clear to see when I visited Street Football Wales’ Inclusion Tournament last week. Crucial life skills like teamwork, as well as social and academic skills are taught brilliantly on the football pitch, which can hopefully be used elsewhere in people’s lives.

“Speaking to many participants, I was in awe at the difference that Street Football Wales was making in the lives of people from the city and across Wales, giving them a sense of belonging and purpose many felt they hadn’t had before.

“I hope that we can build on this success to ensure that more people know that no matter what you’ve been through, there’s always a place for you on the pitch!”

Jamie Grundy, Street Football Wales Director said: “All our players are so pleased to come to Swansea and have a fantastic day of street football together. We remove the barriers to participation for our players, such as putting on transport to bring them here, feed them lunch and we even make sure they have the right footwear to play the game. 

“Through our supportive partners, such as the FAW and Pure Football, we are able to offer fantastic days like this tournament. We are grateful to showcase our work to Tom Giffard MS and explain the difference that we are making to people’s lives, one kick of a ball at a time.”

#addictionRecovery #Clase #football #homelessness #learningDisabilities #mentalHealth #socialExclusion #StreetFootballWales #TomGiffardMS

Tom Giffard named as Tory lead candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe Senedd seat

Tom Giffard has been the incumbent Senedd Member for South Wales West since 2021, and was born and raised in the city, growing up in Penllergaer.

With the Senedd elections just under a year away, the party say that Tom will lead a Welsh Conservative team of candidates for the Gŵyr Abertawe (Gower & Swansea) constituency that will campaign on a platform of “fixing Wales after 25 years of Labour failure”.

Commenting on his selection as the lead candidate, Tom said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been selected by local members from across the city to be the lead Welsh Conservative candidate for Gwyr Abertawe at next year’s crucial Senedd election.

“Many people tell me that after 25 years of Labour running Wales, they feel our country is broken. That’s why the Welsh Conservatives will run on a platform to Fix Wales, with practical solutions to fix our health service, education system and economy.

“I’ve also got a track record of campaigning locally in the city. For example, I’m currently lobbying the Welsh Government to ‘Get Swansea Moving’ after it previously cancelled key M4 junction upgrades in Penllergaer and Ynysforgan. Meanwhile, I’ve helped thousands of constituents over the last four years with individual cases.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to stand up for constituents across the city and hope to be part of a Welsh Conservative Government next year with a plan to fix Wales after 25 years of Labour failure.

Also commenting on Tom’s selection, leader of the Welsh Conservative group in the Senedd, Darren Millar MS, said: “Tom has worked incredibly hard for his constituents since 2021 and is a valued member of the Welsh Conservative team.

I’m delighted that he will be a lead candidate at the next Senedd elections, taking the fight to Labour so we can fix Wales.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also named their lead candidates for the Senedd election, naming Waterfront ward councillor Sam Bennett for Gŵyr Abertawe, while Party Leader Jane Dodds will head up the Lib Dems list in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency.

#Swansea #TomGiffardMS #WelshConservatives

Swansea MS promoted to shadow cabinet after resigning from COVID committee

Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar announced two changes to his Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Team earlier today (Friday 4 April)

The announcements follow the withdrawal of the Welsh Conservatives from the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purposes Committee last week when Labour voted to block a request to require some witnesses to the Committee to give evidence under oath.

Former Co-Chair of the Committee, South Wales West MS, Tom Giffard, has been appointed as Shadow Counsel General, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Delivery, External Affairs and the Welsh Language.

Former Welsh Conservative Leader and Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies, takes on the new role of Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, in addition to retaining his roles as Chief Whip and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution.

Commenting, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS, said: “I am delighted to announce these changes to my Shadow Cabinet team.

“Tom Giffard MS will bring his talent to bear in holding to account the Welsh Labour Government for failing to deliver for the people of Wales.

“And Paul Davies MS will do an excellent job in the new role of Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, bringing his experience to bear in the run up to next year’s Senedd elections.

“Under Labour, Wales is broken. My team offers an alternative government-in-waiting with the talent and solutions Wales needs. We look forward to taking the helm next May.”

Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Paul Davies MS, said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives. 

“I am delighted to be working closely with Darren and our government-in-waiting to fix Wales and deliver a Welsh Conservative Government in the Senedd elections next year.”

Also commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Counsel General, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Delivery, External Affairs and Welsh Language, Tom Giffard MS, said: “I am proud to be joining Darren Millar’s Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet team as we approach the Senedd elections in 2026.

“Labour has failed Wales. I look forward to working closely with Darren and the rest of the team as we put together our plan to Fix Wales after 26 years of Labour failure.”

#Swansea #TomGiffardMS #WelshConservatives

Swansea MS resigns as Welsh Covid Committee Chair over fears it is ‘protecting the very people it should be holding to account’

The committee, which was established in May 2023, was designed to examine any gaps in the UK Covid Inquiry in a Welsh context, after the Welsh Labour Government refused to establish a Wales-specific independent inquiry, as has happened in Scotland.

However, its future appears uncertain after he resigned as Chair, with the Welsh Conservatives now refusing to take any place on the committee after a dramatic statement in the Senedd by the South Wales West MS.

In a strongly worded statement, Tom Giffard said: “We entered this committee in good faith, hoping that the Welsh Labour Government and Labour members of the committee would honestly want to find answers to the questions that families who have lost loved ones deserve.”

“Instead, I found Labour members were sent to the committee with the specific instruction to block as much scrutiny as possible and remove from us the tools we needed to do the job, such as asking for sworn oaths to be given when Ministers would give evidence.”

Giffard added: “Mark Drakeford used to say during the pandemic that ‘In Wales, we do things differently.’ That was his right. But that also means his decisions need to be examined, just as they are in England and Scotland.

“Instead, Welsh Labour want all of the power and none of the responsibility; shirking from scrutiny and setting up a kangaroo court, intent on protecting the very people it should be holding to account.

“I refused to risk my reputation chairing a committee which would have been nothing but a whitewash of the truths. That’s why my party has withdrawn from this committee and will redouble our efforts towards securing a Wales-specific Covid inquiry, so people who have lost loved ones can get the answers they deserve.”

Labour’s Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt said the Tories’ calls for witnesses to take an oath were “concerning” and witnesses may feel compelled to seek legal advice.

#COVID #CovidInquiry #TomGiffardMS #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment

Welsh Government says it will look again at Swansea M4 junction improvements

Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, questioned the First Minister in the Senedd on Tuesday about the package of improvements once promised by Welsh Labour for Swansea junctions along the M4, which were then cancelled by Labour in 2023.

The much-needed projects, would have seen improvements made at M4 junctions, including 45 (Ynysforgan) and 47 (Penllergaer) – which are grid-locked daily, causing long delays and nightmare journeys for the hundreds of commuters using the M4 every day.

But in an exchange this week in the Senedd, Tom Giffard MS called on the First Minister to look again at the cancellation of the projects; and in turn, the First Minister agreed to ask her Transport Cabinet Secretary, Ken Skates, to look at what could be done.

In a debate in the Senedd, Tom Giffard MS asked the First Minister about the cancelled M4 junction upgrade projects at junction 45 at Ynysforgan and junction 47 at Penllergaer.

Mr Giffard said that “a study in 2017 showed that the M4 could come to a standstill around 30 times in a day, and these junction upgrades were absolutely crucial to ensure that we keep Wales and our M4—our main arterial road—moving.”

He asked the First Minister “can I have an assurance from you that you will look again at these junction upgrade projects around Swansea, to see whether they can be brought back under your leadership?”

Responding, First Minister Eluned Morgan replied that “it is important to make sure we keep the traffic flowing, and that’s why there have been methods to introduce speeding limits, for example, to make sure that the flow just continues, and you don’t get that stop start that annoys us all.”

She added that “In relation to the junction upgrades, I have heard the frustrations for many people in those areas, and I’ll ask the Transport Secretary to look into that.”

Commenting on the exchange, Tom Giffard MS, said: “In true Welsh Labour style, all investment into new roads in Wales were stopped in 2023, unless they moved people away from cars and onto public and active forms of transport.

“This meant that much-needed projects such as junction improvements on key Swansea junctions such as Penllergaer and Ynysforgan were shelved too.

“This news came on the heels of the previous decision by the Welsh Government to cancel the M4 relief road project in Newport too, causing gridlock on Wales’ most valuable road.

“I’m delighted that the First Minister has now confirmed that the Welsh Government will now look again and re-visit these crucial Swansea junction projects, and I’ll be keeping up the pressure to make sure they happen!”

(Lead image: Traffic Wales)

#ElunedMorganMS #Junction45 #Junction47 #M4 #motoring #Swansea #TomGiffardMS #traffic #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment