Exchange 18: Summer 2021

Bevan Foundation

Wales’ best policy and politics magazine!

As Coronavirus restrictions ease in Wales, this issue focuses on how to build back fairer but also highlights the many issues some people are still facing.

This issue includes articles by:

• Jon Antoniazzi, Policy & Public Affairs Manager, Wales, on overcoming the backlog and improving cancer care;
• John Hume, Chief Executive of People’s Health Trust, on why people are the key to building back fairer;
• Sarah Stone, Executive Director for Wales for Samaritans, on tackling the pandemic’s impact on mental health;
• Lynnette Thomas, Deputy Director, Strategy and Development at The Open University in Wales, on lifelong learning is the key tool in our kit to rebuild and recover a better Wales;
• Karen Phillips of Coleg y Cymoedd, on digital access for learners;
• Sara Drysdale, Policy Advocacy and Campaigns Officer, Wales at Save the Children UK, on bridging the early years education gap;
• Ross Thomas, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Tai Pawb, on making the right to a good home a reality in Wales;
• Scott Sanders, CEO of Linc Cymru, on affordable housing and affordable living
• Howard Toplis of Tai Calon, on funding the pathway to zero carbon emissions for affordable rented homes;
• Rev Ruth Coombs, Head of Wales Equality and Human Rights Commission, on addressing the inequalities revealed by the pandemic;
• Susan Lloyd Selby, Operations Manager, Wales, for the Trussell Trust, towards a hunger-free future for Wales;
• Ffion Lewis, RNIB Cymru’s Communications Manager, on why some deserve more than going back to ‘normal’;
• Karen Armstrong of Flintshire and Wrexham Joint Public Services Board, on local action to reduce inequality;
• Sue Husband, Director of Business in the Community Cymru, on how businesses need to grow back greener;
• Sharon Richards of Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil and Simon James of Interlink RCT, on community responses to recovery in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil;
• Nisreen Mansour, Policy Officer at Wales TUC, on how Welsh Government can create a recovery built on good jobs by being smarter with its powers;
• Peter Slater, Director of Industrial Communities Alliance Wales, on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund;
• Ruth Brady of GMB on stop the British Gas fire!;
• Spotlight On Carol Wardman, Bishops’ Advisor for Church and Society, Church in Wales