SHELTER CYMRU has today responded to the Welsh Government’s publication of the draft Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill.

The draft legislation is the culmination of several years of work, shaped by the recommendations of the Expert Review Panel on Ending Homelessness — a panel on which Shelter Cymru was proud to sit. Drawing on its experience supporting over 12,000 households each year affected by the housing emergency, the charity has long called for many of the changes proposed.

The Bill is expected to include key measures that:

• Strengthen the focus on preventing homelessness, moving away from a crisis-driven response;
• Introduce new duties on public bodies to take action against homelessness;
• Remove barriers to support for individuals and families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness;
• Reform the way social housing is allocated, ensuring those in greatest need are prioritised.

Ruth Power, Chief Executive of Shelter Cymru, said: “The publication of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill is a landmark moment with the potential to deliver real, transformative change in how we address homelessness in Wales.

“Shelter Cymru has long championed many of the proposals expected in the Bill — including a stronger emphasis on prevention and widening access to support. As Wales’ national housing and homelessness advice charity, we see first-hand the limitations of the current system. Too often, people are forced to reach crisis point before they can access the help they need. Opportunities to prevent homelessness are frequently missed.

“We look forward to scrutinising the full details of the legislation and working collaboratively with the Welsh Government and partners to ensure the final Bill includes all the changes desperately needed. It is essential that the ambitions in the Bill are matched by the resources required to make them a reality — including ensuring everyone can access the advice and support they need to realise their housing rights.

“With more than 11,000 people in Wales currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, we must seize the opportunity this Bill presents to deliver meaningful and lasting change.”

Visit Pembrokeshire and holidaycottages.co.uk launch joint initiative to support local charities

COMMUNITY organisations and charities across Pembrokeshire are being invited to apply for a share of £3,000, following the launch of a new funding initiative aimed at supporting grassroots projects across the county.

The Visit Pembrokeshire Community Fund, launched in partnership with holidaycottages.co.uk, will award three grants of £1,000 each to local groups whose work directly benefits the area. The deadline for applications is 7 July 2025.

Organisers say the fund is designed to support projects that help strengthen communities, enhance the environment, and boost the local economy. Suggested uses for the grant include the creation of community gardens, accessible signage such as braille and town trail maps, and new seating in public spaces—though innovative ideas are also encouraged.

The initiative marks the start of a new partnership between Visit Pembrokeshire and holidaycottages.co.uk, part of the Travel Chapter group, which aims to deliver tangible benefits to the places most popular with visitors.

Serena Pearce, Regional Communities Manager at Travel Chapter, said:

“We are incredibly excited to be launching this community fund with Visit Pembrokeshire. At holidaycottages.co.uk, we are passionate about supporting the communities where we operate, and we take great pride in giving back to the places our guests love to visit.

“By investing in local projects, we hope to create lasting, positive impacts that help towns and villages thrive and remain cherished destinations for both visitors and residents. We can’t wait to get started and make a difference together.”

Emma Thornton, CEO of Visit Pembrokeshire, added:

“This partnership reflects our shared vision for Pembrokeshire to be a global leader in regenerative tourism. That means ensuring the visitor economy delivers a net positive for the people who live and work here, as well as those who visit.

“We’re grateful to holidaycottages.co.uk for joining us in this effort, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this collaboration.”

Holidaycottages.co.uk has already supported a number of community initiatives in the region, most recently sponsoring the Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim, which raised over £30,000 for local causes.

Applications for the Visit Pembrokeshire Community Fund can be submitted online. Full details, including eligibility criteria and the application form, are available at:
👉 www.visitpembrokeshire.com/industry/community-fund-initiative

The deadline for applications is Sunday 7 July 2025.

MENTAL HEALTH is more than just a small part of our lives – it’s connected to everything we do, every place we go and everyone around us. Knowing how to respond to someone who is struggling with their mental health, or being open with others about our own emotions, is something lots of us still find difficult, however.

This Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12-16), Mind Cymru is sharing its top tips to help anyone who might be concerned about someone they know, or about their own mental health, find ways to get a conversation around it going.

Talking to others

There isn’t one set way to talk to other people about their mental health. But, here are some ideas to help:

• Ask open and non-leading questions, which can give people space to express their feelings and help you understand their experiences better too.
• Think about the time and the place. This can make talking easier, for example, if it’s while you’re doing something else like walking or cooking – but don’t let this put you off if it comes up naturally in conversation either.
• Remember you’re not there to fix things and that managing a mental health problem can be a long journey – talking itself can be helpful so, unless they’ve asked for advice directly, it’s sometimes best to just listen.
• Be patient and accept that, no matter how hard you try, someone might not be ready to talk about what they’re feeling, It could make it easier for them to be open with you when they do feel ready.

Opening up to others

It’s common to feel worried or nervous about how being honest about our own mental health might affect our relationships with others. When you do feel ready, here are some ways to help you to start:

Find a method of communication that’s right for you – talking on the phone or writing a letter might feel easier than speaking to someone face-to-face, for example.
Find the right time and place to open up. It’s not always possible to find a ‘good’ time to talk, but it could help to think where and when you’d feel most comfortable.
Practise what you want to say. Phrases such as ‘I’ve not been myself lately’ or ‘I’m finding it hard to cope at the moment’ might provide a good starting point.
Find relevant information and examples, like a description in a book or the storyline of a film. This could help explain your feelings and to let others know how they can help you – whether that’s through emotional support or with any practical help you might need.
Remember it’s ok to come back to a conversation. You may both need time to think about things, and they may struggle to know how to react at first.

Sue O’ Leary, Director at Mind Cymru, says: “Mental health isn’t just about how we deal with our emotions, it’s a part of our everyday life and can affect our physical health, our finances and our relationships too.

“That’s why Mind’s own services, information and campaigns here at Mind explore all aspects of a person’s life, it’s why we have different helplines to meet people’s different needs, and it’s why our 16 local Minds in Wales design their services to meet the specific needs of the communities they serve.

“We also know, however, that the level of stigma around mental health is higher than we’ve ever seen it here in Wales, and that too many people still find it hard to talk about how they are feeling.

“So, we just wanted to remind people in Wales during Mental Health Awareness Week of the need to work collectively in spreading awareness and encouraging each other to be honest and open about our feelings so that, together, we can make sure no mind is left behind.”

If you are finding it hard to talk to someone about their feelings, or to open up to others about your own mental health, you can also seek support for your mental health in a number of ways by: