North Wales MS and Chair of the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Disability, Mark Isherwood, has called on the Welsh Government to respond to the crisis facing disabled children and adults in Wales.
Questioning the First Minister in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood referred to the Family Fund’s recent launch event for their ‘Cost of Caring 2025” report, which he hosted, and called on the First Minister to respond to the concern expressed by senior Third Sector representatives in the audience that 'It's time to talk about the wholesale crisis we are in for disabled children and adults in Wales'.
Speaking in the Senedd Chamber, he said:
“Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of hosting the Family Fund's launch event of their 'Cost of Caring 2025' report. The Family Fund, the UK's largest charity for families with disabled or seriously ill children, provides grants for essential items and services. The report underscores the financial hardships faced by disabled families, with almost half experiencing income insufficiency, almost 90 per cent of parent-carers unable to work as many hours as they would like, and two thirds saying their financial situation has affected their child's emotional well-being.
“Family Fund services help with early intervention and prevention, taking some of the pressures off those families and saving Public Services in Wales millions every year. However, their support currently only reaches a small fraction of those in need. I'm sure you'll agree we must ensure disabled families are heard, seen, supported and valued, not just with words, but real action.
“How, therefore, do you respond to the concern expressed by senior Third Sector representatives in the audience that, quote, 'It's time to talk about the wholesale crisis we are in for disabled children and adults in Wales'?”
In her response, the First Minister thanked Mr Isherwood for his “continued action in relation to supporting disabled people” and outlined steps being taken to support them in Wales.
She said:
“We are trying to do what we can to put support in place for those people, including, for example, short breaks and carer support. We've done this through providing £5.25 million to provide those individualised breaks for unpaid carers, including parents of disabled children.
“We've also got £360,000 of Welsh Government funding for the Family Fund's Take a Break project, which offers those grants, again, for short breaks for families whose children are seriously ill or disabled. We've got Families First as well, and Flying Start. All of these have tailored support packages and accessible resources to support disabled children.”
Speaking outside the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“Whilst I welcome the support which is in place for disabled people, sadly it does not go far enough.
“As I said at the launch event a fortnight ago, no-one chooses Disability, no parent should have to sacrifice their own health to keep their child safe and warm, and no child should go without a toy, a meal, independence — simply because they have health conditions or impairments.”