In the lead up to the Senedd election, our Ready to Vote project team ran a series of workshops and hustings with candidates in 4 areas of Wales to give people with a learning disability the chance to learn more about politics and voting. In this blog post, our Project Co-Ordinator Gerraint Jones-Griffiths reflects on those events and why they were so important.
To say it has been a busy time for the Ready to Vote project would be an understatement! Over the past 6 months, we’ve travelled across Wales hosting in-person events about voting for people with a learning disability. It was so great to meet the self-advocacy groups, talk about politics and hear them share important questions with election candidates.
With so much going on, I wanted to share just some of my highlights from the project so far:
‘My Rights and Me’ with Torfaen People First
In February, I attended an event hosted by Torfaen People First with Sam, our Policy and Communications Manager, where we spoke about Ready to Vote. We talked about what the new constituencies would look like ready for the Senedd election and we had a great response. It’s fair to say the audience enjoyed throwing papers at me during an ice breaker activity called ‘Snowball Fight!’
Senedd Commission – Young People and Voting
In March, Sam and I co-hosted a virtual training session working with the Senedd Commission staff team. It was aimed at teachers who work with children and young people with additional learning needs to explain the new voting system in Wales. We had great questions and engagement from the professionals that attended. It was a great experience for me working with the Senedd Commission team.
Caerphilly People First – Ready to Vote Workshop
On 7 April, I co-hosted a Ready to Vote workshop with Simon, our Events and Network Manager. Our first stop was Caerphilly! The session ran for 2 hours; it was interactive and very well attended. Members of Caerphilly People First had some great questions, and it was very interesting to hear that most of the people who came along hadn’t voted before.
Cwm Taf People First – Ready to Vote Workshops
A day later and 2 more stops on our tour were the Arts Factory in Maerdy, followed by Pen Llew Court in Aberdare. Simon and I co-hosted the workshops for members of Cwm Taf People First. There were some great questions, great interactions and again, most people who came hadn’t voted before but said they were interested in voting in the future.
Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr Hustings
On 15 April, we hosted our first Hustings event in Aberdare Coliseum. ‘Hustings’ are public meetings where political candidates answer questions from voters. Members of Cwm Taf People First came along and asked important questions about public transport, cashless society and supported living. Candidates who attended were James Bennett from the Wales Green Party, Vikki Howells from Welsh Labour, Heledd Fychan from Plaid Cymru and David Hughes from Reform Wales.
Afan Ogwr Rhondda Hustings
The next day, we returned to the Arts Factory in Maerdy for our second Hustings event. Again, members from Cwm Taf People First asked great questions to the candidates around public transport, extra funding for charities like People First, and employment. Elaine Winstanley from Welsh Labour and Danny Grehan from Plaid Cymru attended the event.
Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymney Hustings
On 20 April we held a hustings event in Y Banc community hub in Caerphilly. Big shout out to Ffion from Caerphilly People First for standing in to chair the event at short notice as I wasn’t available. Sam and Beth, our Policy and Communications Officer, helped facilitate the meeting and said that it went really well with great questions from the audience for the panel of local candidates: Steve Aicheler from Welsh Liberal Democrats, Alexis Celnik from Wales Green Party, Gareth Potter from Welsh Conservatives and Lindsay Whittle from Plaid Cymru.
Llwybrau Llesiant Workshop
At the end of April, I travelled to North Wales with Zoe (Chief Executive of Learning Disability Wales) for our final 2 workshops and hustings. This was for members of Gwynedd’s Llwybrau Llesiant learning disability project. We held 2 workshops on 29 April, the first in Porthmadog and the second in Caernarfon. Both were very well received; some great questions were asked and selfies were taken!
Gwynedd Maldwyn Hustings
A day later, we held our final hustings event in Gwesty Seren, Llan Ffestiniog. Members from North Wales Advice & Advocacy (NWAAA) came along and asked some great questions about public transport, the crown estate and employment. The candidates who attended were Aled Davies from the Welsh Conservatives, Steffan Chambers from Welsh Labour, Elin Hywel from Plaid Cymru, Claire Johnson-Wood from Reform Wales, Steve Churchman from the Welsh Liberal Democrats, and Nathan Jarvis from the Wales Green Party.
For me, the best thing about the last few months were the hustings because the audience were holding their local candidates to account. It was great to see people with a learning disability using their voice and understanding their right to vote in the Senedd election.
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