Exposing disability inequality for Children and Families

24/09/2025

📢Online Protest
📢Join Disability Rebellion, DPAC and allies online on Monday 29th September 2025 at 12 noon
📢Protest the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool
Share the impact disability benefit cuts will have on your life and your community tweet and share links on disability rights
Online and offline we fight back

Alt text:

Image is on a blue back ground there are striped colours on the left hand side and a speech bubble at the top In black text it says disability rebellion then online protest with a megaphone
In white text it says on Monday 29th September from 12 noon Disability Rebellion is taking action online in solidarity with DPAC & other disabled people’s organisations who are protesting the Labour Party conference. This is our chance to show disabled people will not be silenced post as many times as you can about Disability Rights share how the cuts to benefits will affect you and your community.
Use the # hashtags

Together online and offline we fight back
At the bottom of the graphic is. A gold star with red hearts then a notice on white background in black text which says 29th September from 12 noon

24/09/2025

Sorry I've not on the page much, but there has been a lot going on in the background, plus been sorting out my son during summer holidays with no respite due to the Trinity fields holiday scheme being closed.
Today I was part of a resident opinion panel at the council offices to give positive and negative feedback on what I feel the council is actually doing.
I spoke about lack of out of school opportunities for our children such as no supported swimming lessons and no youth service. I raised about the social care assessment (needs of the disabled adult/child) and the carers assessments do not link up to show needs of the family as a whole.
There was other things like pot holes, bin collections, lack of transparency, non existent councillors, backtracking on decisions made by cabinet, expenses paid out of council money that are coming out recently. As a whole, there wasn't a lot of positives given.
This panel was led by an independent consultant who is funded by the wlga. They do the rounds on every council.
I definitely recommending attending these panels either in person or online. Unfortunately we only had an hour to discuss. Everyone had an opportunity to speak and even though there was some disagreement, it was a healthy debate.
I also pointed out Mr Edmunds comments in a briefing note from 2023 to them and said I never had an apology.

In other news, I'm still badgering political candidates for the late hefin David caerphilly seat on what policies they bring to the table. I'm yet to get some sensible proper answers but I will carry on.

I'm still looking to do a media piece on the positives and negatives of the situation and progress ccbc has done since 2023.

Big shout out to the male lifeguard last week at the aln swimming as he was very understanding and supportive of us. Willing to listen but also to explain if needed.
An FOI request has gone into ccbc to explain what evidence is used to make decisions on what activities are available during our once a week aln swimming session at Newbridge.

Time for chill before afternoon school run.

14/07/2025

Hi everyone, we're back on the case.
So more developments are happening across the Caerphilly borough.

First of all a shout out to a lovely lady Danielle Cull who set up her group neuroguard and it is growing in size. Please support this group.

So we are still fighting with ccbc and sparkle to provide a youth service for complex needs and supported 121 swimming lessons even though the trinity fields and Caerphilly children's centre pool is out of order. CCC pool is out of order due to funding from abuhb and sparkle. Caerphilly borough is the only council in Gwent that doesn't fund sparkle to provide these 2 activities. Ccbc only fund holiday play sessions (aged 5-11 which for a disabled child that doesn't have ND, the age bracket can actually be 5-9 due to resources)

Ccbc has just recently decided to put on extra aln sessions at heolddu over the summer. That's awesome news so we have 3 different times during the week however none at Caerphilly/bedwas pool.

We've been talking to the youth service about a suitable youth club however it seems the usual don't have funding therefore our group is the first to dismiss. We are still pushing though.

Ccbc recently changed the wording on the PSA matter b to read:
Feedback highlighted the need for more inclusive play opportunities, particularly for neurodivergent children. This led to the development of quieter, smaller group sessions starting in August 2025. The survey also confirmed the importance of accessible, local play spaces, especially in deprived and rural areas.

https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/services/children-and-families/children-play/play-sufficiency/play-sufficiency-summary

See attached the what ccbc have changed from the 2022 PSA and what's the future

They have produced stay and play sessions at at cenydd school in August, please attend and give your honesty feedback so they can tailor if needed. Although this is good, the need for independent play is much required. Shout out the Gemma Baker for her work on this.

Also shout out to Beth Gibbs and family who has set up Jigsaw page which promotes aln sessions around South East Wales.

I've just this morning asked ministers and party members of plaid cymru and reform what their policies for the Welsh government elections in 2026 for our children both in school and out of school.

That's all folks but we are still here in the background fighting for all disabled children in the borough.

11/09/2023

We need ideas for how ccbc can celebrate world autism awareness week 2024.
What would you like to be done?
What information about you like to be given out?
Would you like a change on how the general public is made more aware of ASD and how?
Do you think children should be made more aware of children with ASD and how they struggle?
Any ideas?
Did you know in the Welsh government autism code of practice the local authorities, health boards and NHS are meant to raise awareness of autism with the general public?

11/09/2023

In a recent email from Richard Edmunds (director of education and corporate) to a parent. This parent emailed her councillor about the disabled childrens partnership/contact report. This is a snapshot of the email involving sparkle. Seems ccbc have recognised sparkle/caerphilly children's centre should be funded.

29/08/2023

Unfortunately I will have to step down from campaigning soon due struggling to find where I can carry on.
Is there anyone who would like to take over?
Anyone with fresh ideas?
You would have access to any information I have gathered.

During this campaign, I've:
Fought to get a play officer and play team employed
Fought for play in the park to restart up
Raised awareness with the play officer of the difficulties with providing suitable aln provisions
Raised awareness to Welsh government ministers and ccbc about sparkle.
Raised awareness to Welsh government ministers and ccbc about torfaen play
Raised awareness to Welsh government ministers and ccbc about the gaps in support and lack of equality using legislation and evidence
Raised awareness to the general public through media (TV and newspapers) of lack of support and misuse of equality act by ccbc

Thank you for the support from my local councillors Kevin etheridge, Andrew farin childs and Nigel dix. To several people behind the scenes who have been my cheerleaders and motivates when I felt I hit a build wall.

I will leave the page open for information reasons.

Thank you all who have contributed to this campaign.

29/08/2023

Recent emails to cabinet members, councillors and play officers about world autism awareness week 2024.

The public awareness of autism is still at an all time low and the judgement in communities in Caerphilly borough is very high.

22/07/2023

Please use to link to email your councillors in your borough about getting more provisions for our children during the holidays

To mark the launch of our new report, The Loneliest Summer we are asking campaigners to write to their councillors calling for more holiday provision for disabled children in their local area. The majority of families with disabled children (81%) would like a holiday club for their disabled child du...

14/07/2023

Something we all know is true and needs to change

https://contact.org.uk/about-contact/news-and-views/9-10-families-unable-to-find-suitable-holiday-club-for-their-disabled-child-this-summer-2/

06/07/2023

Found this link. Very interesting:

We're calling the Government and local councils to create more inclusive playgrounds, so every child has an equal right to play.

04/07/2023

Hi all,

Some information for you from recent CCBC meetings.

Here is the link to show the information pack from the education scrutiny commitee held on the 20 june which includes the Financial Plan for Education, Lifelongg learning and schools 2023/24:

https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=500&MId=14082&LLL=0

In the agenda of this meeting it shows another Trininty Fields satellite unit is going to be built up in Rhymmey:

https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/documents/s45490/Scrutiny%20Report%20for%20Sustainable%20Communities%20for%20Learning%20Phase%203.pdf?LLL=0

Here is the current update from Cabinet about the new Centre for Vunerable Learners in Pontllanfraith:

https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/documents/s45404/Cabinet%20Report%20-%20Centre%20for%20Vulnerable%20Learners%20Update.pdf?LLL=0

I highlight that on the financial plan, the Caerphilly Children's centre only receives £35K from CCBC and there is discrepancies on the plan as there is a cut of £175K for the ALN advisory support service (this is not highlighted in any reports or budget plans).

Ive highlighted that neither Trinity Fields or Caerphilly Children's centre have working swimming pools and also CCBC don't provide disability swimming lessons.

Still a lot going on in the background and still waiting for Cllr Morgan (Cabinet member for Leisure) to get back to me from May.

I was on a webinar about Children in Wales (WG) producing a new project called Parents Connect Wales. If all goes well, this could be beneficial. Please see the link:

https://www.childreninwales.org.uk/professionals/our-work/parents-connect-wales/

04/07/2023

Hi all,

Some information for you from recent CCBC meetings.

Here is the link to show the information pack from the education scrutiny commitee held on the 20 june which includes the Financial Plan for Education, Lifelongg learning and schools 2023/24:

https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=500&MId=14082&LLL=0

In the agenda of this meeting it shows another Trininty Fields satellite unit is going to be built up in Rhymmey:

https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/documents/s45490/Scrutiny%20Report%20for%20Sustainable%20Communities%20for%20Learning%20Phase%203.pdf?LLL=0

Here is the current update from Cabinet about the new Centre for Vunerable Learners in Pontllanfraith:

https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/documents/s45404/Cabinet%20Report%20-%20Centre%20for%20Vulnerable%20Learners%20Update.pdf?LLL=0

I highlight that on the financial plan, the Caerphilly Children's centre only receives £35K from CCBC and there is discrepancies on the plan as there is a cut of £175K for the ALN advisory support service (this is not highlighted in any reports or budget plans).

Ive highlighted that neither Trinity Fields or Caerphilly Children's centre have working swimming pools and also CCBC don't provide disability swimming lessons.

Still a lot going on in the background and still waiting for Cllr Morgan (Cabinet member for Leisure) to get back to me from May.

I was on a webinar about Children in Wales (WG) producing a new project called Parents Connect Wales. If all goes well, this could be beneficial. Please see the link:

https://www.childreninwales.org.uk/professionals/our-work/parents-connect-wales/