Policy & Campaigns

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Cymorth Cymru acts as the voice of the homelessness and housing support sector, influencing the development and implementation of policy, legislation and practice that affects our members and the people they support. We do this by running campaigns, conducting research, publishing policy reports, contributing to Welsh Government groups, appearing in the media, speaking to Members of the Senedd, giving evidence to Senedd Committees, and responding to government and parliamentary consultations.

Reports

We regularly produce reports about the issues affecting our members and the people they support. This includes reports focused on the views of people with lived experience, the impact of services, the experiences of frontline workers, and good practice from across the sector. We use these reports to campaign for change, speaking up on behalf of our members and lobbying for improvements to policy, legislation, practice and funding.

Our most recent reports can be found here.

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Campaigns

Cymorth works with our members, partners and experts by experience to campaign for improvements to policy, legislation, practice and public attitudes. Over the past few years we have led a variety of campaigns, focused on the Welsh Government’s annual budget, the Senedd elections and the Homeless World Cup.

Current campaign: Housing Matters – Welsh Budget 2024/5

In advance of the Welsh Government’s Budget for 2024/24, we are working with Community Housing Cymru to campaign for an increase in the Housing Support Grant, which funds the vast majority of homelessness and housing support services in Wales.

We have collected evidence about the significant pressures facing services and published a report titled ‘Housing Matters’, which can be downloaded in English or in Welsh.

This has been circulated to the Welsh Government and Members of the Senedd, and will form the basis for our response to the Senedd Finance Committee inquiry into the Draft Budget.

Campaign pack

We have also published a campaign pack for our member organisations and supporters – we’re encouraging everyone to get involved in the campaign and make their voices heard. Here are some ways that you can help:

  • Invite your local and regional Senedd Members to visit your services. Tell them about the day of action on 1st December, ask them to attend the online event in the morning and to visit your services in the afternoon.
  • Post your support and experiences on social media over the next few weeks and throughout the day on 1st December using the hashtag #HousingMattersWales
  • Send evidence to the Senedd Finance Committee by 30th November.

Social media graphics

Download the graphics below and use them on your social media accounts to spread the message.

Representation

We represent our members and the people they support on a variety of Welsh Government and UK Government groups. These include:

  • Ending Homelessness National Advisory Board
  • Rapid Rehousing Task and Finish Group
  • Workforce Task and Finish Group
  • Strategic Outcomes Task and Finish Group
  • Housing Support Grant Outcomes Task and Finish Group
  • Expert Review Panel on legislative reform
  • Renting Homes Act Implementation Group
  • Tackling Poverty and Cost of Living Summits
  • Mental Health National Partnership Board
  • National Implementation Board for Drug Poisoning Prevention
  • VAWDASV Strategic Group
  • Learning Disability Ministerial Advisory Group
  • Learning Disability Independent Living Programme Task and Finish Group
  • DWP Strategic Partnership Board

Consultation Responses

We also respond to a number of government and parliamentary consultations on behalf of our members. We usually email our members or use our Networks to gather members’ views, but get in touch if you want to contribute to any upcoming consultations. Our most recent consultation responses can be found below.

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