Welsh petitions system makes a splash as Assembly committee receives its 150th at Wales’ national pool

Paralympic gold medallists Ellie Simmonds and David Roberts joined a group of youngsters with learning disabilities to hand over a petition to the National Assembly for Wales’ Petitions Committee today(March 26)

It is the 150th petition that the committee has received since the system was introduced in May 2007.

It calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to extend free swimming for young people in Wales.

At present free swimming is limited to the school holidays but youngsters from the Ammanford Gateway Group(AGG) say it’s more difficult for them to access pools during the crowded school holidays.

They’re submitting their petition with the help of Mencap Cymru’s Partners in Politics scheme which aims to get more young people with learning disabilities involved in the political process.

And that’s why the group linked up with swimmers from the British Parlympic squad at the National Pool in Swansea today.

“People with learning disabilities often don’t benefit from free swimming in the school holidays because the pools are too crowded,” said 15-year-old Lowri Davies, from Ammanford.

“My brother has a learning disability and would like to have free swimming throughout the year.”

Parlympic gold medalist Ellie Simmonds said: "When I first started out, I swam with the non-disabled children and it’s tough to get noticed with so many others around. It would be great if pool time could be freed up for swimmers like the ones from Ammanford"

Her Pontypridd-born Paralympic teammate David Roberts, who's won nine gold medals in three paralympics added: "When I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 11, I was told that swimming would be the best form of physiotherapy. That half an hour every other Sunday meant so much to me."

Val Lloyd AM, chair of the National Assembly for Wales’ Petitions Committee, added: “It’s great to see a group like this handing us a petition.

“Not only is this about increasing disabled access and getting more youngsters into the swimming pool, but it’s about increasing participation in democracy.

“The committee has looked at 150 petitions since 2007. Many of them have already led to positive changes in people’s lives.

“This committee is about showing people that the National Assembly for Wales can deliver real change that people want.”

Mencap Cymru Director Liz Neal said: “It is great to see young people from Ammanford using the petitions system at the National Assembly.

“The whole point of Mencap Cymru’s Partners In politics project is to equip young people with a learning disability with the skills and confidence to get their voice heard.

“It is also appropriate that this petition is requesting free swimming for young people, since many disabled children and young people continue to be denied opportunities to socialise.”

The petition will now be taken forward by the Petitions Committee before a future course of action is decided upon.

Examples of previous petitions looked at by the committee:

1) Ysgol Hen Felin – Pupils from Ysgol Hen Felin presented evidence to the Committee that ultimately contributed to an Assembly Government decision on increased funding for out of school activities for disabled young people. The Committee communicated this to the pupils by producing a video clip.

2) Banning plastic bags - This petition was referred to the Sustainability Committee who conducted an inquiry into the issue. Whilst an outright ban has not been achieved, the Committee recommended that a levy be introduced to deal with the problem. The Welsh government has accepted this recommendation in principle.

3) Pride in Barry - This petition was concerned with the use of money obtained by the Welsh government from the sale of land in Barry. The Pride in Barry group wanted this money reinvested in Barry. This petition was referred to the Enterprise and Learning Committee for consideration. The EL Committee held a public meeting in Barry and questioned the Deputy First Minister directly on this.

Whilst the petition did not achieve its stated aim, the issue was progressed and the petitioner was pleased with the process and the opportunity it afforded him to 'get his voice heard'.

Paralympic Gold medallist David Roberts joins youngster with learning disabilities at Wales' National Pool in Swansea.

Gold medallist Ellie Simmonds helping youngster from The Ammanford Gateway Group to hand over petition to Assembly Members.