The First Minister was questioned this week over the support that is available for children and young people with additional learning needs in Wales.

David Melding CBE AM challenged the First Minister over the closure of AFASIC Cymru, a UK charity representing children and young people with specific language impairment and speech, language and communication needs.
 

Speaking during First Ministers questions, Mr Melding spoke of how the closure of this charity would be a "massive loss" to children & young people, and to their families and to schools in Wales.

David Melding CBE AM, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales, said:

"This is a charity that has very deep roots in south Wales, founded over 40 years ago.

"We'll continue to have a service from its London headquarters, but I'm very concerned that current policy, which has reduced core funding to key organisations - I understand the logic behind that - but combined with the temporary nature of lottery funding, we are losing key skills and vital support networks.

"These charities are faced with obtaining the equivalent of administrative support from a great many bodies such as education authorities and health boards across Wales.

"We really do need a strategy to ensure that this expertise is maintained because it's of such great public benefit, particularly when we are reforming an essential aspect of the law".

ENDS

Afasic is the UK charity established in 1968 as a parent led organisation representing children and young people with specific language impairment (SLI) and speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) by raising awareness of this often hidden disability thus working for their inclusion in society and supporting their parents and carers.

The charity closed its Cardiff office on the 31st January, and will close its north Wales office at the end of March.