Care & Repair attends the 2025 Spring Party Conferences

Members of the Care & Repair Cymru team travelled across Wales for the 2025 Party Conference Season

In preparation for the 2026 Senedd Elections members of the Care & Repair team attended the Spring Welsh political party conferences.  We showcased the important work that our local Care & Repair agencies are doing across Wales to support older people to live safely, warmly and independently and provide policy recommendations to improve housing conditions for the people that we help.

We attended the Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour Party Conferences to highlight the impact of poor housing conditions for older and vulnerable people in Wales. We engaged with Members of the Senedd across all political parties and our conversations were varied and engaging.

The impact of poor housing on health and wellbeing

The importance of good-quality housing on ill-health prevention and supporting the Welsh NHS was a prevalent conversation topic and we highlighted how hazardous housing condition can:

▪️ Increase the likelihood of having a fall at home through uneven flooring or loose tiles leading to subsequent hospital admission.

▪️ Inhibit the ability to install adaptations such as handrails or grab rails which are proven to reduce injurious falls by 17%

▪️ Reduce energy efficiency of a home, leading to excess cold, damp and mould which causes and exacerbates respiratory conditions, increase the likelihood of a stroke and add further winter pressure to the NHS.

We had the opportunity to chat to First Minister Eluned Morgan MS about the life-changing work that is happening across all 13 local Care & Repair agencies, not only through the installation of housing adaptions to promote independent living but in our support and advice services that provide income maximisation advice, fuel poverty support and access funding to make all-important home repairs.

Implementing a national Safety Net Grant for hazardous disrepair

We also provided delegates with a copy of our 2026 Senedd Election Manifesto that is calling for the implementation of a national Safety Net Grant to protect the poorest and most vulnerable from hazardous housing disrepair. Wales has an ageing population and the oldest housing stock in Europe which means Welsh Government must act to ensure homes are suitable for both current and future generations of older people. This is why a national Safety Net Grant is needed now to protect those most vulnerable to harmful housing disrepair and keep people safe, warm and independent in their own homes.