Media:

Please find below, links to Lesley's news releases and articles:

LESLEY FLIES THE FLAG FOR OUR ARMED FORCES 23/06/2010

Wrexham's Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths has called on local communities, organisations and businesses across Wrexham to help celebrate Armed Forces Day this coming Saturday. The day is an annual opportunity for the nation to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to service families, and from veterans to cadets. Commenting, Lesley Griffiths AM said: "I think it’s fantastic that we now have a day to formally thank our service men and women. "I pay tribute to all our armed forces members, past and present, who have made great sacrifices to defend the UK and its interests and contribute to international peace keeping operations. "The nation owes them all a huge debt of gratitude." For more information log on to the Armed Forces Day website at: www.armedforcesday.org.uk   Back to News Headlines

LESLEY BACKS PULMONARY REHAB CAMPAIGN 20/06/2010

Lesley Griffiths, Wrexham's Assembly Member, is backing the call for more pulmonary rehab courses to be organised in Wales with the aim of helping people with a lung condition to increase their level of activity and manage their condition. The campaign is being organised by the British Lung Foundation Wales. Pulmonary rehab courses include physical exercise, education on self-care, dietary advice, occupational therapy, psychology and social support and evidence shows that this leads to an improved quality of life for patients. In particular, rehab can increase patients’ ability to stay active and exercise, with all-round benefits to their health. It also helps them to deal more confidently with breathlessness. It helps improve mental health as it gets people out of the house and into a social setting. It means they are less likely to have to go back into hospital. Research shows that pulmonary rehab: * Reduces hospital admissions – a recent report found the rate fell from 33% to 7% * Shortens length of stay in hospital – by as much as 50% * Reduces the number of home visits patients need from their GP This impact of respiratory disease on NHS hospitals in Wales is huge: * 44,711 emergency admissions for respiratory diseases in Welsh hospitals (2008) * 7.35 days average length of stay for each of these patients (2008) * 40% percentage of emergency respiratory admissions that were readmissions * £2,300 cost per week of a hospital bed, according to Wales Audit Office figures Commenting on the British Lung Foundation Wales campaign, Lesley Griffiths AM said: "The need for pulmonary rehab courses is clear and the benefits they can deliver to patients are self-evident. The effect of respiratory diseases on the NHS is increasing and it is important that as much help as possible is given to people with lung conditions to ensure they can lead active healthy lives without having to go back and forth frequently to hospital."   Back to News Headlines

LESLEY GRIFFITHS AM SHOWS HER SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL MICROCHIPPING MONTH 20/06/2010

Wrexham's Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths has teamed up with the Kennel Club and Petlog on the steps of the Senedd, urging all pet owners to have their animals microchipped as part of National Microchipping Month 2010, which takes place throughout June. National Microchipping Month aims to encourage and promote responsible pet ownership through microchipping as the preferred method of permanent pet identification. To support the campaign, Lesley met with representatives from the Kennel Club to talk about the importance of microchipping. She was also presented with a large cheque, displaying the astonishing £419,5641* that Welsh local authorities could save each year on kennelling costs if dogs were microchipped and could then be returned home more easily. Speaking at the event, Lesley Griffiths AM said: “Microchipping is a huge part of being a responsible dog owner. Not only can it mean the difference between being reunited with a lost pet or never seeing them again, but it could also save our local authority hundreds of thousands of pounds each year. I therefore urge both vets and pet owners to spread the word of just how vital microchipping is.” Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club’s Communications Director, said: “The importance of having your beloved pet microchipped cannot be underestimated, and throughout June we aim to show more people than ever just how quick and easy the process is. We are grateful to Lesley for helping to highlight the importance of responsible pet ownership and microchipping as the preferred method of identification.” Petlog will be running further events throughout June to promote National Microchipping Month – to find out more information or to get involved visit: www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk   Back to News Headlines

LESLEY IMPRESSED BY UNIQUE NEW MAPSHOWING GROWING COMMUNITIES IN WALES 13/06/2010

A dual-language map which highlights community gardening and farming projects across Wales was launched on June 9, 2010 at a special celebration event at the Senedd in Cardiff and attended by Wrexham's AM, Lesley Griffiths. The event - organised by the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) - featured exhibitions from some of the groups featured on the map, as well as a buffet that includes food grown on these sites/ There has been an explosion of interest over the last two years in creating green spaces in Wales, due to concerns over issues such as food miles, climate change and healthy eating. The map acts as a guide to many of these projects which are open to visitors. The map also features associated groups such as community orchards, school growing projects, community-managed allotment gardens and community supported agriculture schemes. The colourful A2 size map contains showcases 45 groups, but FCFCG Development Co-ordinator for Wales Katie Jones, said this was just the tip of the iceberg: "As well as the groups on the map, there are more than 130 groups not yet members of FCFCG, plus many more new and fledgling groups being set up all the time. Our job is to support their work and advocate on their behalf to the Welsh Assembly. This map is the first of its kind in Wales and marks a major milestone for community farming and gardening here. It highlights the phenomenal amount of interest there is in these community-led activities in Wales. "Not only will this map be useful for people wanting to visit these type of projects or get involved with activities, events, training and volunteering opportunities, but it also enables people thinking of setting up a group to get in contact with someone in their region who has already done it. And there are also pointers to where all these kind of groups can get information and support from FCFCG itself." The map will be distributed to all of FCFCG member projects across Wales, a wide range of third sector organisations, including all voluntary councils, communities first organisations etc, Local Authorities, schools, libraries and Tourist Information Centres. The map will also be available to download from the Wales page of this website. The celebration event was open to the public and a number of representatives from groups featured on the map attended, as well as AM assembly members and representatives from local authorities and third sector organisations in Wales. Following the launch, Wrexham's AM, Lesley Griffiths said: "I was very impressed by the map concept and I genuinely want to see more Wrexham projects take part in this scheme. That is why I have asked the FCFCG to see what can be done to encourage more projects in the Wrexham area to be included in the map."   Back to News Headlines

LESLEY GRIFFITHS AM HELPS DOG WALKERS GET ‘IN THE KNOW’ AT KENNEL CLUB LAUNCH OF WELSH ACCESS GUIDE 13/05/2010

Lesley Griffiths AM joined the Kennel Club yesterday to help set the record straight regarding access rights for dog owners with the launch at the National Assembly for Wales, of the KC Dog Access Guide for Wales, called ‘Walkies’. A keen supporter of the Kennel Club’s dog access campaign, Lesley commented: “The KC Dog Access Guide is an important step towards a more harmonious relationship between dog walkers, farmers and land managers. “The Welsh countryside is there to be enjoyed by those that respect the legislation regarding access and the Kennel Club's guide is an ideal way to provide walkers with this information in a concise way." Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, Local Authorities can restrict dogs’ access to open spaces, whether on private or public land. The Kennel Club's KC Dog campaign advocates that responsible dog ownership is a key step towards preventing such measures from being implemented. The Kennel Club’s comprehensive new wallet-sized access guide is designed for dog owners and walkers to carry with them when out and about in the Welsh countryside, as a way of ensuring that they know their rights and responsibilities when it comes to access. To request an English or Welsh KC Dog Access Guide, email kcdog@thekennelclub.org.uk or visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/kcdog   Back to News Headlines