Dr Altaf Hussain had the privilege of addressing representatives from BAVO, based in Maesteg, during a Welsh Assembly Outreach visit.
During the visit, Altaf spoke about his experiences working in the medical profession, his work as an Assembly Member and Shadow Minister for Social Services, and the Welsh Conservative vision for Volunteering.
Altaf said “Welsh Conservatives want to see a bigger role for the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering. We would like to see the voluntary sector play a bigger role in delivering public services and would improve procurement processes to ensure the voluntary sector had a level playing field when it came to bidding for public contracts.
He went on to argue: “We have to move away from the model in which the state is the only provider of public services. In my role as Shadow Minister for Social Services I want to see the Third Sector playing a bigger role in social care and Welsh Conservatives will be seeking to improve the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care Bill, to ensure the voluntary sector has a bigger role in the delivery and planning of future social care.
Altaf praised the work of volunteers, and the vital role that they play in the community. He said: “We should be proud that volunteering is at a ten year high but we want to do more. We want to introduce the National Citizen Service to Wales. In England over 130,000 16 and 17 year olds have graduated from the National Citizen Service, we want young people in Wales to have the same opportunity”.
BAVO is an umbrella organisation set up to develop and promote voluntary and community action throughout the County Borough of Bridgend, and is situated on Commercial Street in Maesteg. Its aim is to provide support, guidance, practical assistance and information to local voluntary sector groups to develop skills, services and activities, ensuring they are represented across a wide range of issues locally, regionally and nationally.
It is part of the third sector infrastructure support network in Wales and works closely with other CVC's and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA). It is a membership organisation open to national and local voluntary and community groups. Membership to BAVO is currently free of charge and offers a range of benefits .