01-04-2025
Charity warns more money is needed to help those with conditions
Parkinson's UK Cymru has urged the Welsh Government to establish a long-term funding strategy for community arts and sports.
The charity warns that without this, people with chronic conditions, including Parkinson's, will face 'significant isolation, loneliness and deteriorating health outcomes.'
Despite a recent £4.4 million annual top-up for the arts, Parkinson's UK Cymru believes more is needed.
Dawn McGuinness, community development manager at Parkinson's UK Cymru, said: "Getting involved in the community is a lifeline for people living with Parkinson's but many cultural and sports initiatives that we and our partners organise rely on funding."
A Senedd Committee report highlighted that Wales ranks third from bottom of European countries in terms of spending per person on recreational and sporting services and second from bottom for cultural services.
Parkinson's UK Cymru works with partners across Wales to provide arts and sports-based support for people living with the condition.
One initiative is ParkinSings, a pilot project with social enterprise Choirs For Good, which gives those with Parkinson's and their carers an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of community singing.
The charity warns that without funding streams and long-term investment, many people living with chronic conditions will have limited opportunities to live well with their condition.
