Salvation Army helps produce election films for churches in Wales

published on 3 Mar 2016

The Salvation Army has helped produce a series of films to encourage more people to vote at the Welsh Elections in May.

We have been working with Cytûn, the organisation for Churches Together in Wales, to highlight the key issues affecting communities ahead of the National Assembly vote on May 5.

Poverty and housing, and farming and rural life are the issues being explored in the films, which were officially unveiled today at the Assembly’s Tŷ Hywel building.

The films were produced by our Video Production Unit, and feature case studies and interviews with candidates for each of the four main parties standing for election – Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru. There will be English and Welsh language versions of each film available. 

In the films, Laura Major, a support worker at our Tŷ Gobaith Lifehouse in Cardiff, and the Revd Canon Eileen Davies, rural life adviser for St David's Diocese, describe the issues they face in their day-to-day work and then put their questions to the parties' spokespeople. 

Laura is seen at work at Ty Gobaith, which translates as “Hope House” in English, helping to resettle people and give them the life skills they need to maintain their own homes. In the films, Laura asks if more affordable housing can be made available for people overcoming the difficulties of homelessness.

Laura said: “Trying to find accommodation in Cardiff for people to move into can be difficult. There are a lot of properties available but often not to people who have been homeless. That is very unfortunate. I’m pleased I was able to raise this kind of issues directly with politicians.”

Major David Emery, Public Affairs Officer for Wales, said: "We're delighted to have played a key role in this joint project with all the churches in Wales.

"Hopefully the films will help engage people on the many issues affecting communities around the country.

"I'd also like to say a massive thank you to our Video Production Unit for their incredible support on such an important and worthwhile project."

Lieutenant Colonel Joao Paulo Ramos, on behalf of The Salvation Army’s Divisional Leaders covering Wales, said: “It is important that churches work together to encourage people to get involved in the political process.

"I'm pleased at the way The Salvation Army has been involved in helping create such valuable films."

You can view all the films at: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/asking-questions-matter-wales-election-2016 and on http://www.cytun.org.uk/elections2016/