Fringe Meetings

ROOM 3A

Wales is in the middle of a housing emergency. An emergency that sees over 10,000 people homeless and trapped in temporary accommodation, private renters facing increasingly unaffordable rents, and 170,000 people stuck on waiting lists for a social home.

Behind these statistics are hundreds of thousands of people, each with their own story of how the housing emergency has affected them and their family.

Ending the housing emergency isn’t just about ensuring everyone has a roof over their head. It’s about ensuring everyone has access to a safe, secure and genuinely affordable home.

This panel will bring together diverse perspectives to discuss the opportunities available to the next Welsh Government to be able deliver the homes Wales needs and provide strong foundations for future generations.

ROOM 3B

What do people in Wales really think about energy infrastructure, and how should a future Welsh Government’s policy reflect those views? Drawing on recent public opinion and insights, this panel discussion will examine attitudes to energy, climate change, renewables, infrastructure and affordability and costs, considering what these insights mean for political parties in the run to the Senedd elections and for a potential future Plaid Cymru Government.

ROOM 3C

As we look to the next chapter of education in Wales, education unions have come together to explore the crisis facing schools in Wales - and look at finding solutions which support the workforce, as well as the future generations of Wales.

Join with NAHT Cymru, ASCL Cymru and NEU Cymru

Chaired by Anna Brychan

Refreshments available

ROOM 3A

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion. This important event will bring together experienced voices from across Wales —Cllr Gary Pritchard, Cllr Bryan Davies, Cllr Linda Evans, Peredur Griffiths MS (Chair) and Cefin Campbell AS—to explore how strong collaboration with local government can shape the future of communities across Wales. With local authorities responsible for delivering many of the Welsh Government’s key priorities, including vital areas such as education—where Cefin Campbell serves as Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson—this conversation will highlight the essential role of partnership in turning national ambition into real local impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear fresh insights, share ideas, and be part of the discussion on building an effective, responsive Plaid Cymru government for the years ahead.

ROOM 3B

Everyone should have a safe place to call home. Unfortunately, far too many people in Wales are facing homelessness and housing insecurity, leaving a lasting impact on their health and wellbeing. The latest statistics show that nearly 11,000 people are in temporary accommodation, and over 90,000 households are on social housing waiting lists.

Much has been achieved over the last few years, with a renewed focus on social house building and the ground-breaking Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill. However, the scale of the challenge means there is so much more to do if we are to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.

At this fringe event, Cymorth Cymru and Crisis will outline our priorities for the next Welsh Government and encourage attendees to share their views and show their support for ensuring everyone in Wales has a place to call home.

ROOM 3C

Brought to you by the Early Years Action Group, this fringe will focus on how the next Welsh Government can be champions for babies and young children, by delivering on their rights and ensuring their wellbeing. You will hear from a range of sector leaders and expert voices about the current issues facing babies and children, as well as the wider childcare sector who prides itself on providing expert care and support to enable them to thrive. Our panellists will outline the steps they think the next Welsh Government need to take in order to prioritising the rights, health and wellbeing of all babies and young children.

ROOM 3A

People migrating to Wales face huge challenges – from a lack of legal advice to the daily struggle of living with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). Join us to find out what actions can be taken to better support migrants and enable more people to access immigration justice.

Chaired by Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, the panel includes Sioned Williams, MS for South Wales West; Isata Kanneh, Bevan Foundation; Almas Laesm, member of the Bevan Foundation’s Experts by Experience group; and Jennifer Morgan, Cardiff University / Fresh Claims Project.

ROOM 3B

Join us for More in Common’s flagship deep dive into the state of public opinion in Wales, exploring growing voter disillusionment with traditional parties, the rise of Reform, and wider political shifts. Featuring analysis from our team, as well as senior politicians and journalists, this panel will examine whether Plaid can overturn Labour’s long dominance of Welsh politics to become the largest party in the Senedd for the first time.

ROOM 3C

Accessing good quality and timely support for our mental health is essential for living fulfilling lives. Yet, under the current system, this does not always happen for everyone.

Join us for an engaging conversation on the challenges people can face when trying to access support, and how an emerging approach which flips the current system inside-out could be the solution.

Chaired by the Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Mabon ap Gwynfor, you’ll hear from Dr Jen Daffin, Platfform and Katie Dalton, Cymorth Cymru, about the opportunities that Open Access presents for a hopeful re-imagining of how mental health services in Wales can be different in the future.

ROOM 4B

Following an intense and challenging period for farming and politics in Wales, the industry now looks to the next Senedd and Welsh Government to maintain strong engagement across all farming and rural policies in the interest of providing stability for Welsh farm businesses.

Ahead of this year’s pivotal Senedd elections, both the Farmers’ Union of Wales and NFU Cymru will set out their joint asks of the next Welsh Government, asks which are designed to secure a sustainable future for Welsh farming, Welsh food, the Welsh environment and our rural communities.

ROOM 3A

Ever thought about standing for council?

In May 2027 the local elections will take place for county, town and community councils across Wales.

Historically, just 36% of these positions are taken up by women. If local government is to be truly representative of the people it serves, then we need to see more women councillors.

This session will tell you more about standing for council, what the role entails and there will be a chance to ask questions of a panel of current and former councillors.

This Fringe is for women who are members of Plaid Cymru.

ROOM 3B

As the nation’s designated Universal Service Provider, Royal Mail is proud to deliver to all 1.4 million addresses across Wales and to employ around 5,500 people across the country. As we prepare to roll-out our new delivery model, we’d like to welcome you to hear from our with Regional Operations Director, Krish Tangri, to learn more about what this means for services in your constituency. Refreshments will be provided.

ROOM 3C

Wales could be the first country in the world to end new transmissions of HIV, and the next Senedd could be the one to achieve this historic feat. Join Terrence Higgins Trust as we discuss what action is required to end new cases of HIV in Wales by 2030 and tackle HIV stigma.

ROOM 3A

Wales faces long-term challenges, from high-level skills and productivity to public services, regional inequality and economic resilience. Responding effectively will require a clear focus on place, better access to opportunity, and strong partnerships for national renewal. Wales’ universities stand ready to deliver. As anchor institutions rooted in communities across Wales, universities can work alongside policymakers, businesses and public services to develop high-level skills, support local economies, translate research into real-world impact, and drive innovation and economic growth. Yet it is no secret that universities face a challenging operating environment. This session will explore how a sustainable university sector can be at the heart of an ambitious plan to build a more skilled and prosperous nation. Breakfast will be served.

ROOM 3B

Families raising disabled and seriously ill children in Wales are under immense and growing strain. Family Fund’s Cost of Caring 2025 shows almost half of families cannot meet basic daily costs, 87% have no savings, and many parents provide the equivalent of full-time unpaid care.

This event explores what meaningful support is needed for the 38,600 low-income families raising disabled children across Wales. Childcare improvements are welcome, but these families face additional pressures that require tailored solutions, reliable short breaks, timely access to therapies, emotional support for parents and community-based services that prevent crisis.

Drawing on lived experience and new evidence, this session will discuss how Wales can better support families so that disabled children can thrive in every community.

Hosted by Davina Carey-Evans, Family Fund supported by a Parent/Carer

ROOM 3C

Ethnic minority communities, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, and those seeking sanctuary are more likely to experience poor housing conditions, overcrowding, homelessness and exclusion from support. Harmful narratives blaming migrants, refugees and equality work for housing pressures are becoming more visible, distorting public debate and undermining community cohesion. This fringe session will explore how racism operates across housing and homelessness in Wales - from unequal living conditions and service failures, to gaps in pathways for refugees and people with no recourse to public funds, and the growing influence of misinformation and anti-EDI backlash. Drawing on evidence, lived experience and policy analysis, we will focus on what anti-racist housing policy looks like in practice, and the leadership needed from the next Welsh Government.

ROOM 3A

Wales is rich in renewable resources, yet external forces often extract profits and control over our industrial future. Climate Cymru's fringe confronts this injustice, exploring a fair economy where our natural wealth serves our people.

We will discuss practical steps for the next Welsh Government to secure fiscal independence, including the establishment of a Wales Wealth Fund fuelled by renewable energy. We’ll also explore a Guaranteed Retraining Income as a right for every worker, ensuring a just transition that leaves no one behind.

From geothermal energy in abandoned coal mines to securing Welsh steel on strong, unionised contracts, we must ensure those who built our past also own our future. Join us to discuss how we keep high-value industries and shared prosperity in Wales.

ROOM 3B

Plaid Cymru has proposed a ‘transformative and universal’, funded childcare offer for every family in Wales. It’s a huge opportunity to lower costs for parents and give our children the best start in life.

Getting this right means fixing a complicated system, recruiting and retaining more staff, and making sure every setting provides high quality care which helps children reach their potential. These aren't just hurdles; they are opportunities to build something better from the ground up.

Join Nesta Cymru, Mudiad Meithrin, and Sioned Williams MS for a discussion exploring innovative ways to turn ambition into reality.

ROOM 3C

We can't ignore the rise of the far right in Wales, as we look towards the Senedd elections in May.

NEU Cymru, UCU Cymru and TUC Cymru join forces with Plaid Cymru's Undeb group to look at what we are doing to fight the far right in Wales.

Chaired by Lindsay Whittle MS
With Nicola Fitzpatrick, NEU Cymru
Jamie Insole, UCU Cymru
Chloe Rees, TUC Cymru
Cllr Gethin Jones, Undeb

Refreshments provided

ROOM 3A

If we are serious about preventative healthcare and moving care closer to home, we need to think differently about how we plan and grow our future workforce. Recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals is a challenge for health boards across Wales, yet often pathways into professions are limited and many face financial or logistical barriers to higher education.

This fringe session will consider how we can help meet the future health needs of communities by exploring opportunities around earn as you learn initiatives. During the session, attendees will hear from Allied Health Professional bodies about the potential of degree apprenticeships and have the chance to take part in a discussion about what action is required to support the transformation of health and social care.

ROOM 3B

Wales is at a turning point for lifelong learning and adult education. This session will explore a new lifelong learning entitlement for every adult, emphasising the need to address urgent skills gaps in Wales. This vision includes reversing cuts to adult education, establishing new funding for colleges to support flexible reskilling and upskilling, and providing individuals with access to a personalised, flexible learning fund throughout their lives. All sectors have a stake in a successful further education sector - vital to Wales’ social and economic infrastructure. Join sector leaders to discuss how investing in lifelong learning can unlock opportunities for individuals, communities, and the Welsh economy. A light lunch will be provided.

ROOM 3C

Join the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales, as they outline how small and medium sized businesses are operating in the current economic climate. What is working and, importantly, what does business need from the next Welsh Government.

They the authoritative voice of businesses across Wales, advocating for a better social, political, and economic environment. With a strong grassroots structure, a Members Advisory Council and a dedicated team based throughout Wales, FSB Wales ensures its members’ voices are heard at the heart of decision-making and beyond.

This insightful session is being supported by Heledd Fychan MS, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Finance, Welsh Language and Culture.

Drinks and refreshment will be available.

ROOM 4B

As the climate emergency accelerates and global conflicts deepen, Wales faces a defining opportunity: to strengthen its role as a globally responsible nation. Building on its pioneering Well-being of Future Generations Act and proud history of international solidarity, Wales is uniquely placed to show how a small nation can drive big change — from championing climate justice and ethical global supply chains to using its voice to stand up for peace and human rights. This session will explore how Wales can deepen its humanitarian leadership, support communities on the frontline of crisis, and ensure its policies — at home and abroad — help build a fairer, safer world for all.

ROOM 3A

The last decade has seen rapid changes in the way services operate at community level. Austerity, the challenges of an ageing population, Covid and the cost-of-living crisis have put huge strain on public bodies. In response, community organisations have significantly increased the ambition and scope of their work. Welsh Government policies and service planning in many parts of Wales have been slow to recognise these changes.

This event will feature speakers from local government, the voluntary sector and leading think tank New Local. We will explore how collaboration across government, communities, and the voluntary sector can create more effective, inclusive, and sustainable services. The discussion will highlight practical models and strategies for breaking down silos, and what a Plaid Cymru-led government can do to enhance collaborative working, delivering better outcomes for us all.

ROOM 3B

‘A chance for those standing for election as Candidates and those acting as their agents to learn about the changes to Electoral rules and guidance in the run up to the 2026 Senedd Election’

ROOM 3C

The Mentrau can help deliver a number of the recommendations of the Senedd's cross-party committee report chaired by Delyth Jewell MP, published in February this year, as well as several earlier recommendations of the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities. We will present the work of the Mentrau, focusing specifically on our work to support and promote the Welsh language in education, to organise and promote music festivals, and to ensure a positive impact and legacy of the National Eisteddfod on the communities of Wales. A panel of a senior officers from a range of Mentrau will discuss the potential for the Mentrau to develop and evolve their provision and partnerships, and to contribute increasingly to the ambitions of developments such as the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025. There will also be an opportunity to ask the Mentrau questions from the floor.