Stepping Stones North Wales Welcomes Flint Wrecsam MS Sam Rowlands

6th July 2026

Stepping Stones North Wales was delighted to welcome Flint Wrecsam MS Sam Rowlands to the charity's recent Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Day, where he met counsellors, volunteers and colleagues and heard first-hand about the impact of the charity's work supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse across North Wales.

During his visit, Sam met members of the team from across North Wales and learned more about the specialist, trauma-informed support the charity provides to survivors. Discussions also focused on the challenges facing specialist charities, including the uncertainty created by short-term funding and the impact this has on planning services, retaining experienced staff and meeting increasing demand for support.

The following week, Sam highlighted the work of Stepping Stones North Wales during proceedings in the Senedd, drawing attention to both the importance of specialist support for survivors and the funding challenges facing charities in the sector. Following his contribution, he also wrote to the relevant Welsh Government Minister to reinforce the issues raised during his visit.

Philip Eastment, Chief Executive of Stepping Stones North Wales, said:

"We were delighted to welcome Sam to our CPD Day and are grateful that he took the time to learn more about the impact of our charity's work and the challenges faced by charities in our specialist sector in delivering that support.

"It means so much to our whole team that Sam not only came to learn about our work, but then immediately took the opportunity to raise the issues we discussed in the Senedd and to write to the Welsh Government Minister on our behalf."

Stepping Stones North Wales provides free, specialist, trauma-informed support to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse across all six counties of North Wales through counselling, art therapy, peer support and specialist recovery services delivered in both Welsh and English.

The charity's work was recently recognised nationally when it was named one of just 22 winners from more than 180 charities across Wales, the North of England and the Midlands to receive a 2026 Weston Charity Award. The award recognises the charity's impact in supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse across North Wales.

Philip Eastment added:

"National recognition through the Weston Charity Awards is a tremendous honour for our charity and reflects the professionalism, compassion and dedication of our whole team. We hope that recognition, together with the support shown by elected representatives such as

Sam Rowlands, will help strengthen the case for longer-term investment in specialist services so that we can continue supporting survivors across North Wales for many years to come."