Neil Hamilton, MS for Mid & West Wales, and Leader of UKIP Wales, is backing an initiative to encourage simple acts of kindness.

Mr Hamilton, a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs committee, is supporting a campaign launched by Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

He said: “I am delighted to back this campaign which is running across West Wales and encourages us all to be kind to each other.

“We all know how simple acts of kindness can make a big difference and this message is more important than ever during these challenging times.

“As we come to terms with the easing of draconian lockdown restrictions, imposed by the Welsh Government because of Covid-19, it is vital we all do everything we can to help one another.

“I would urge everyone to do their bit and find out more about the Connect to Kindness campaign in West Wales and the impact that kindness can have on all of us as individuals and collectively as communities.”

Connect to Kindness aims to create more understanding about the benefit and impact of kindness to ourselves and others in our community.

Rebecca Evans, Senior Public Health Officer from Public Health Wales said: “Scientific studies have shown that simple acts of kindness make a big difference to wellbeing and that kindness is good for you.”

As part of the campaign, the regional partners will be developing stronger community networks in order to create an environment where acts of kindness can flourish and happen more easily.

Connect to Kindness has grown out of a programme developed within the Healthier West Wales Transformation Fund. The partners are Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire County Councils, the Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire Associations of Voluntary Services, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Public Health Wales and the West Wales Care Partnership.

The campaign has five key messages: Kindness is for everyone, is good for you, connects us, protects us and is inspiring.