The Reverend Aled Edwards
OBE
Upbringing
Education
Career
Commission for Racial Equality ►
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Welsh Devolution
Faith Fun and Politics
Favourite TV Show
Favourite MP's Website
Favourite AM's Weblog
Stories and Confessions
Welsh Language Pages
Articles
Reports
Meditations
BBC Cymru'r Byd
E-mail ►
Updated
15/04/2008
Site Hits
Since the advent of the National Assembly in May 1999 Aled has written and commented extensively on a number of issues affecting modern Wales. He has also contributed to several TV and radio debates particularly on race relations, devolved Welsh governance, the plight of asylum seekers and refugees in Wales and the continuing work of Wales' faith communities in a rapidly changing society.
This website seeks to provide a platform for informed debate about an array of frequently controversial issues written from an unique Welsh Christian perspective and conviction.
Latest News
Please feel free to visit Aled's Blog ► or his Facebook page on ►
The Thomas Cook Affair July 2007
Aled has, in his role as the CRE's Wales Commissioner, played an active part in responding to Thomas Cook's Welsh language policy. Further details can be obtained from the BBC's reports. ►
Aled Receives an OBE 14th December 2006
It was announced on Saturday 17th June,
at the beginning of Refugee Week, that Aled was to be appointed an officer of
the Order of the British Empire for his service to charities in Wales. The
actual investiture was held in Buckingham Palace on Thursday 14th December
2006.
The Commission for Racial Equality's Wales Commissioner 22nd November 2006
It was announced in November 2006 by the Department for Communities and Local Government that Aled had been appointed as the CRE's Wales' Commissioner for Racial Equality until October 2007. The news was warmly welcomed by the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan and Jane Hutt of the Welsh Assembly Government. ►
Aled's New Job
May 4th 2006
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland announced recently that Aled had been appointed to succeed the Reverend Gethin Abraham-Williams as the Chief Executive of CYTÛN (Churches Together in Wales). He will be starting his new post in September. Welcoming the announcement Aled said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge of leading the CYTÛN in all its work. It will also be good to retain some contact with the National Assembly through the Faith Communities Forum, arranging national services and celebrations and having the responsibility of ensuring that CYTÛN provides speedy responses to Assembly policy initiatives."
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
During
the Spring of 2001, Aled was asked to visit asylum detainees in Cardiff
Prison. He was deeply moved by what he saw and heard from the detainees
themselves. Since then, disturbed by the way in which the UK Government and
sections of the press and media treat and discusses displaced people, he has
frequently stood at the forefront of the debate concerning asylum seekers
and refugees in Wales. He has contributed regularly to TV and Radio debates
in Wales and the UK.
Aled Edwards has also served refugee communities and Wales' asylum seekers through his work as chair of DPIA (Displaced People in Action) and the projects sponsored by the Princess Diana Memorial Fund, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Community Fund. One of the projects was the pioneering WARD refugee doctors training scheme. During 2005 he was asked to serve as the chair of the Welsh Refugee Council's Board of Trustees.
More details ►
Welsh Devolution
Having campaigned for
a Welsh Assembly during the 1997 referendum through the successful Yes
for Wales campaign, Aled has retained a personal and professional
interest in Welsh politics. In May 1999 he was appointed CYTÛN's
(Churches Together in Wales) National Assembly Liaison Officer providing a
link between Wales' faith communities and the Welsh Assembly Government. As
a personal interest he has tracked the differences brought about by Welsh
devolution.
Top 100 Welsh Devolution Achievements March 1st 2006
To celebrate the opening of the National Assembly's Senedd building, Aled published a Top 100 List of Welsh Devolution's Achievements ►
This website also provides an easy to access 'What Have They Done For Us' list highlighting a comprehensive list of Assembly distinctives. ►
Faith and Politics
Politics is a serious business. So is faith. Both can also be a great deal of fun especially when they are brought together. Aled's 'Faith & Politics' page has some good stories, one or two confessions and links to some favourite websites. Over the years, Aled has encountered several funny Christians. Some have been far too serious to realise how funny they really are. Others have just enjoyed the God given gift of laughter. ►
Welsh Language Pages
Much of Aled's work has been written in Welsh. In 2001 he was asked to write weekly articles for BBC Wales' Welsh language website 'Cymru'r Byd'. The articles, published on line cover an array of issues. ►