I’m proud to be part of the Plaid Cymru team with Lisbeth McLean and Sara Crowley, representing and supporting the people of Pontypridd, Cynon and Merthyr in our local communities and in our Senedd. Here you can learn more about one of my colleagues, Sera Crowley, her background and what she'd like to achieve in her first terms as a Member of the Senedd.
Born and brought up in the Cynon Valley, she lives there with her family and is proud of her heritage. Rooted in her community, she understands the realities facing people across the valleys, and the strengths too.
Her career has focused on standing alongside children and young people, especially those at risk of being overlooked. Sara qualified as a primary school teacher through the medium of Welsh at Trinity College, Carmarthen, before working for a crime prevention charity in secondary schools and prisons, supporting people at challenging points in their lives.
Before entering politics, she spent a decade in the NHS, where she developed SEREN Connect, a national education programme co-produced with young people to improve support for adolescents living with type 1 diabetes.
Living with type 1 diabetes from a young age shaped her activism and determination to see systems work better for everyone. Sara believes politics should be compassionate and rooted in people’s everyday lives. She is passionate about amplifying unheard voices, encouraging more women into politics, and challenging the barriers, that hold people back, making sure no one is left behind. Here we ask her a few questions about her journey to becoming a Senedd Member and what she hopes to achieve during her term.
What motivated you to stand as a Member of the Senedd?
“My journey into politics was shaped by both personal experience and a growing belief that people like me should be in positions of influence. Living with type 1 diabetes, nearly losing my life as a teenager, and later losing my sight highlighted the gaps in systems that are meant to support us. At times of real need, I saw how easy it is to fall through the cracks. That experience sparked my activism. Through programmes like Equal Power, Equal Voice, I found the confidence to step forward and realised that politics should reflect real lives from all walks of life. I stood to make sure others feel seen, heard, and supported.”
What issues, locally and nationally, are you most passionate about?
“I’m especially passionate about improving support for children and young people, particularly those living with long-term health conditions. Too often, services don’t join up, and families are left to navigate complex systems alone. I care deeply about strengthening our NHS, ensuring early intervention, and creating fairer, more compassionate public services. Locally, I want to see stronger opportunities for valley communities and better support for families. Nationally, I’m committed to tackling inequalities and making sure no one is left behind. At the heart of it all is a belief that systems should work with people, not make life harder for them.”
What do you hope to achieve in your first term as a MS?
“In my first term, I want to be a strong, approachable voice for my community and to start making practical changes that improve people’s lives. I want to push for better joined-up support for young people with long-term health conditions, building on my experience in the NHS. I also want to help shift the culture of politics, making it more compassionate and more reflective of the communities it serves. That includes encouraging more women and underrepresented voices into public life. Ultimately, I want people across Pontypridd, Cynon and Merthyr to feel listened to, supported, and proud that their voices are heard.”
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