The government will spend £4.5 million over the next three years to make cultural, heritage and sporting sites more inclusive and reflective of the history and contribution of black, Asian and minority-ethnic (BAME) people.

Some 22 organisations nationwide, including Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Monmouthshire council’s MonLife Heritage group, will each receive a share of around £2.8 million for new projects.

The initiative is part of the government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, and deputy minister for arts and sport Dawn Bowden said it would “deliver meaningful change”.

She added: “Our national and local museums, galleries, libraries, theatres, and sporting venues need to be inclusive of black, Asian and minority-ethnic people and places. Our culture, heritage and sports services must be culturally competent and reflective of the history and contribution made by black, Asian and minority-ethnic people to Welsh society.

“I am committed to delivering the goals and actions in the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan and the Programme for Government commitments within my portfolio. I look forward to our continued progress as we deliver meaningful change with and for black, Asian and minority-ethnic people across Wales.”

The deputy minister recently visited Monlife Heritage in Abergavenny to hear how they will use the new funding.

MonLife Heritage has received funding to improve interpretation of collections so they honestly tell their complex stories, better representing their links to slavery, colonisation and empire and respect their impact on communities past and present

Cllr Sara Burch, Monmouthshire County Council’s cabinet member for inclusive and active communities, said: “We are proud to be part of the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. Ensuring that our heritage collections are truly representative and reflective of our diverse community is very important.

“We are determined that all Monmouthshire’s places of culture, arts and sport should be inclusive places and reflect the tremendous contribution of black, Asian and minority-ethnic members of the community. We are grateful for Welsh Government funding that will enable MonLife Heritage in Abergavenny Museum and Chepstow Museum to continue this work.”

The Welsh Government launched a consultation in October seeking parents’ views on a number of plans to help lower the cost of kitting out their children for school.

Among the suggestions being consulted on are whether school uniforms need to be branded and the use of ‘iron on logos’, if schools should be able to exclusively use a single uniform supplier, and whether schools should provide uniform exchange or recycling schemes.

The consultation remains open until Monday, November 28.

Newport West MS Jayne Bryant, who chairs the Senedd’s children, young people and education committee, said: “It is great that our Welsh Labour Government is seeking views on ways to further support families through this cost-of-living crisis.

“Taking part in this consultation will give those affected the opportunity to have their say about these proposals to further reduce the cost of school uniform.

“A lot of work already happens in schools to keep uniform costs to a minimum. However, it remains that considerable amounts are being spent just to send children to school.”

Ms Bryant also urged families to check whether they are eligible for the Welsh Labour Government’s Pupil Development Grant Access Grant.

The grant, administered by Newport City Council, provides help with the cost of school uniform and school items.

“Amid the rising cost of living, it’s important that people in Newport are claiming what’s theirs,” Ms Bryant said.

Parents, carers, pupils, schools and other stakeholders can share their views by responding to the consultation before November 28.

The consultation can be found at: https://gov.wales/changes-statutory-guidance-school-uniform-and-appearance-policies

Expectations were high after kicking off the World Cup with a 6-2 thrashing of Iran, only to be given a reality check in Friday’s Al Khor contest.

Christian Pulisic rattled the crossbar in the first half as Gregg Berhalter’s American side threatened to cause an upset against an England team that created precious little across the 90 minutes.

The goalless draw meant Southgate’s side blew the chance to wrap up progress to the knockout phase with a game to spare, leading to loud jeers echoing around Al Bayt Stadium at the final whistle.

“Were we booed off, though? I’m not sure if that was aimed at us or… I don’t know,” the England manager said.

“Look, I’m really pleased with the application of the players. It was a really tough opponent, they defended incredibly well.

“Yes, we lacked a little bit of zip and quality in the final third, and we weren’t able to open up and create really good chances.

“But we had to show another side of ourselves in terms of the resilience without the ball, recovery runs, defending our box well, defending corners and set plays that came in.

“To be a successful team in a tournament you’ve got to show those different faces and I think we did that tonight.

“I’m sure there’ll be a lot of noise about the performance, but not many teams go through World Cups and get nine points in the group.

“We’re in a good position, we’ve got a little bit to do to qualify still, but we also have the opportunity to win the group.

“The players were very down and disappointed after the game, but I told them that isn’t how it’s going to be for the next few days because I thought they showed another side to what they’re about.

“And it’s going to be important moving forward.”

The performance and selection decisions will be pored over in great detail in the days to come, but England remain in control of their destiny.

They sit top of Group B heading into Tuesday’s clash against neighbours Wales and know progress is assured so long as they avoid a 4-0 loss.

“Look, of course I want our fans to go home happy and our fans at home to have a smile on their faces, so we haven’t quite managed to achieve that today,” former England defender Southgate said.

“But people are going to react how they react. I can’t let that affect how I feel about the team or the team feels.

“The objective is to qualify. We have three games to do it and I imagine most teams in the competition will take three games to do it.

“And we have to stay calm in these moments. We’ve been through tournaments before. I’ve been as a player and a coach.

“We had a unique thing of getting through in the last two in two games – partly because in the Euros three teams go through, so that’s not really a realistic thing anyway.

“This is the tournament of external noise. We’ve added another layer to that, I’m sure.

“But we’re on track, a bit to do, we can still win the group. That’s got to be our target.”

Wales’ second game of the 2022 World Cup kicks off at 10am GMT on Friday when children are in class.

The PA news agency revealed earlier this month that children had been given the green light to support Robert Page’s side.

The Welsh Government has left it up to individual schools to decide whether to allow children to watch the game, and Bale wants as many of them as possible to do so.

Bale said: “Being a 10am kick-off in Wales, if I was one of the teachers, I’d let them watch the game.

“I hope they do. It’s a historical moment in Wales, for us to be at a World Cup.

“Some of the parents of kids I know all want to watch the game but don’t want to take them off school.

“So I think a lot of schools will put the game on for them to cheer us on and get behind us.

“It’s a mini history lesson, and hopefully it’ll be a great occasion for all of them.”

Bale will make his own history by becoming his country’s most capped men’s footballer against Iran.

The 33-year-old captain – who made his debut in 2006 and is Wales’ record scorer with 41 goals – will win his 110th cap against Iran.

It will see him overtake Chris Gunter, who will be among the substitutes for Friday’s encounter, and move him into top spot in his own right.

Bale said: “I haven’t really been focusing on the cap thing to be honest, just trying to focus on the game.

“On a personal level it’s an amazing achievement, it’s an honour to represent my country so many times.

“But it’s more important that we try and get the victory. Hopefully we can and it’ll make it even more special.”

Joe Allen rejoined the main group on Wednesday and has recovered from a hamstring problem.

The 72-times-capped Allen, who was injured playing for Swansea on September 17, had been training on his own in Qatar until that point.

“Joe got through his fitness test, so that’s good news,” said manager Page, who is set to hand Kieffer Moore a starting spot after the striker came off the bench to spark Wales’ revival in Monday’s 1-1 draw against the United States.

“He’s fit and raring to go. We had to meet targets along the way and they’ve met every target.”

Bale added: “Joe is a massive player for us and doesn’t get credit he deserved. He’s a vital cog in the way we play.

“To have him available is a massive boost for us with two games remaining, so hopefully he can come on or start and he’ll do what Joe Allen does best and cover every blade of grass.

“I think he’s shown time and again how important he is and we hope he has a few miles left to go.”

Bale is set to overtake Newport’s Chris Gunter, who will be among the substitutes for Friday’s encounter, and win his 110th cap at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha.

Wales have been boosted by the return to fitness of midfielder Joe Allen, out since mid-September with a hamstring injury, as they enter must-win territory following Monday’s 1-1 draw with the United States.

Bale, who made his Wales debut in 2006 and is his country’s record scorer with 41 goals, said: “I haven’t really been focusing on the cap thing to be honest, just trying to focus on the game.

“On a personal level it’s an amazing achievement, it’s an honour to represent my country so many times.

“But it’s more important that we try and get the victory. Hopefully we can and it’ll make it even more special.”

Bale played the entire game against the USA which, like so many in this tournament, went well beyond 100 minutes due to stoppages and substitutions.

The 33-year-old said in the month leading up to the World Cup that he had been dealing with a “few little issues” and he had only played 30 minutes of football before the USA opener.

But Wales manager Robert Page, asked at his own pre-match press conference about the possibility of resting Bale against Iran, said: “Good luck not picking him.”

On a personal level it’s an amazing achievement, it’s an honour to represent my country so many times.

“But it’s more important that we try and get the victory.

Page insisted Bale was ready for Wales’ second group game, even if the player himself admitted such an energy-sapping match to open with was not ideal due to the quick turnaround in fixtures.

Bale said: “I’m feeling OK, obviously it took a few days before I could feel my legs again.

“But we are professionals, we try to recover and do the best we can. Playing 104 minutes, or whatever it was, isn’t ideal when you’ve got a game four days later.

“Everyone is doing all they can to recover for the next game. I’ve not played loads before I came here, but I’ve dealt with it before and it won’t be a problem.”

Wales are confident of handling the early-afternoon heat in Doha, with the temperature expected to be around 29 degrees Celsius when the game kicks off at 1pm local time.

Training has been tweaked in recent days with Wales starting earlier to acclimatise themselves to the hot conditions.

Bale said: “It’s warm, it’s not crazy warm. Training is different to a game as the intensity is different.

“We have a plan as a squad on nutrition and hydration. As long as we can execute that, it will put us in a better position to deal with the heat and humidity.”

Page has a full squad to choose from after Allen, who began training with the main group on Wednesday, was passed fit.

“Joe got through his fitness test, so that’s good news. He’s fit and raring to go,” said Page, who is set to hand Kieffer Moore a starting spot after the striker came off the bench to spark Wales’ revival against the USA.

“We were all concerned about him because of the extent of the injury.

“He kept breaking down. We had to meet targets along the way and they’ve met every target. Last week they pushed him to 100 per cent. It was a gamble.

“If he’d have broken down he would have been completely out of the tournament.”

I have long campaigned about the need for and importance of having affordable school uniform options.

I am delighted to see that Welsh Government is currently looking for opinions on a variety of proposals about school uniforms, including updating the statutory guidance to further support families through the cost-of-living crisis and making uniforms more affordable. The consultation closes on November 28, 2022.

Options being considered include the use of school branding and whether schools should have no logo at all; or the use of ‘iron on logos’ and making them available free of charge.

These could give families the opportunity to purchase cheaper uniforms from a retailer of their choice. Views are also being sought on whether schools should enter into single supplier contracts, their role in uniform recycling and exchange schemes.

I’m really pleased Welsh Government is asking for views on further ways in which it can support families through this cost-of-living crisis. I would encourage families across Torfaen to take part in this consultation and have their say about these proposals to further reduce the cost of school uniform.

I know that a lot of work already happens in schools to keep uniform costs to a minimum. However, we still hear of instances where families are spending eye-watering amounts just to send their children to school.

I’m also urging families to check whether they are eligible for the Welsh Government’s Pupil Development Grant Access Grant. This grant is administered by Torfaen County Borough Council and provides help with the cost of school uniform and school items.

Parents, carers, learners, schools and other key stakeholders are encouraged to share their views by responding to the consultation. The consultation is live at gov.wales/changes-statutory-guidance-school-uniform-and-appearance-policies or for the Welsh version llyw.cymru/newidiadau-ir-canllawiau-statudol-ar-bolisiau-gwisg-ysgol-ac-edrychiad-disgyblion

In 2019, the Welsh Government updated its school uniform guidance and made it statutory to better support governing bodies in making their decisions on school uniform policies in respect of access, affordability and flexibility.