LAST week marked the first anniversary of Wales’ landmark organ donation system.

On December 1, 2015, Wales became the first part of the UK to introduce a soft opt-out system.

This means that people aged 18 and over who have lived in Wales for more than 12 months and who die in Wales, are now regarded as having consented to organ donation unless they have opted out. This is called deemed consent.

People who want to be organ donors can register a decision to opt in or do nothing, which will mean they have no objection to being an organ donor.

People who do not want to be organ donor can opt out.

A year on, the latest figures show that 39 organs from patients whose consent was deemed have been transplanted into people who are in need of replacement organs.

First minister Carwyn Jones said: “No other country in the rest of the UK is doing what Wales is doing when it comes to organ donation. We’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved so far.”

I was privileged to work closely with Mr and Mrs Burgess and other Vale of Glamorgan organ donor families last year, ahead of a moving ceremony at Barry Hospital to unveil a donor’s plaque - The Gift of Life Stone.

You can register your decision or change your decision at any time via Organ Donation Wales at organdonationwales.org/?lang=en or call: 0300 123 2323

Also last week, the cabinet secretary for communities and children, Carl Sargeant announced £422,334 funding to support Credit Unions in Wales for the 2017-18 financial year.

Credit unions are financial co-operatives owned and managed by the members who use them.

Members of a credit union save in a common fund which can be used to offer loans to the Credit Union's members at affordable rates of interest.

Because Credit Unions are financial co-operatives, members’ savings and any interest earned on loans stay in the local community to benefit local people.

In October I met Chrissie Williams, team leader at the Cardiff and Vale Credit union office on Holton Road to hear more about the important contribution of credit unions.

If you would like more information about your local Credit Union call 029 2087 2373.