Children and young people need a voice in the next Assembly, says new report
29 March 2011
Children and young people in Wales will, more than ever, need a voice in the National Assembly when it enters its fourth term, according to a new report.
The current Children and Young People Committee, the first of its kind in Europe when it was set up, will cease to exist when the Assembly dissolves on 1 April.
During the past four years, it has tackled subjects such as the provision of advocacy services for youngsters, child poverty, children’s budgeting, arrangements for placement of children into care and the provision of safe places to play in Wales.
In its legacy report published today (29 March), the Committee outlines evidence it received directly from children and young people from across the country, some of whom came to give evidence to members at the Senedd and some via videolink.
Among their concerns were issues surrounding bullying, online safety, the environment, healthy eating, education and transport.
Chair of the Committee, Helen Mary Jones AM, said: “The Children and Young People Committee is a vital voice at the National Assembly for those who would otherwise struggle to be heard.
“During the first four years of this committee we have tried to engage with children and young people on their level, going out and meeting them, inviting them to submit evidence in whatever form they choose and trying to understand more about how we can help them.
“The experience has been invaluable and rewarding for us and, I hope, a way for them to see that their opinion counts.
“The work of this Committee has been praised by the organisations and individuals we work with and even internationally by other legislative bodies.
“But our work isn’t finished and we must continue to develop and involve our children and young people in the Fourth Assembly.”
The Committee’s legacy report contains five recommendations for the Fourth Assembly:
That scrutiny of the delivery of Families First aims is carried out throughout the Fourth Assembly.
That further scrutiny on advocacy services takes place in the Fourth Assembly. Developments such as the ‘Meic’ advocacy helpline and the National Independent Advocacy Board have been welcomed by the Committee, but concerns around the regional commissioning model remain.
That the issue of inadequate and poorly maintained school toilet facilities is subject to on-going scrutiny in the Fourth Assembly.
That the implementation of the Child Poverty Strategy and other actions designed to reduce child poverty, and particularly severe child poverty scrutinised in the fourth assembly.
That any successor committee considers calling Ministers with relevant portfolios to give evidence alongside the Deputy Minister for Children, if such a post is created by the Fourth Assembly Government.
A selection of comments from individuals and organisations which have submitted evidence to the Committee can be found below:
“It was good to meet with the Committee to tell them what being looked after and being a care leaver is really like. No one can really tell what it is like unless they have been there themselves. I could tell that the Committee were really interested and wanted to understand. It would be good to be able to follow what changes have happened for children and young people as a result of the Committee’s report.” – Katie, 19.
“I wanted everyone to hear what we had to say and for the Committee members to realise and understand we want poverty to change for the better so people are happy. I felt we had successfully performed our presentations and I feel we have definitely made a change.” Courtney Bush, 15, Cardiff.
“I hoped that people would understand the meaning of poverty and to achieve making a difference. I felt proud to represent the Save the Children Wales Young Ambassadors.” Paige Courtney, 15, Cardiff.
“The Children and Young People Committee has ensured children’s issues have remained on the agenda of the Welsh Assembly Government. In the last Assembly term, the Committee has identified key issues for children and young people, listened and involved them and formulated recommendations, many of which have been accepted and implemented by the Welsh Government. NSPCC Cymru/ Wales believes that with one in five children and young people in Wales having experienced abuse or neglect, child protection simply must be a top priority for the next Assembly Government so more tragic cases of abuse can be avoided.” – Des Mannion, head of Service, NSPCC Cymru/Wales.
In our opinion, the work of the Committee has been invaluable in that it has worked tirelessly on a series of reports that would not have happened elsewhere. It has engaged with organisations working with children and young people, with children and young people themselves and with parents and carers through a variety of methods including evidence sessions, consultations and visits. Although we have created a rod for our own back in terms of workload for staff and members of Children in Wales, we have been extremely happy with the results and have no doubt that the continuous focus on children and young people has contributed very positively to the Assembly Government taking action and to improving the lives of children and young people in Wales. – Catriona Williams, Chief Executive, Children in Wales.