Launching our Three Year Strategy
Last month we published our new three-year-strategy, outlining what we’ll do over the next three years to protect and promote children’s rights in Wales. The strategy sets out our vision, our mission and our purpose to help make life better for children and young people in Wales.
Our three-year strategy is available to read on our website in both Welsh and English.
Eisteddfod yr Urdd
This month was kick started with a fantastic week at Eisteddfod yr Urdd which was held in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire this year. Several members of staff worked on our stall during the week engaging with children, parents and professionals within the education and childcare sector. Our stall provided a quiet space for children to relax that included sensory toys. It was great to discuss how professionals can use our free and bilingual resources to embed children’s rights learning in their work. The week also gave us an opportunity to highlight our Investigations and Advice Service to visitors from across Wales. During the week we asked children to show us where they had travelled from to get to the Eisteddfod by placing a sticker on a map. By the last day our map was filled with stickers in every corner of Wales.
During the week Rocio also launched a joint briefing paper with the Welsh Language Commissioner, Efa Gruffudd Jones, highlighting the importance of Welsh language provision for children and young people with additional learning needs in Wales.
St Fagan’s Staff Development Day
Recently the staff completed a Staff Development Day in a very Sunny St Fagan’s. The team took part in volunteer work across the site which included cutting back hedges and clearing a pathway. We were proud to be able to contribute positively to such an important Welsh cultural attraction.
Pillgwenlly Primary School visit
Rocio visited Pillygwenlly Primary School earlier in the month, following an invitation from the school for her to come and see their work. Pupils from St Andrew’s School and Lliswerry High School also attended. The schools came together to meet Rocio and talk about issues affecting Gypsy Roma and Traveller children. The Commissioner was supported by two participation officers, and ran some interactive activities to enable Rocio to hear about and understand their experiences and concerns, and what changes they want to see. They also discussed their rights and her role as Children’s Commissioner. Children and young people also had the chance to ask Rocio questions about things that are important to them. It was a great visit and fantastic to see a group of engaged learners discussing their rights.
If you would like to invite our team to visit your school, you can contact us on our website.
Supporting Families, Parents and Children Conference
This month Rocio attended and spoke at the Supporting Families, Parents and Children Conference in Newport. Here she repeated her call to the Welsh Government to produce a child poverty action plan that includes clear and measurable targets for tackling child poverty in Wales. Following Rocio’s speech some members of our team ran a rights workshop for the attendees that focused on children’s rights.
Recently, Rocio responded to the Welsh Government’s draft Child Poverty Strategy, where she repeated her call for a specific and measurable delivery plan. To read her full response go to our website.
Young People’s Advisory Panel Climate Change Sub-group
Some members of our Young People’s Advisory Panel have formed a sub-group to discuss Climate Change, and over the last few months they have been sharing ideas on how climate change affects their lives. Recently the group met to discuss their work so far. Their work has included making a petition and a blog about issues that are important to them.
Coleg Plas Dwbl (Ruskin Mill Trust)
Recently Rocio visited Coleg Plas Dwbl a part of the Ruskin Mill Trust in Pembrokeshire. This visit included an opportunity for the Commissioner to meet the head of the college and to engage and listen to young people who attend courses there. It was fantastic to hear about their experiences at Coleg Plas Dwbl and their hopes for the future. The team also enjoyed learning more about their student council and how it works for the students at the collage.
If you would like a visit from our team, contact our office here.
