Lobbying for a Children’s Scrutiny Committee - Children in Wales lobbied for a children’s scrutiny committee because it believes it is essential that the impact of all Assembly Government policies on children and young people are scrutinised if their lives are to be improved. This includes policies that might not normally be thought of as being directly relevant to children on topics such as transport, the environment and rural issues as well as those more directly linked like social services, health and education. Children in Wales lobbied hard for such a Committee following the elections to the third Assembly in May 2007 and sincerely welcomed the establishment of the Children and Young People Committee in October 2007.
Publication of Help at Hand, Autumn 2007 - Children in Wales in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and members of the Children are Unbeatable Alliance published a booklet to promote alternatives to physical punishment in Autumn 2007. The booklet, Help at Hand, has subsequently been given out by health visitors and Children’s Information Services to all new parents in Wales. It encourages parents to use non-violent methods to discipline their children and encourage good behaviour. The booklet can be downloaded from our publications section.
Publication of A Wales Fit for Children and Young People launched, May 2007 - Children in Wales launched A Wales Fit for Children and Young People in May 2007. The document challenged politicians to address the overarching issues that our members believe require attention, in order to improve the lives of children and young people living in Wales. The launch coincided with the third elections to the National Assembly for Wales. More information is available in the policy section of this website.
Enabling Young Carers to have an annual opportunity to highlight their concerns to the Minister. Children in Wales co-ordinates the Young Carers Network and through this work has ensured that young carers have an annual opportunity to highlight issues of concern to the relevant Welsh Assembly Government Minister. More information about our work with young carers is available in the Young Carers section.
Children Act 2004 - Children in Wales was very active during the passage of the Bill through Parliament. We briefed MPs and peers on our amendments about play, the UNCRC on extending the powers of the Children’s Commissioner into non-devolved areas, YOTS and abolishing the physical chastisement of children. More information and a briefing is on the Children Act page of our website.
Child Poverty Strategy - Children in Wales were involved in the campaign to set up the Welsh Assembly Government’s Child Poverty Strategy for Wales. We also coordinate the End Child Poverty Network Cymru. More information about this can be found on the End Child Poverty Network page of this site.
The Parenting Action Plan - Children in Wales published "Raising Children Confidently" in 2004, setting out a vision for creating new services and structures to support parents in the task of raising children in Wales. This resulted in a Welsh Assembly Government working group co-chaired by Children in Wales, which produced "The Parenting Action Plan". The Plan outlines a number of goals and actions for the next three years.
A Commissioner for Children in Wales - Children in Wales was active in co-ordinating the campaign for a Children’s Commissioner for Wales. Wales subsequently became the first nation of the UK to appoint a Children’s Commissioner. More details about the campaign and the work of the Commissioner are available on the Children’s Commissioner page.
Disability Rights - Children in Wales was a major partner with the planning and delivery of "Rights into Action 2003", the 1st International Congress of Young Disabled People. The event brought together 95 young disabled people as delegates from over 35 different countries around the world, to learn about their rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Social Model of Disability. This has now led to the Wales Network of Young Disabled People being set up. More information is available on the relevant pages of our site
Strategic Framework for Children and Young People - The Assembly has produced a "Framework for Partnership" a strategy developed to co-ordinate services provided to children and young people in each local authority area. More information about Framework Partnerships introduced through the strategy is available on the Framework Partnerships page of this site.
A children and young people's Assembly, "Funky Dragon" - Children in Wales campaigned for the involvement of children and young people in the National Assembly for Wales. The children and young people’s Assembly now has a website "Funky Dragon" which is a mouthpiece for children and young people in Wales. The site includes online forums where current issues and interests can be discussed and opinions exchanged. Young people can also vote and let their views be heard by the Welsh Assembly.
Children's Rights - Promotion of advocacy and children's rights practice exchange - Children in Wales continually works towards the promotion of advocacy and children’s rights practice exchange. More information about this work can be found on the Children’s Rights Practice Exchange group page of this site.Children's Rights Training - Children in Wales has developed a range of courses which focus on Children’s Rights and child protection perspectives. Courses have been presented to social workers and their managers, health professionals, multi agency staff groups and foster carers. More information is available on the Training page of our website.
Access to Police Checks for Voluntary Organisations in Wales – lobbying by Children in Wales helped to ensure that all voluntary organisations in Wales have access to police checks and that a Criminal Records Unit was set up in Wales. Click here for more information on the Criminal Records Unit.
A Minister for Children in Wales - Children in Wales was involved in lobbying for a Minister for Children in Wales. The first Minister for Children at the Welsh Office, Win Griffiths was appointed in 1997. The current Minister for Children in the Welsh Assembly Government is Jane Hutt.
Government funding on Advocacy projects across Wales – Children in Wales was involved in campaigning to ensure that funding was provided by the Assembly for Advocacy projects across Wales.
Witness support during North Wales Tribunal – Children in Wales campaigning helped to ensure that support was available to witnesses in the Waterhouse Tribunal which investigated Child Abuse among children in care in the former county council areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd
Children's Services Plans - Children in Wales successfully campaigned for integrated planning for children. Each local authority has to publish an annual plan, a Children’s Services Plan about the state of their services for children and their aims for the coming year.
Promotion of good practice in early years services – information about Children in Wales’ work to promote good practice in early years services is available on the Early Years page of this site.
Abolition of the physical chastisement of children by childminders – Children in Wales has been active in the Children are Unbeatable Campaign to end the physical chastisement of children. The campaign has been successful in gaining the support of the Welsh Assembly Government, and in ensuring that legislation banning childminders from smacking children under 8 in their care was introduced in Wales. More information about the Children are Unbeatable Campaign and Children in Wales’s Parenting Forum (Fforwm Magu Plant) is available on the relevant pages of this site.