A promise to care experienced young people
Over twenty years ago, as a result of significant failures to support children in care, Wales took a brave decision to create a Children’s Commissioner whose job would be to protect and promote children’s rights and be an independent advocate for Wales’ children.
We’ve had three commissioners before I took the job for a seven-year term in 2022; they’ve all been fierce champions of care-experienced children. What a privilege it is to be Wales’ independent children’s champion for the next seven years and how proud I am that Wales has decided to create a Corporate Parenting Charter to make sure people in power are doing all they can to support care-experienced children and young people.
This Charter sets out how my team and I will keep our promises to care-experienced children and young people across Wales.
Read about our promise to care experienced young people (Opens on another webpage)
Rights Conference
It was a pleasure to welcome a full room of people to our children’s rights conference in Port Talbot on 12 March. Professionals from a wide range of sectors learned from each other, shared ideas, and heard about some of the excellent work happening to promote and protect children’s rights across Wales. Keep an eye on our newsletter and our social media channels for details of future events.
Our event was based on The Right Way, our practical children’s rights framework for everyone working with children and young people in Wales.
Read about our Right Way Framework (Opens on another webpage)
‘Totally inadequate’ Learner Travel Review
Welsh Government’s recently published review of the Learner Travel Measure is totally inadequate, falling short of signalling any meaningful change to current guidance or legislation, and meaningful changes to children’s experiences. It is deeply disappointing for children, their families, and those of us who have been telling the Welsh Government for years about the wide range of problems children and young people currently face with home to school transport.
Read about the Commissioner’s full response (Opens on another webpage)
Recruiting for our Audit Committee
We’re seeking two new independent members to sit on our Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. Members will be expected to scrutinise, challenge and provide independent advice to the children’s commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes MBE, on how her office is governed, how it manages risk and how effectively and efficiently the team utilises public funds.
Click here to read more about this post and apply on our website (Opens on another webpage)
Before you go
Monthly Matters
During March over 1,000 children shared their views with us on school dinners. We’ll share more information about what we found next month.
New rights video
Watch our new children’s rights video! It’s a brilliant resource for introducing children (and adults) to rights and the Commissioner’s role.
Advice
Our team can give advice and support to children and the adults who care for them. Learn more here.