Here you’ll find the blog and newsletters of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.
Rocio Cifuentes became the Children’s Commissioner in April 2022.
Birchgrove Primary – Our Rights Respecting Journey
Guest blog from Birchgrove Primary At Birchgrove Primary school part of our school’s aim is to develop happy, successful children. To promote this we have been working towards recognition as a “Rights Respecting School” and have recently been awarded Rights Respecting Schools Level 1. Bringing children’s rights to the…
Is social media anti social? The verdict from 10-year-olds
At the end of last year I had the pleasure of attending my first ever primary school debate. Although I regularly hear primary school children expressing themselves in an articulate way about social issues of the day, this was the first time I had seen them being given the chance…
Making legal proceedings accessible for children
Guest post by Rachel – Policy Adviser Creating content that is accessible to children and young people is something we’re seeing more and more of, but rarely do we associate ‘plain English’ or ‘child friendly’ versions with legal proceedings. However, judges are now being encouraged to publish the…
A Youth Parliament for Wales: a welcome addition to our democracy
I was thrilled to see the Llywydd (Presiding Officer) Elin Jones AM announce plans for the Assembly Commission to establish a national Youth Parliament for Wales. This support by the Llywydd will have a big impact. Firstly, it sends out a clear message to children and young people in…
My Ambassadors are back!
September is an exciting month in my office as we sign up primary schools to our Super Ambassadors’ scheme. Many are re-registering as they do every year, while others will be brand new to the scheme. My Super Ambassadors play an important part in making sure I hear from…
Children in our Care – let’s get the basics right
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve spent time with young people from 19 out of Wales’ 22 local authorities. These young people were of different ages, had a wide range of different interests, personal styles and talents. All had big ambitions for life including being a chef in…
Art, chickens, and children’s rights
Guest blog by Lois Medi – Advisory Panel Member On Tuesday the twelfth of July, the first meeting of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ young advisory panel was held. It was a brilliant, productive day that gave us even more encouragement to make a difference to the lives of…
Together Stronger for children and young people
Guest post by Hywel Dafydd – Policy and Public Affairs Manager Like the country as a whole, I am still radiating with joy, pride and gratitude for the achievements of the Welsh football team during Euro 2016. Whilst so many of us were fortunate to be able to build…
The United Nations’ verdict on children’s rights in the UK: an agenda for the new Welsh Government
Last Thursday (9.6.16) saw the publication of a report giving the United Nations verdict on the state of children’s rights in the UK. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child published its Concluding Observations following its periodic examination of the UK Government. This was the first…
Building success: young people building their own homes
Last week I visited the Wrexham Warehouse Project. I had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours in this project. George Powell was a foster carer for 20 years alongside his work as a builder with his own family firm. He has since built a young people’s training centre alongside the…