Catwg Peace Mala Celebration

Gwenda visited Catwg Primary School last week to attend their Peace Mala Accreditation Ceremony along with the Mayor Leila James and Councillor John Rogers.

“It was with great delight that I was invited to attend Catwg Primary School for their Peace Mala Accreditation celebration, especially as they were the first school in Neath Port Talbot achieve this status. I was also honoured to be presented with a Peace Mala prayer, written by a pupil of Catwg, which I now proudly display in my office."

"The Peace Mala project, developed in Wales by Llanelli teacher Pam Evans, is a wonderful way in which our young citizens can learn mutual respect for all the communities of our world, both cultural and religious, and to promote peace on earth and tolerance of our fellow man."

"I am truly impressed by the message of Peace Mala; to pass on to our children the value of world harmony and compassion, in such a creative way, is a beautiful gift.”

Details of the project can be found at www.peacemala.org.uk

Discover Debate Decide

Gwenda Thomas AM will be distributing copies of the new National Assembly for Wales school packs, 'Discover Debate Decide' to all of the schools in her Neath Constituency this week.

'I visit many schools in my constituency each year speaking with the staff and the children, and I am always delighted to see the hard work that they have done. These packs will help teachers and children alike to engage with the Welsh Assembly particularly in the next year leading up to the elections in 2011,' said Mrs. Thomas.

'I hope to visit as many schools as possible over the next academic year and sincerely hope that the teachers will take this opportunity to use the packs and information provided to link in with the National Curriculum.'

More information can be found at www.explore.assemblywales.org / www.chwilota.cynulliadcymru.org

New review to look at child deaths in Wales

Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, today (Thursday, 12 June) announced that the Welsh Assembly Government will be funding an all-Wales pilot to review child deaths at a CEMACH (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health) conference held at Cardiff.

Developed from and building upon the CEMACH model that analysed child deaths in a number of selected areas for one year it is anticipated that a Wales-wide pilot – focusing on child suicides - will identify avoidable factors and contributors to child deaths.

There are approximately 300 child deaths every year in Wales – of which almost half are babies under 28 days of age.

Speaking at the conference earlier today, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, said;

“The Assembly Government is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

“ We need to look at what can be done by local authorities, the NHS and other agencies to address these issues at a local level as well as what the Welsh Assembly Government might do at a national level.

“I am confident that an all-Wales pilot for Child Death reviews will identify avoidable factors that contribute to child deaths and consequently help us to eliminate or reduce them as far as possible.”

According to the findings of the CEMACH “Why Children Die” report that was presented to stakeholders earlier today more that half of the deaths of children over the age of 28 days may have been avoidable or potentially avoidable.

Said Gwenda Thomas; “The CEMACH report provides us with analysis of child deaths in one year and in a number of selected areas giving us a snapshot of the position at one point in time.”

“By undertaking further work and analysis we can develop effective policies to address unexpected child deaths.”

An unexpected death is defined as the death of a child that was not anticipated as a significant possibility 24 hours before the death, or where there was a similarly unexpected collapse leading to or precipitating the events that led to the death.

Subject to an assessment of the pilot, the aim would be to introduce a full Child Death Review scheme from 1 April 2010, following consultation with stakeholders on any proposed regulations and guidance.

Councils get helping hand to provide extra support for children in care

Neath AM and Labour's Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, revealed today that children under the care of Local Authorities in Wales are to benefit from a further improved Child Trust Fund Reimbursement scheme as a result of additional funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Intended to encourage local authorities to contribute to the Child Trust Funds (CTF) of children that they are responsible for - the Assembly Government has agreed to top up payments to local authorities from £50 per year per child to £100 per year per child. In addition, the UK Government has introduced a scheme to top up the CTF accounts of all children looked after in the UK for a year or more since 1 April 2007 by £100 per year per child. WAG has agreed to administer the scheme in Wales and will receive the necessary funding from the UK Government.

The Welsh and UK schemes will be combined and as a consequence Local Authorities in Wales will now be reimbursed to provide children looked after for a year or more since 1 April 2007 with an annual top up of £200 – compared to £100 in the rest of the UK.

Gwenda Thomas said "Child Trust Funds can help play a crucial role in achieving the Assembly Government’s aim of tackling child poverty in Wales. With further improved funding we can build on the success of our Looked After Children Scheme to help boost the savings of children in Wales and improve opportunities later in life. Encouraging a savings culture and helping children learn about finance are crucial if we are to break the vicious circle of child poverty and I’m confident that this announcement will help us reach our goal."

It is estimated that under the revised eligibility criteria 500 children will benefit from the scheme in 2008/09 rising to 640 in 2009/10 and 770 in 2010/11 at a cost to the Welsh Assembly Government of £50,000, £64,000 and £77,000 respectively. The UK Government's contribution will mirror the Welsh Assembly Government’s contribution.

New Service Framework for the Future Provision of Advocacy Service for Children in Wales

Joint Statement by Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills and Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Welsh Assembly Government.

"The Welsh Assembly Government has a long-standing commitment to provide universal access to effective advocacy services for all children and young people in Wales. The right of children and young people to be heard directly on matters that affect them is a key component of our approach to developing policy that is firmly grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is particularly important that children and young people have every opportunity to seek redress when things go wrong and that service providers learn from the experience of service users in order to truly become citizen focussed.

We therefore have great pleasure in announcing today new measures to strengthen the voice of children and young people in the provision of public services in Wales. The Government intends to put in place a New Service Framework for the Future Provision of Advocacy Service in Wales. The new framework will be implemented over the next two years. At the heart of the Framework will be a new;

· National Independent Advocacy Board. The Board will take an independent, strategic overview of the development and delivery of advocacy services in Wales and will make recommendations to the National Assembly and to the Welsh Assembly Government. The Board will have a key role in advising on the regulatory framework for advocacy services; promoting best practice and identifying and developing the evidence base. Critically, the Board will also advise Welsh Ministers on the commissioning arrangements for advocacy at national, regional and local level and publish an opinion on arrangements made by the statutory Children and Young People Partnerships to commission and secure the provision of integrated specialist advocacy services. The Board will also consider the existing statutory framework and advise on whether this should be amended to allow for the continuing development of advocacy services.

The Board will be supported in its work by the Advocacy Development and Performance Unit that will be established within the Assembly Government. The Unit’s key function will be to commission, manage and monitor an all-Wales Advocacy and Advice Service and, in consultation with National Independent Advocacy Board, to develop the regulatory framework for the service and the occupational standards and training provision for staff working in the service.

The advocacy service itself will comprise:

- a new National Advocacy and Advice Service to provide a single point of contact via telephone or text 7, days a week for all children and young people in Wales. This will ensure universal access to first line advocacy and support on the full range of concerns expressed by children and young people. The national service will make the necessary links with other support services such as Childline Cymru, NSPCC and, where appropriate, will make referrals to the local/regional specialist integrated advocacy services and school based counselling services. The new service will be in operation in 2009/10.

- a locally/regionally commissioned Integrated Specialist Advocacy Service covering health services, social care services and education, with a particular focus on providing statutory advocacy and broader support to assist vulnerable children and young people. The integrated specialist service model will be commissioned locally or regionally through the Children and Young People Partnerships, beginning later this year.

In devising this framework the Welsh Assembly Government has given particular consideration to the recommendations contained in the recent report of the Children and Young People Committee. We are very grateful for the careful, serious and thoughtful examination that the Committee gave to this important topic. We agree with much of what the Committee has recommended, especially in respect of developing a skilled advocacy workforce. We wish to pay tribute to the work of the Committee and to their commitment to strengthen the voice of all children and young people through the development of robust advocacy arrangements for those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable. The Government will be making a detailed response to the Committee’s report in due course.

Alongside the Committee’s report we have also considered evidence and views from a wide range of stakeholders; including respondents to our consultation last summer, and most importantly, to the contributions of children and young people themselves.

Central to the concerns of most stakeholders and to the Committee was the question of the independence and the perceived independence of specialist advocacy services. The Government shares the underlying principles on which the Committee has made its recommendation for a national commissioning body for such services but also notes the challenge that differing notions of independence present. There continues to be a difference of views on what constitutes an independent service.

The key strength of the service framework that we intend to put in place is the link it will make between the voice of the child or young person and mainstream services for children and young people. The Assembly Government sees the provision of advocacy services as an opportunity to develop awareness of children’s rights amongst service providers, to challenge those occupational and local cultures that do not effectively engage children and young people in the design and delivery of services and to ensure, wherever possible, the speedy resolution of difficulties. In this way, local responsibility for resolving grievances or remedying service deficiencies is not undermined.

However, these arrangements will need to have the confidence of children and young people. They will have an important role on the National Independent Advocacy Board which will oversee the arrangements that we intend to put in place. It is our intention that the Independent Advocacy Board will provide a unique, informed and fully independent account of the quality of advocacy services for children and young people in Wales to a degree that is unparalleled elsewhere in the UK or Europe. We also intend, by regulation, to require local/regional arrangements to be commissioned on at least a
three-year basis.

The Welsh Assembly Government also respects the need to have a continuous programme for improving the independence of services to strengthen the voices of children and young people and to ensure there is sufficient capacity and flexibility in the law so as to allow the Welsh Assembly Government and future Governments to respond to an ever-changing environment and expectations.

Wales already has an international reputation for innovation, working in partnership and for placing the voice of the child at the heart of its policies and programmes. The New Service Framework for the Future Provision of Advocacy Service in Wales represents a major step forward in Wales’ promotion of Article 12 of the UNCRC to ensure the rights of children and young people to have a say in what they think should happen when adults are making decision about them and to have their opinions taken into account."

Press Release: Over £4million helping hand for children and families in Wales

Organisations representing the needs of children and families up and down the country will benefit from funding of over £4 million in the next three years, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, announced today (Thursday, 24 January).

A total of 17 organisations, each providing services for children, young people and their families working within the health and social services sector, will be allocated £1,475,723 for 2008-09; £1,393,582 for 2009-10 and £1,272,478 for 2010-11 from the Children and Families Organisation Grant (CFOG).

A competitive bidding round for the CFOG – a grant providing core funding for voluntary organisations working on a pan-Wales level to develop child and family support - was held between August and October 2007 with 40 applications received in total.

Organisations that were successful for the first time in bidding for the grants were Adoption UK, RNIB Cymru, The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (Stop It Now) and Autism Cymru.

Founded in 2001, Autism Cymru aims to make a real difference to the provision and delivery of services for people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) in Wales.

Its primary task has been to influence and help develop a strategic vision for autism in Wales and has worked closely with the Welsh Assembly Government in the development of the consultation document on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan for Wales.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Gwenda Thomas said:

"The Welsh Assembly Government is totally committed to ensuring that our children have every opportunity to develop and grow in a happy, healthy and supportive environment.

"The organisations that have successfully applied for the Children and Families Organisation Grant play a crucial role in supporting children and their families that need extra support.

"This is yet another example of how we are working across the Welsh Assembly Government to improve the life chances of children in Wales and contributing to the fight against child poverty.

Last week, a total of £10.4 million was allocated from the CFOG to organisations that fall within the Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills portfolio.

Western Mail Article: A merry Christmas for everyone in Wales

Look out for each other, says Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas

For most of us the festive season is a happy time for families to gather around the Christmas tree. But for some of the more vulnerable people in our community – the children and older people who need care and support – Christmas can unfortunately be the hardest and loneliest time of year.

That is why it’s important that as a caring society we help support and keep an eye on these vulnerable groups not only during Christmas but throughout the year.

It’s also important that as an Assembly Government we help support vulnerable groups which is why we have made several One Wales commitments that echo this thinking.

Improving the lives of older people is one of the key aims of the Welsh Assembly Government. To reflect this commitment we will be shortly announcing in the new year the appointment of the first ever champion for older people.

The Commissioner for Older People will not only benefit older people but also sets a standard for other parts of the UK, Europe and the world to follow.

The Commissioner will ensure that the interests of older people in Wales, who are aged 60 or more, are safeguarded and promoted.

As an ambassador and authority on older people’s issues, the Commissioner will speak up on behalf of older people and help them to resolve problems when things go wrong.

We will make an announcement about the appointment of the Commissioner early in the new year.

I am delighted Wales is setting an example and that this adds to the work already started through the Welsh Assembly Government’s 10-year action plan to deal with things that matter most in the lives of older people in Wales.

Demographics are changing and by 2026 about 29% of people in Wales will be over 60 years old. This appointment will mean that older people are put at the centre of all policy making.

To complement the work of the Older People’s Commissioner we will shortly be announcing the appointment of the new Children’s Commissioner to make sure that the children and young people of Wales have a stronger voice.

To further strengthen the voice of children we sought extra powers over the summer to improve the welfare of children and young people in Wales.

Vulnerable children and tackling child poverty are central to the Assembly Government’s programme for children and young people.

Although we have made good progress in recent years, with poverty rates for children in Wales now below the UK average for the first time, we are not complacent. There are still some 28% of children in Wales living in poverty.

Assembly Government budgets have provided increased investment in children, especially in the early years and a lot has been done through our anti-poverty programmes like Cymorth and Communities First. This year will see the continued roll-out of Flying Start, which is targeted at the 0-3 age group in the most deprived communities in Wales . About £46m is being made available between 2006 and 2008 to support disadvantaged children in their early years, £15m in 2006-7 and £31m in 2007-8.

There are 4,800 children in local authority care in Wales and some 1,600 young people who have left care. The Assembly Government and local authorities, as corporate parents, have a unique responsibility to ensure that the experience of children in care is positive and they get the right opportunities and support so that when they leave care they have the right skills and confidence to allow them to live independent lives as responsible adults.

I am pleased that the Vulnerable Children and Child Poverty Legislative Competence Order (LCO) that we introduced over the summer aims to allow the Assembly to make a real improvement in their lives.

The LCO aims to empower the Assembly to implement changes in the law relating to the welfare of children and young people that could see free child care for two-year-olds in greatest need and top up payments to Child Trust Fund accounts of children in Wales, with more for those living in poverty.

We issued another LCO at the end of last month that sought further powers for the Assembly to secure a fairer deal for vulnerable people who need care in their homes across Wales.

The charging for home care and other non-residential social services is currently at the discretion of individual local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales.

Under the current system weekly charges for a similar service can range from a maximum of £16.20 to £185.

This new LCO – Charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care) – aims to enable the Assembly Government to legislate against such disparity and help produce a fairer and more consistent system to close the gap.

As the Deputy Minister for Social Services and Carers I’m proud to say how the Assembly Government places such an emphasis on the needs of vulnerable people in our community.

Having taken a brief look back at the year I’m confident that, although our work is far from done, we are certainly moving in the right direction.

But there is still more that we can do as a Government and that we can all do as individuals.
We could offer practical support, like writing Christmas cards or getting some shopping in, putting up decorations or even something as simple as dropping by with a neighbour regularly for a chat.

And if we have some time on our hands, we could always invite an elderly neighbour or relative around for a Christmas lunch in the week leading up to Christmas.

This will help make sure they have a good meal and company and you may find you make a friend.

Press Release: TIME TO CONFRONT BULLYING SAYS NEATH AM

- Anti-bullying week targets bullying in and out of school

Neath Labour AM Gwenda Thomas has added her support for the Labour led Assembly Government’s anti-bullying week (November 19th- 23rd).

Following last year’s successful campaign Welsh Labour’s Education Minister Jane Hutt has said this year’s campaign will aim to raise awareness over bullying outside the classroom.

Welsh Labour wants to see local schools focus on tackling the increasing problem of bullying over text messages or on social network websites and also wants schools to focus on racist and homophobic bullying.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said:

’’We’re becoming increasingly aware of bullying over the internet or on mobile phones which is why this year’s campaign will raise awareness over bullying in and out side of the school environment .

‘’Welsh Labour wants to help children, parents and pupils stamp out this sort of behaviour.

‘’Bullying takes many forms, which is why it is vital that we address the issue of cyber-bullying and look at ways to tackle racist and homophobic bullying.

‘’The most important thing is that young people who are being bullied talk to someone. Teachers, parents and fellow pupils can help. I hope that schools across my constituency will get involved in this year’s anti-bullying campaign. We have to all work together and tackle bullying every day in whatever form is takes.’’

Press Release: Deputy Minister urges people to consider adoption

Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas is encouraging people to consider adopting or fostering children in Wales ahead of National Adoption Week, which starts on Monday, 5 November.

The week runs until Sunday, 11 November and aims to raise awareness of adoption and calls on people from all walks of life to find out about adopting a child. This week aims to build on the achievements of Fostering Fortnight in May which highlights the benefits of fostering. Latest figures show that there has been a 2.5 per cent increase in the number of children looked after by local authorities in Wales. Of those looked after, 13 per cent had three or more placements in a year.

The Deputy Minister, Gwneda Thomas said:

“We recognise and value the important role that foster carers play in caring for vulnerable children and young people. Whether people are currently foster carers or would like to find out more information about foster care or adopting a child, their local authority can give them all the necessary help, advice and support.

"Fostering and adopting can be extremely rewarding and benefit both the parent and child. Adopting a child can provide the long-term stability and love that a child needs to improve their quality of life and have the best start in life.

"While local authorities and their staff work hard to give the necessary care and support to the children in their care, they cannot give the love and attention that a foster carer or adoptive parents can. Whether you are single, married, or a couple, fostering or adoption can be for you. Your local authority can give you all the information you need to go through the application process in your effort to provide a child with a loving and caring home.”

Press Release: KIDS SPLASH OUT FOR FREE THIS HALF TERM

KEEPING the kids occupied and active over half term doesn’t have to cost you a penny extra if you send them swimming, Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said today.

Local leisure centres are offering FREE swimming sessions and lessons to children and young people under 16, thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government’s highly popular school holiday free swimming scheme.

The £2.5m idea has proved a great success - with more than two million swims taken up around Wales since Labour introduced the scheme in 2003.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said:

‘’This half term, and every school holiday, it’s the kids who can splash out so Mum and Dad and other members of the family don’t have to. Children can get fit, stay active and have fun over the school holidays without parents getting hit in the pocket.

‘Swimming pools and leisure centres across Neath Port Talbot are offering free swimming sessions and lessons during the holidays and I’d encourage as many parents and children as possible to get involved .

“As a government, we want to see more children and young people using their local leisure centre. Free swimming is a way of making sure every local child gets a chance to use the pool or even learn to swim over the holidays.

‘‘It sends out all the right messages to children about the importance of staying fit and active. Labour is committed to encouraging healthy lifestyles which are so important for the health of the nation.

‘’The whole point of this Welsh Labour inspired scheme is to help families that might have been put off by the cost to use and enjoy their local leisure centres. I am delighted the scheme has proved to be a huge success in my constituency and hope this continues.’’