Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services
Today, I’m announcing a £36.6m package of well-being support for our children and families as part of this government’s commitment to support the people of Wales with the recovery from the pandemic.
This government is committed to ensuring children and young people across Wales have the best start in life, and the opportunities to achieve their potential. We have placed children’s rights at the heart of our response to the pandemic, providing support and opportunities for children and families within their community, childcare, play and education settings.
Within the total allocation, £16.6m is capital funding to support our childcare and play settings, including Flying Start settings, with £5m specifically intended to support increased play opportunities in line with play sufficiency assessment action plans. This funding will be allocated via our local authorities.
Further to this, and supporting the commitments set out in Renew and Reform, £20m of this funding will build on the success of projects such as the Summer of Fun, providing more opportunities for children and young people aged 0-25 to develop their social, emotional and physical well-being. It will provide opportunities to play, and to engage in social, cultural and physical activities outside of formal learning. Activities will be available in both Welsh and English, across the whole of Wales.
In particular it includes £2.3m in allocations to support activities being taken forward by our museums, libraries, Sport Wales and their national partners, and Urdd Gobaith Cymru. This will enable the provision of activities in community sports clubs, museums, libraries and leisure facilities, and ensure a broad spectrum of opportunities for all ages and abilities.”
I will provide guidance alongside the funding to ensure we can all work towards to achieving the desired outcomes for our young people and their families.
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales is once again, providing a platform for all the information and the activity available for those aged 0 – 25 years from every community in Wales.
This is our future generation and this government is committed to support and provide opportunities for our children and young people to improve their well-being for now and for their futures.