submitting articles for this site

If you wish to have any news relating to services for children and their families published onto this site please forward items to PAVO via email: info@pavo.org.uk. Preferably send attachments in Word or publisher rather than pdf format.

If you wish to have further information about anything appearing here please do contact PAVO via the HelpDesk email: info@pavo.org.uk or phone: 0845 009 3288

If any of the links to documents, surveys or other websites don't work please do let us know and we will try again.

See our Sister Blog: PAVO Powys Play Partnership -http://powysplaypartnership.blogspot.co.uk/


Friday, 22 November 2013

Play Radnor: Under 5s Children's Christmas Discos!!!!








Play Radnor are hosting some festive discos in December and we would like to invite the children of all of your organisations and schools to come.
The bookings we have made so far are as follows:
  • Monday 16th December at 1.30pm until 3pm at Presteigne Memorial Hall. Under 5s only.
  • Thursday 19th December at 1.30pm until 3pm at Llandrindod Dance Centre. Under 5s only.
  • Thursday 19th December at 4pm until 5.30pm at Llandrindod Dance Centre. 6-11s only.
We are going to try and book some more discos in the area, I will email you all with details as and when. 
Posters for the above events and would be very grateful if you could display one or two within the organisation.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
Many thanks

Jo Hollinghurst
Administrator

National Assembly for Wales: Engaging with Young People

National Assembly for Wales is currently consulting on youth engagement and are looking for groups of young people aged 11-18 to take part in focus groups. They have so far collected nearly 3000 responses and are now looking for young people to give them further feedback on how they can better engage with them in relation to the responses they have already had.

If you or your organisation is interested in taking part in this consultation please go to http://www.yourassembly.org/ for more information or contact

Sarah Crosbie
Cydlynydd Rhaglen
Programme Co-ordinator
Trawsnewid Strategol
Strategic Transformation
T: 029 2089 8775


Leah Doherty     
GwirVol Co-ordinator/Cydlynydd GwirVol

Tel/ffon 029 2043 1763       
Fax/ffacs 029 2043 1701          
Minicom 0808 180 4080 
       

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If you're on Twitter, why not tweet about GwirVol using the hashtag #paidwithrespect

Os ydych chi ar Twitter, pam na rowch chi drydar ar GwirVol drwy ddefnyddio'r hashtag #paidwithrespect

QR Code_GwirVol

Lets Get it Right Website Update

Lets Get it Right Website Update
The website focuses on children’s rights and among other things, provides both informal and formal resources for training professionals and for use with children and young people.  The new look website will still provide a range of resources but now also includes up-to-date features, news and events.
   The e-learning package can also be accessed from this updated website. 
You can also follow us on Twitter @uncrc_wales

 



The Welsh Government Contribution to the 5th UK state party report for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Welsh Government will be issuing Wales’ contribution to the UK State Party Report on progress made in implementing the UNCRC on 20th November.  This gives us the opportunity to highlight the significant progress made and draw national and international attention to the direction we have taken to making the rights of the UNCRC a reality for all children and young people in Wales.
   The report will be  available on the Welsh Government website www.wales.gov.uk on 20th November.

 



United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) e-learning package
This e-learning package will help you to learn more about children and young people’s rights and can be found at www.bit.ly/e-learningpackage 

The training includes examples of case studies, links to additional information and additional websites.
Follow us on Twitter: @uncrc_wales

cymraeg:

Safe Network Standards: how they can work for you Webinars - FREE

Safe Network
Safe Network webinars

Join our FREE webinars to find out more about the 2013/14 Safe Network Standards along with two new optional components called Standards Xtra.

The webinar session will last roughly 30 minutes, depending on questions.

Book your place:
Safe Network Standards: how they can
work for you

Date: Thursday 28 November 2013
Time: 10:30am - 11:00am

Repeat from morning session
Safe Network Standards: how they can
work for you

Date: Thursday 28 November 2013
Time: 2:00pm - 2:30pm

If you know anyone who may be interested in attending, please forward this email. Further information can be found on the Safe Network website.

We look forward to you joining us!

All the best
Simon Massey
Simon Massey
Head of Safe Network

Tendering - Collaborative Working For SMEs Business Wales Event

Business Wales Tendering – Collaborative Working For SMEs

Tuesday, 3 December 2013 – 10.30am – 2.30pm
Plas Dolerw, Milford Road, Newtown, Powys. SY16 2EH

This collaborative working event will be jointly facilitated by the Wales Co-operative Centre and the Business Wales tendering advice team.

The event will focus on the necessary requirements and challenges of bidding for work collaboratively, and gaining an appreciation of how to overcome these challenges effectively.

If you wish to attend the event you can register by following the link below:
Please note booking a place is essential, as places are limited.

The Wales Co-operative Centre provides advice to businesses on suitable business models, organisational and legal structures; advice and support with governance issues; business and financial planning advice and support; finding finance and helping to access grant funding where appropriate; support with HR issues; training and mentoring; and support with developing important equalities strategies and environmental management systems.

Business Wales is the Welsh Government’s business support mechanism.  It is a dedicated service that provides businesses, social enterprises and charities with information, guidance and support directly, and from the private, public and third sector.  The service can be accessed by phone, online and through a network of eleven one stop shops located around Wales. 

For more information visit the website or contact the Welsh Government helpdesk on 03000 6 03000
__

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Children & Young People's Partnership Meeting Dates

Please find below the dates for the Children & Young People's Partnership meetings in 2014.

·         Thursday 30th January, 
·         Thursday 10th April, 
·         Thursday 3rd July, 
·         Thursday 23rd October,


Carl Cooper, CEO of PAVO, attend the CYPP on behalf of the Third Sector.
We will post the agendas and papers onto the PAVO Website for your information and input.
If you wish to raise any issue then please contact PAVO and we can discuss further how to take issues forward.



Young Person's Leaflet Available on Safeguarding

Gwenda Thomas AC / AM
Y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
Deputy Minister for Social Services

Dear Colleague
I am writing to let you know about the availability of a leaflet - Sexual Exploitation: Sex
Secrets and Lies - which I was pleased to help launch recently.

The Welsh Government has worked with Barnardo’s Cymru to develop this information
leaflet to help raise awareness of the dangers of sexual exploitation. Children and young
people have been involved directly in the design and content of the leaflet developed to help
them recognise the signs of grooming, provide information on how they can keep
themselves safe and advice on how to access support and further information.

This leaflet was produced to complement the Safeguarding Children from Sexual
Exploitation guidance by the Welsh Government in January 2011.

The leaflet is available electronically from the Barnardo’s Cymru at:
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/who_we_are/wales/newyddion/newyddion_6.htm

Or if you wish to find out more about how Barnardo’s Cymru is engaging with stakeholders
to further raise awareness of child sexual exploitation and grooming matters please contact
Emma Kwaya-James, Barnardo’s Cymru Service Manager on 029 20497743.

Yours sincerely
Gwenda Thomas AC / AM
Y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
Deputy Minister for Social Services


Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Powys Play Pledge: A Charter for Play. Addewid Chwarae Powys: Siarter ar Gyfer Chwarae

Visit the Powys Play Partnership Blog for more up to date information about developments around play.  Use the following link to directly to the page about the Powys Play Pledge:

Powys Play Pledge Sign Up & Information Updates

See below for a copy of the Pledge.  What's your promise?

Sign up and Leave your promise HERE in English
YMA yn yr laith Gymraeg
Powys Play Pledge: A Charter for Play
Addewid Chwarae Powys:
Siarter ar Gyfer Chwarae
1.     Play is natural and EVERY child has a right to play.  
Mae chwarae yn naturiol ac mae gan BOB plentyn yr hawl i chwarae
2.    EVERY child should have time, space and freedom to play.  
Dylai pob plentyn gael amser, lle a rhyddid i chwarae
3.    Children have the right to have their views heard.  
Mae gan blentyn yr hawl i gael eu barn ei glywed
4.    Adults & Children need to foster a culture where differences are respected, children are supported when needed and all feel welcome to play.  
Mae angen i oedolion a phlant feithrin diwylliant ble mae gwahaniaethau yn cael eu parchu, mae plant yn cael eu cefnogi lle bo angen ac mae pawb yn teimlo’n rhydd i chwarae.
5.    Adults, in all their various roles, should help to create the right conditions for children’s play to thrive in Powys.  
Dylai oedolion, yn eu gwahanol swyddogaethau, helpu i greu’r amodau priodol er mwyn i chwarae ffynnu ym Mhowys.
6.    Organisations should be committed to help to create the right conditions for play to thrive in Powys.  
Dylai sefydliadau fod yn ymroddedig i helpu creu’r amodau priodol  i chwarae ffynnu ym Mhowys.
7.    Organisations should recognise that play has considerable benefits for children’s well-being but these cannot always be measured.  
Dylai sefydliadau gydnabod bod chwarae o fudd sylweddol i les blant, ond ni ellir ei fesur bob amser.
8.    A skilled play workforce should champion the right to play.  
Dylid gweithlu chwarae medrus hybu’r hawl i chwarae
9.    Communities should be involved in celebrating children’s right to play.
Dylai cymunedau fod yn rhan o ddathlu hawl plant i chwarae.




United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Article 31
Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities
Siartr y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau’r plentyn (SCUHP) Erthygl 31
Mae gan blant yr hawl i ymlacio a chwarae ac ymuno mewn ystod eang o weithgareddau diwylliannol, artistig a gweithgareddau hamddenol eraill

End Child Poverty Network Information Bulletin

BWLETIN GWYBODAETH / INFORMATION BULLETIN  
Yn y Rhifyn Yma / In This Issue
CYMRU/WALES
Y DEYRNAS UNEDIG/THE UNITED KINGDOM
DIWYGIO LLES/WELFARE REFORM
DOGFENNNAU AC ADRODDIADAU/DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS
YMGYNGHORIADAU/CONSULTATIONS
ADDYSG A CHYFLOGAETH/EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
TLODI TANWYDD/FUEL POVERTY
TLODI BWYD/FOOD POVERTY
GOFAL PLANT/CHILDCARE
Cysylltiadau / Links

  Cuts Watch Cymru
 Fuel Poverty Charter 
 
   Hydref - Tachwedd 2013/
 October - November 2013
 

Children in Wales Logo (without Text)

Cydlynir Rhwydwaith Dileu Tlodi Plant Cymru gan Plant yng Nghymru.

The End Child Poverty Network Cymru is hosted by Children in Wales.
CYMRU/WALES
Multi-million boost to provide new money and housing advice to Wales' poorest communities
New services to provide advice on issues such as debt, money management and housing to Wales' poorest communities have been given the go-ahead after the Welsh Government announced £2.4 million of new funding today.

Welsh Government extends programme to support deprived communities
A programme to combat poverty and promote education, health and economic prosperity in deprived areas in Wales has been extended.

Welsh Government launches £3m small grants fund for poorest communities
A fund totalling £3m for education initiatives and childcare in Wales' poorest communities has been announced by the Welsh Government. The Tackling Poverty Small Grants Fund will go towards improving play facilities and childcare projects in Wales' 52 Communities First clusters, which target funding on alleviating poverty in the most deprived area

Wales 'worst' for job scheme figures according to MP committee
Only one in nine people in Wales have found long-term employment under the UK government's flagship welfare-to-work scheme, a group of MPs has claimed. The Welsh Affairs Select Committee says Wales' figures are the worst in the UK.

Welsh budget priorities 'not reflected in spending'
The Welsh government's budget for next year fails to reflect what it claims are the key priorities, the assembly's finance committee has warned. While ministers say they are putting jobs and growth first, the budget deal last month in fact puts substantially more money into the NHS, AMs said.

Wales Ahead Tackling Poverty
Last week the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published a short report thatcompared approaches to reducing child poverty in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Wales' poorest children 'much less likely to succeed in school than English counterparts'
than their counterparts in England, according to the UK Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.
Y DEYRNAS UNEDIG/THE UNITED KINGDOM
UK child poverty survey exposes 'grinding reality' of cold, damp homes
More than half of all poor children in the UK are living in homes that are too cold, and around a quarter said their home suffered from damp or mould, a survey published by the Children's Society indicates.

Households with lone breadwinner are biggest group living in poverty in UK
Households with a lone breadwinner, traditionally consisting of a working man and a stay-at-home mother, are the biggest group living in poverty in Britain - according to new research.

Vulnerable children at risk as children's services struggle to survive
Unison has warned that children's services are 'hanging by a thread' as charities become increasingly financially dependent on winning contracts from the public sector.

Further consultation over charity campaigning changes
The government has agreed to calls from charities to hold a fresh consultation over changes to how much they can spend on campaigning in an election year. Ministers have announced a "pause" of nearly six weeks in proposals that would tighten the requirements on organisations other than political parties to register their spending.
  
80,000 Children To Spend Christmas Homeless, Shelter Warns
More than 80,000 children in the UK will spend this Christmas homeless, with the number of families due to be in emergency housing over the period at a 10year-high. The homelessness charity Shelter has launched an emergency appeal following an investigation into the "shocking conditions that many homeless children will be living in this Christmas".

Miliband calls for payday loan TV ads to children to be banned
Adverts for payday loans should be banned during children's TV programmes, Labour leader Ed Miliband has said. Writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper, Mr Miliband criticised payday lenders who "target" children through advertising.
  
Sir John Major attacks 'truly shocking' privilege of privately educated elite
A former Conservative Prime Minister has attacked the "truly shocking" privilege of the privately educated elite. Sir John Major, who went to a comprehensive in south London and left school with three O-Levels, said that the "affluent middle class" dominated "every single sphere of British influence". He said "hard graft" was not enough in today's society for state school educated pupils to reach the "upper echelons of power".
DIWYGIO LLES/WELFARE REFORM
Young people take brunt of tougher jobseeker sanctions
Poverty and youth campaigners have warned that unemployed young people are being disproportionately affected by jobseeker benefit sanctions. Figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions show that between October 2012, when the new tougher sanctions regime was introduced, and June 2013, the number of unemployed people that have had sanctions applied to their jobseekers' allowance (JSA) rose 13 per cent.


Benefit levels 'do not promote laziness', study suggests
High levels of benefits for the unemployed do not lead to a lack of motivation to find work, a Europe-wide study has found. University of Edinburgh researchers found benefit levels had "no effect" on the wellbeing of those without a job.

MPs deliver damning benefit reform verdict
Damning cross-party report warns of multi-million pound write-off looming for UK Government's flagship welfare reform project.

Poundland case: government defeated again over back-to-work schemes
The government's "back to work" schemes, which were challenged by a graduate who was made to work for free at Poundland and an HGV driver made to clean furniture, were legally flawed, the UK's highest court has ruled.

Single mothers lose legal challenge to benefit cap
Three single mothers and their children have lost a legal challenge to the government's benefit cap. Judges ruled that regulations brought in by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith were lawful and did not breach human rights.

Disabled people win living fund case against government
Five disabled people have succeeded in a legal challenge to the government's decision to abolish the Independent Living Fund. The £320m ILF currently provides support enabling nearly 19,000 severely disabled people in the UK to live independent lives in the community.

Welsh campaigners call on Government to end 'misery and hardship' caused by bedroom tax
Opponents of the Government's so-called "bedroom tax" have ramped up their campaign against the policy ahead of a Parliamentary debate on the issue. Under the Government's welfare reform, social tenants deemed to have more bedrooms than they need have had their housing benefit reduced. The policy has been in place since April 1.

Universal Credit scheme rolls out
The government's flagship welfare reform - Universal Credit - is starting the next phase of its national launch but far more slowly than intended.

Disability welfare changes delayed by assessment process
Disability welfare changes for England, Scotland and Wales have been delayed because the government has been unable to assess claimants in time.
  
Single parents bear brunt of benefits changes, charities warn
Single parents with already stretched finances are bearing the brunt of government changes to benefits, charities have warned, when many are already struggling with huge increases to household bills.
  
Proposed child maintenance levy cut by government
The government has reduced the amount it will charge lone parents for using the Child Maintenance Service to secure support payments following widespread opposition to the proposals.

Landlord fears rent arrears rise under Universal Credit
A private sector landlord with more than 700 homes says benefit changes could put his business at risk. Carmarthenshire-based Kevin Green fears tenants will fall behind on their rent when a new system of paying benefits is introduced. He says he may have to stop letting to people on welfare.

Large families worst hit by benefit cap
Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that of the 18,024 households subject to the cap as of September this year, all but 369 (two per cent) featured children. Of those affected, 7,730 households (43 per cent) had five or more children and 4,721 (26 per cent) had four children.
DOGFENNNAU AC ADRODDIADAU/DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS
A review of devolved approaches to child poverty
This report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation details the appraoches taken by the devolved nations in the UK to tackling child poverty. It gives a summary of how devolved powers are being implemented to reduce poverty, and what more could be done. You can download the report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website.

The Financial Capability of 15-17 year olds
This report by the Money Advice Service looks at attitudes and behaviours of young people towards financial issues. It will be used to inform they work the service does to help people make the most of their money. The report can be found on the Money Advice Service website.

Tackling in-work poverty by supporting dual-earning families
The report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds that children aremore likely to live in poverty if only one of their parents work. It recommends allowing the second earner to keep more of their income before benefits are withdrawn, and more support for working parents such as publically-funded children and more generous parental leave.

Young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), year to 30 June 2013
The Welsh Government has released a statistical report on young people not in education, employment or training.
YMGYNGHORIADAU/CONSULTATIONS
14-19 Learning Pathways Policy: the way ahead
The Welsh Government is consulting on changes to the 14-19 Learning Pathways Policy. The changes aim take into accounts changes in education over recent years, and to give a greater balance between learner choice and quality of the options available at this stage of learning. Consultation ends: 04/12/13.

Draft periodic report to the UNCRC UK - Call for views
The UK Government is consulting on its latest report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Committee is made up of a group of experts who look at how countries are making the UNCRC real for children in their countries. Countries who sign up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child have to report every five years. The next report is due to be submitted early in 2014. Consultation ends: 22/11/13.

Curriculum for Wales: Consultation on proposals for revised curriculum and assessment arrangements
The Welsh Government is consulting on proposed changes to the education curriculum and assessments, aimed at improving literacy, numeracy and other basic skills. Plans are also included to ensure continuity throughout the education stages, from Foundation Phase to Key Stage 4.Consultation ends: 17/01/14.

New guidance for the Risk Assessment of Walked Routes to School
This consultation seeks your views on improving the way in which the safety of walked routes to school is assessed. The Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 sets out that local authorities have a duty to risk assess routes to school, including walked routes. Consultation ends: 07/02/14.
ADDYSG A CHYFLOGAETH/EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Parents must be involved in children's education, says Welsh learning body
Schools in Wales need to involve parents in their children's education to help raise attainment and narrow the gap between the lowest and highest achievers, according to a report published today.

Only finding young people real, paid jobs will get them off benefits
Getting people back to work is a serious business that requires trained public servants just like teachers, the police and doctors.

Call to encourage entrepreneurship from primary school age
Youngsters should be encouraged to develop their business and social enterprise skills in primary school, an assembly committee has said. The enterprise and business committee believes entrepreneurship should be "at the very heart" of Wales' education system.

Businesses Can Help Themselves by Helping Young People
One of the most impactful aspects of business behaviour is the approach taken to employment, especially when it comes to the recruitment of young people. David Cameron's recent call for more rigorous academic training during apprenticeships is just one example of how seriously youth employment is being taken by everyone from the government down.

Work Foundation to help disadvantaged students gain qualifications
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are to be encouraged to gain youth work qualifications with the help of a £40,000 bursary and scholarship scheme. The board of the National Youth Agency (NYA) has established the scheme as an independent charity called the Youth Work Foundation. It is being funded by the agency, together with 02's youth initiative Think Big.

PTSD report finds veterans from disadvantaged backgrounds most at risk
Forces Watch report calls for the minimum age of recruitment to be raised to 18 to avoid exposing the youngest soldiers to the most trauma.report from Forces Watch claims that young soldiers from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to suffer from mental health problems.

Welsh bishops urge army to raise enlistment age to 18
The Ministry of Defence has come under pressure from the Church in Wales and campaign group Child Soldiers International which is calling for an end to recruitment of under-18s to the Army.
TLODI TANWYDD/FUEL POVERTY
No 10 says people should consider wearing jumpers to keep fuel bills down
No 10 has been reluctantly drawn into a row over whether the public should wear jumpers to keep down their energy bills. The prime minister's spokesman said it was something people should consider, after the energy secretary, Ed Davey, said he wore jumpers at home to keep the bills down.
TLODI BWYD/FOOD POVERTY
Some British people can't afford to heat their food. Aren't we ashamed?
People are reportedly returning parcels to some food banks because they cannot afford to cook, while various energy companies are putting their prices up, by an average of over 9%.

Recession hits family spending on fresh food
Many young families cut back on fresh fruit and vegetables and switched to less healthy processed food as the recession squeezed budgets, a UK study of 15,000 households' data suggests. It showed rising food prices and stagnating wages had led people to buy less food and choose cheaper products.
GOFAL PLANT/CHILDCARE
Protest over Rhondda Cynon Taf's proposed nursery cuts
About 100 parents have turned up outside Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council's headquarters in Clydach Vale to protest against proposed cuts. The council is thinking of cutting free nursery provision for all three year olds, proposing children start their education later.

How more paternity leave will spell less discrimination against women
Women of child-bearing age are less likely to be employed because companies don't want to risk the extra cost.
YMGYRCHOEDD/CAMPAIGNS
Cuts Watch Cymru Living Wage Campaign
During Living Wage Week 3rd- 9th November 2013, Cuts Watch Cymru members launched a Living Wage Campaign. Politicians and employers in Wales are being encouraged to sign up to a Living Wage Charter, supporting the Living Wage and calling for progress to be made to increase the numbers of accredited Living Wage employers in Wales.Find out more.
Gadewch i ni wybod os oes gennych unrhyw eitemau, er enghraifft, digwyddiadau, newyddion neu adroddiadau, yr hoffech i ni eu cynnwys yn y Bwletin nesaf.
  
If you have any items you wish to see included in the next Bulletin - forthcoming events, news items or released reports - please let us know. 

Diolch,
 
Thank you
 
Anita Myfanwy
Swyddog Datblygu Rhwydwaith Dileu Tlodi Plant Cymru 
End Child Poverty Network Development Officer