The Welsh Government has outlined its commitment to putting
children at the heart of everything it does this Senedd term.
To ensure no family or child is left behind as a result of
the pandemic, a significant package of support is being
provided to fund initiatives designed to help children, young
people, families and the services they use recover and move
forwards from the pandemic.
Deputy Minister for Social Services, said:
I am pleased to announce the funding to provide a package of
support for the well-being of our young people and families
in Wales. The impacts of the last year have been felt by all
of us, and particularly by our children and young people
emotionally and physically. This funding will provide them
with continued support and more opportunities to strengthen
their social, emotional and physical well-being.
I want to build on the success of the Summer of Fun, and
continue to provide support for our young people, their
families and also to the local economy around them that
deliver these types of activities and services. Play has
become increasingly important as a vehicle to help our young
people to re-engage as it provides many opportunities to
develop a range of different skills at all different ages.
The £36.6 million package of well-being support will be split
between:
- £11.6m capital funding to increase capacity in childcare,
play and Flying Start settings in Wales, including funding
which can be used to develop outdoor spaces, purchase C02
monitors or take other steps to support their covid response;
- £5m capital funding to help local authorities respond to
the priorities in their play sufficiency action plans;
- £20m revenue to support access to play, sporting,
creative and expressive, and cultural activities and
experiences in Welsh and English in Wales for children and
young people aged 0-25. Building on the success of the Summer
of Fun and providing even more opportunities for our young
people over the winter and into the spring.
Ms Morgan continued:
This is our future generation and this package of well-being
support is for all young people from every community and
provide the opportunity for them to develop their social,
emotional and physical well-being for now and for the future.
Part of this funding will also build on the success of
projects such as the Summer of Fun within education settings
and provide activities outside of formal learning, linked to
our Renew and Reform plan.
In welcoming the announcement the Minister for Education and
Welsh Language, said:
I am pleased that, as part of our Renew and Reform plan, some
of the funding announced today will also be used to directly
support schools, colleges and higher education settings to
promote physical, mental, emotional wellbeing through
increased access to creative, sporting and cultural
activities in English and Welsh. This complements a number of
wider initiatives we are also developing, to ensure provision
of additional quality experiences and activities in and
around the school day, week and year.
Deputy Minister for Arts and Sports, said:
I welcome the opportunity this funding provides to build on
the summer of fun activities and pleased the culture and
sport sector will continue to play an important role in
supporting our children and young people to recover from the
pandemic. This programme is another example of how we are
working collaboratively to provide our children and young
people with opportunities and experiences that will have a
positive and lasting impact on their health and wellbeing.
