Children in Wales / Young Wales

From August 29th to 30th, five members of the Peer Research group attended an overnight residential at Valley’s Kids Little Bryn Gwyn. This latest adventure closely followed their recent trip to the Glasgow Youth Conference 2024.

Accompanied by staff members from Children in Wales, the group collaborated to complete the thematic analysis phase of their research, discussing how they would like to create a child-friendly report on the project.

A session led by associate Elaine Speyer guided the group in refining their analysis. During this session, the Peer Research Group reviewed and organised the data they had collected, categorising it according to themes and codes they had previously identified. This activity not only deepened their understanding of the material but also helped enhance their report-writing skills.

From this, they identified four main categories for their analysis:

• Eco-Friendly Action
• Barriers
• Caring for the Planet
• Waste Management

These categories enabled the group to examine the data more thoroughly, helping them to pinpoint relevant quotes, responses, and positive or negative feedback from the young people in their focus groups.

But the experience wasn’t all work, work, work! The group enjoyed wellbeing activities, took part in an archery session, and toured the scenic Little Bryn Gwyn site.

Next steps include planning how to present their findings and beginning the report-writing phase. As this is a sustainability project, they are committed to ensuring the final report reflects these principles.

They will be meeting with Elaine again at the end of September to begin this next phase. Stay tuned for their upcoming report!

Children and young people across Wales aged 11-25 are being called upon to take part in the new Young Wales initiative called "The Big Conversation."

The project is a platform where young people can engage with the 7 key themes that Young Wales works on with its young people Advisory Boards:

• Feeling Safe Online and in Relationships
• Social Justice and Climate Change
• Education and Training for Under 16’s
• Education and Training for 16–25-year-olds
• LGBTQ+
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Young Carers

But the Big Conversation isn’t just about talking, it’s about action. The views collected will be brought directly to Welsh Government Ministers in 2025, ensuring that the perspectives of children and young people are part of the decision-making process.

Throughout Autumn 2024, our team members will be traveling across Wales hosting sessions with groups of young people each week. We are so excited to hit the road and begin our journey!

The project's centerpiece will then be the Young Wales Festival at Sparc, Cardiff, set to take place November 16th, 2024. Here, focus groups and in-depth discussions will help shape the key messages that our volunteers will carry forward when they meet with Welsh Government Ministers.

Why Is the Big Conversation Important?

The goal of The Big Conversation is to amplify the voices of children and young people in Wales to ensure they are heard by decision makers.

The feedback gathered will be compiled into a report by Young Wales staff in 2025, reflecting not just what young people think, but how their input can influence decision-makers.

How Does it Work?

Those attending the sessions hosted by our Young Wales team will have the opportunity to join the Big Conversation and give their opinions on our key themes and topics. They will also be provided with a closed survey to privately present their opinions.

During the Young Wales Festival, children and young people can then take part in further discussions and focus groups to help finalise the key messages.

But these events are not just about having a conversation, they are about making an impact. We want to ensure children and young people can have their voices heard and be part of shaping the future of Wales.

For more information, or to get involved, please contact Young Wales at (email)

In May 2023, Welsh Government introduced revised National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare (NMS) for children up to the age of 12 years. This included clearer guidance on safeguarding training requirements in Wales.

The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) Cymru and Children in Wales (CIW) have worked together to develop a pilot training package in line with these revised standards.

This bilingual training will be delivered through a blended approach of self-directed online learning and tutor-led learning. Learners will need to complete the e-learning before they attend the tutor-led training. A certificate will then be issued upon completion of both parts.

The training is affordable and aimed at the childcare workforce, meaning it can be accessible at times most suitable for their working patterns. The courses will enable practitioners to meet the November deadline to be compliant with the safeguarding element of the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare.

When reflecting on the Children in Wales Group C Advanced Safeguarding Children for Childcare Practitioners course, a previous attendee said:

• “The training was the best Safeguarding training I've done (in 30 years of doing it). It was succinct but done in a really interesting way." *

This exciting pilot will be delivered in a bold new partnership between PACEY and CIW, combining our areas of expertise. But why choose us?

Our training:

• Meets the revised requirements of the NMS
• Is high-quality and developed in partnership to meet the specific needs of the childcare and play workforce in Wales
• Has a blended delivery approach with a balance of self-directed e-learning and tutor-led delivery providing you with the flexibility to undertake the training around your busy working lives
• Is led by trainers who are approved and have relevant knowledge and expertise to support your learning journey

Available at the following fees for a limited time only:

• Intermediate Group B Safeguarding Children - £39
• Advanced Group C Safeguarding Children - £69

To book and complete the training, you can find the booking process here: (link)

From 19th to 21st July 2024, Young Wales held their induction residential at Llangrannog for newly registered volunteers.

Young Wales organises residential weekends regularly throughout the year, giving volunteers the opportunity to learn new skills, participate in activities, and become familiar with the Advisory Boards we support. We also host Induction Residentials, like this most recent one, for new volunteers, to help them learn about the Young Wales programme, the United Nations Convention on Rights of a Child (UNCRC) and introduce them to the Young Wales team and fellow volunteers.

During our residentials, we deliver consultations for Welsh Government on issues that affect children and young people, ensuring our young volunteers’ views and opinions are considered for upcoming Welsh Government legislation and policy. We also organise fun activities such as Zip Lining and Go-Karting, giving volunteers the chance to try new things and create lasting memories together.

Some of the sessions and workshops the Young Wales volunteers took part in during the induction residential in July included:

• Accredited Training on the UNCRC
• An NHS putting things right consultation
• Welsh Government Youth Work consultation
• Welsh Parliament and Welsh Youth Parliament presentation
• Welsh Government consultation on Priorities for Culture and Single Use Plastics including vapes and wet wipes

Musa, one of the young volunteers who attended the event, said:

*“I had a fantastic weekend and really enjoyed meeting new people. Learning about children's rights was incredibly important to me, and I've already started sharing what I learned with my family and friends.” *

If you’re aged 11-25 years old and would like to get involved with Young Wales as a volunteer, please fill out this form: Volunteer Registration Form

You can also contact the team directly by emailing us at (email)