Author Archives: News

The Cwm Flying Start Hub has received £845,000 of capital funding from the Welsh Government. The centre provides quality childcare for parents of all eligible two to three year olds for two and a half hours a day, five days a week.

During the visit Carl Sargeant thanked the Flying Start team for their determination, commitment and hard work in delivering this project.

Carl Sargeant said:

“I’ve had the privilege of visiting many Flying Start settings around Wales and seen first-hand the wonderful work being undertaken by Local Authorities, the Local Health Boards, schools, the voluntary sector, families and communities.

“Flying Start continues to improve the lives of children and families living in some of our most disadvantaged communities across Wales. Local Authorities have benefitted from over £76 million in revenue funding during the last financial year (2016/2017).

“Last year over 38,000 children and their families were supported through the programme, achieving the previous Government’s commitment to double the number of children benefitting from the programme. 

“My thanks go to everyone involved in getting this project in Cwm off the ground and I wish everybody involved with the new Flying Start Hub every success in the future.”

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Under proposals being put out to consultation today, employers will need to offer workers in the domiciliary care sector on zero-hours contracts the choice of moving to a minimum hours contract after three months of continued employment, if there is ongoing demand for the work.
Measures to tackle ‘call-clipping’ have also been announced. The proposals would require providers of domiciliary care to differentiate clearly between travel time and care time when preparing employees’ schedules, giving due regard to issues such as the distance between visits and rush hour traffic. This would help to ensure that care time – and therefore the quality of care – is not eroded.

Social Services Minister, Rebecca Evans, said: 

“While some staff prefer zero-hours contracts, valuing the flexibility they can offer, for many the uncertainty and insecurity they pose can have a hugely detrimental impact on their lives. Crucially the plans we are putting out to consultation today will ensure employees have a choice. After three months of employment, they will be able to choose whether to move onto another zero-hours contract, or take up alternative contractual arrangements. 

“The proposals I have unveiled today are not only intended to offer staff a fairer deal, but also to safeguard the quality of care and support people receive in their own homes. Research shows a link between the prevalence of zero-hours contracts and a reduced quality of care, due to issues around the continuity of care and communication between workers and those they support.

“Requiring providers to distinguish clearly between travel time and care time when arranging services, will also improve the experience of people needing care. Doing so will help tackle ‘call-clipping’, ensuring people’s care and support time is not eroded by travel time between visits.

“I encourage anybody with a view on these important issues to contribute to our consultation.”

The consultation is available on the Welsh Government’s website and will run for eight weeks, until 7 August 2017. read more

Inspired by MP Jo Cox, who was tragically murdered last year, The Great Get Together aims to bring together communities, neighbours, pupils and friends to share and celebrate all that we hold in common.

The Welsh Government has written to all schools in the country to highlight this year’s event, which takes place between 16th to the 18th June, and encouraging them to take part.

Kirsty Williams said:

“Jo Cox spent a lot of time in schools and truly believed in the importance of inspiring younger generations to be good citizens in their communities. From the tragedy of her death The Great Get Together was created to bring all of us together to celebrate what we all share and hold in common, not what divides us.

“On the weekend of the 16th-18th June, The Great Get Together will be taking place across the country, and I’m adding my support by asking schools to take part with a special assembly on Friday 16th June. We will be publishing material that will help schools to get involved.

“I am looking forward to working with schools to make The Great Get Together a moment of unity that inspires pupils to celebrate all they hold in common. I believe there is a groundswell of people who reject divisive politics and simply want to bring our communities together and celebrate all that unites us. This is our chance.”

Schools can register their interest and find out more on The Great Get Together website about the thousands of activities taking place across the country, ranging from street parties to BBQs, dog shows to scarecrow festivals, bake-offs to multi-faith Iftars to break the Ramadan fast.

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Lesley Griffiths has decided to delay the introduction of Quarantine Units (QUs) from Monday 12th June to Monday 11th September following representations by farming unions and other livestock industry representatives on behalf of livestock keepers wishing to attend agricultural shows this summer. 

The delay means livestock keepers are able to attend agricultural shows using their existing Isolation Facilities without the obligation to meet the full requirements of the six day standstill regime. It also allows them more time to put in place QUs on their holdings.

The Cabinet Secretary said:

“Following discussions with key farming and stakeholder organisations over recent days I have decided isolation facilities may continue to be used by livestock keepers for agricultural shows and those wanting to move animals for breeding purposes, until 11 September 2017, when the new legislation on Quarantine Units will come into force. 

“I am sure this approach will be of benefit to the agriculture summer shows and to livestock keepers who wish to display their animals at these important rural events.”

More information on Quarantine Units can be found here.

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Children First is the name for children’s zones in Wales. Their purpose is to allow the local community and organisations to work together to address the specific needs of children and young people in the area and to reduce the inequalities some children and young people face compared with their peers in more socially advantaged places.

The approach, which involves working collaboratively around a specific place for the benefit of children and young people forms part of the new ambition to create resilient communities announced by the Cabinet Secretary earlier this year. 

Announcing the projects, the Cabinet Secretary said: 

“Children First is about initiating change at the local level, based on the needs of the specific place, identified by listening to children and young people and the local community.  It will aim to bring together all the services and support which will be effective in addressing the needs of children and young people from birth to adulthood.

“Children’s and young people’s rights should be central to Children First, including the right to participate in decisions affecting them. Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs are also a priority.  I am convinced that we need to find ways to prevent ACEs and mitigate their impact, to give our children and young people and the communities they live in the opportunity to flourish.

“I am very grateful to the 19 organisations who put forward expressions of interest in establishing Children First areas. We have identified five proposals that are ready to proceed as pioneers. They will give us the opportunity to see how the approach works for a range of issues, in different communities across the country.

“I hope that in time, the benefits of Children First areas will be clear and there will be an increase in delivery of this multi-agency, collaborative approach.  I am encouraged that a number of the other proposals we received could also be developed to become Children First projects, and we will ensure that learning from our pioneers is shared with others to allow further projects to come on stream as quickly as possible.”

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