Proposed Children and Families (Wales) Measure

Consultation response

CF1 – Pembrokeshire County Council

Dear Sir/Madam,

Question 1.

The eradication of child poverty is crucial as a significant percentage of young people still live in poverty. Working between Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire as i do this is clearly evident.

Making provision relating to child minding and daycare for children is an essential part of a working parents life and those wanting to return to work or train.

Family support teams are the hub of problem solving and support for families and the need is there as this relates to child poverty as well.

As a regional co-ordinator for childrens play the need for making provision for play opportunites for children and young people has been there for many years and does need measures to achieve this.

Question 2.

Organisations relating to the first three points have either had or are having their funding cut in the near future especially voluntary organisations. The expectation of delivery of these measures on organisations will be large but with little resources to supply them.

Point four again is a large topic that needs these measures however the play budget in areas i work in has been cut by £10,000 year on year for the last two years. How can an organisation maintain and develop more provision on this basis?

Question 3

A) Strategies locally and nationally need to be co-ordinated in their approach

A) How is free childcare achieved? Realistic? Funding Cuts?

B) How are the safeguards and disqualifications managed? By whom? Frequency?

C) Communication and Data Protection do not go hand in hand. Information sharing or the lack of it has had detremental impact in childrens lives as recent cases have proven. How will this be eradicated?

C) Where do the childrens partnetships sit in this area as they are not mentioned?

D) The play measures are ambiguous and not firm enough.

E) Participation of young people in decision making does occur but the outcomes rarely reflect their wishes. The consulation with young people needs to be more than a token measure and needs firming up.

Question 4.

Funding, Communication, Adult Decision Making and professionals own intepretation of the measures are barriers.No capacity within cymorth to implement new duties due to the fact as stated earlier funding is cut year on year.

Question 5.

These measures can have huge benefits if carried out properly, this is the crucial area as will this happen?

Financially money will need to be found which in this current economic climate is not there. There will be a gap between new duties and funding available to do it.

Question 6

Play in comparison to other areas such as sports development and childcare gets a very small amount of funding with expectations to deliver large amounts of opportunites. This needs to be looked at and eradicated as childrens play has been constantly overlooked for many years. Play areas are taking equipment away when unsafe and not being replaced. Play Money is being cut drastically year on year, term time provision for play is minimal if any and play in schools is limited due to health and safety and shorter break time periods.

If local authorities are going to have a much needed duty for play opportunities placed upon them the funding must be there to back up these measures or otherwise they are just words on paper.

Kind Regards

Tim Moss
Regional Development Co-ordinator