NYAS Cymru’s Listen if you Care campaign has been nominated for the prestigious CYP Now Leaving Care Award. 

Children & Young People Now Awards 2021 Nomination

NYAS Cymru has been shortlisted for the industry-leading Children & Young People Now Awards 2021. This nomination recognises the brilliant work of the Listen if you Care campaign, which was led by our young change-makers.

The awards, which recognise innovation and excellence, have become the gold standard for everyone working with children, young people and families. They are designed to offer an inspirational showcase of learning and best practice from organisations across the country. The Children & Young People Now Awards highlight the achievements of teams and individuals from the public, private and voluntary sector.

NYAS Cymru’s Listen if you Care campaign has reached the final stages of the Leaving Care Award category. This category gives recognition to the initiative that has done the most to help young people make a smooth transition to adulthood.

Our Listen if you Care Campaign

Listen if you Care called on all candidates in the Welsh Parliament election to listen to and empower the voices of care-experienced children and young people. The campaign included a report written by NYAS Cymru’s Young Person Advisory Group (YPAG) – a group of care-experienced young people aged 13 to 25 across Wales – which can be read in both English and Welsh.

NYAS Cymru also hosted a hustings event on 16th March 2021 for 16- and 17-year-old members of the YPAG. This event supported young people in their voting decisions for the May 2021 elections. At the hustings, four political candidates – Julie Morgan MS (Labour), Amanda Jenner (Conservative), Leanne Lewis (Plaid Cymru), and Oliver Townsend (Liberal Democrat) – were scrutinised by members of the YPAG. The candidates debated issues which disproportionately affect care-experienced young people, such as mental health, employment opportunities, and education.

Commenting on Listen if you Care being shortlisted for the Children & Young People Now Awards, NYAS Cymru CEO, Sharon Lovell said, “We are honoured to have been shortlisted for these highly regarded awards, and to receive recognition as one of the leading providers of services for children and young people in the UK today. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the young people who have shaped the Listen if you Care campaign. It is our hope that the Welsh Parliament will implement the five pledges outlined in our campaign.”

The Children & Young People Awards final will take place in London on Thursday 25th November 2021.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the Listen if you Care campaign should contact Sharon Lovell at sharon.lovell@nyas.net.