The all-Wales Missing the Point steering group, made up of charities, Police and Crime Commissioners and public sector organisations, has called for the protection and empowerment of care-experienced children and young people to be prioritised throughout the recovery.

This was in response to Welsh Government’s call on partners to help shape the post-pandemic recovery and reconstruction efforts.

The Missing the Point group identified independent Return Home Interviews as vital wrap-around support, and child-centred policing as a measure that could reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of care-experienced children and young people. The group’s recommendations aim to strengthen existing good practice across Wales and break the cycle between missing episodes, criminal exploitation and serious violence. The Missing the Point steering group submission can be read here.

In a separate individual submission, NYAS Cymru has also recommended ways that Welsh Government could strengthen advocacy, support mental health and end youth homelessness post COVID-19. Our submission can be read here.

Sharon Lovell, National Executive Director of Wales, said “NYAS Cymru and the Missing the Point steering group are grateful for the opportunity to share our views with Welsh Government. For the past year, our group has been looking at how our country can best protect care-experienced children and young people. Children’s rights must be front and centre of Welsh Government’s plan for a brighter future beyond this pandemic.”