NYAS Cymru are proud to today have launched a new campaign, Listen if you Care, calling on all candidates in the Welsh Parliament election to listen to and empower the voices of care-experienced children and young people. Co-created with care-experienced young people throughout Wales, the ‘Listen if you Care’ report brings candidates face to face with their experience of care, and includes practical recommendations to improving the lives of children and young people across the country.
The report was written by NYAS Cymru’s Young Person Advisory Group (YPAG), a group of care experienced young people aged between 13 and 25 across Wales. The group helps to inform the work of NYAS Cymru and regularly supports campaigns to amplify the voices of care-experienced young people.
The care-experienced children and young people who worked to shape this campaign have shared that they often feel overlooked and voiceless, with little say in the decisions that impact their lives. This campaign is an opportunity for candidates across all political parties to understand their unique lived experiences and listen if they care.
The campaign is calling for a Children’s Minister role in Welsh Government, stronger advocacy support for young people’s mental health, better protection for missing children, more support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and a renewed commitment to children’s rights.”
NYAS Cymru will also be hosting a hustings event this month where candidates in the Welsh Parliament election will set out their positions and visions for supporting care-experienced children and young people. Julie Morgan MS (Labour), Amanda Jenner (Conservative), Leanne Lewis (Plaid Cymru), Oliver Townsend (Liberal Democrat) and Anthony Slaughter (Green Party) are set to debate the ‘Listen if you Care’ report and answer young people’s questions directly.
Sharon Lovell, NYAS Cymru CEO said, “For the first time, 16 and 17-year olds have the opportunity to vote in the Welsh Parliament elections. Now, more than ever, it is essential that all candidates of all parties truly listen to and empower the voices of children and young people across Wales. No child should ever feel overlooked, voiceless, and forgotten. We are thrilled that all major political parties in Wales have agreed to attend NYAS Cymru’s hustings event, and to answer questions directly from care-experienced children and young people.”
Later this month, candidates will debate in a hustings event, hosted by NYAS Cymru, where they will set out their stall for care-experienced children and young people. Julie Morgan MS (Labour), Amanda Jenner (Conservatives), Helen Mary Jones MS (Plaid Cymru), Oliver Townsend (Liberal Democrat) and Anthony Slaughter (Green Party) will debate the ‘Listen if you Care’ report and answer young people’s questions.
The hustings debate will take place from 6-7:30pm on Tuesday 16th March. You can register for a ticket here.
