This week Welsh Government published its new Child Poverty Strategy for Wales 2024.
ColegauCymru Chief Executive, David Hagendyk said,
“We welcome the recognition from Welsh Government of the urgent need to tackle acute and chronic child poverty levels, but we share the disappointment expressed by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales on the lack of specific targets.
Every day, colleges across Wales are on the frontline supporting learners, for example, providing mental health and wellbeing services, offering free breakfasts, and providing family learning programmes. The evidence tells us that poverty and social deprivation in children is linked to educational underachievement, and Wales’ young people deserve the very best start in life.
Colleges can have a transformative impact on young people and communities if they are adequately funded. Success in education and training is a fundamental part of the route out of poverty, and it is critical that Welsh Government ensures sustained funding for FE to enable colleges to continue to support the most vulnerable learners in our communities – for today’s and future generations. Colleges will continue to do everything they can to support young people to gain the skills, qualifications and experience they need to escape the vicious cycle of poverty”.
Further Information
Cabinet Statement
Oral Statement: The Child Poverty Strategy for Wales
23 January 2024
Rachel Cable, Director of Policy and Public Affairs
Rachel.Cable@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
