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Said the First Minister:

This is the first time we have ever produced a proper Children and Young People’s Well-being Monitor, bringing together research and statistical data covering virtually all aspects of the well-being of young people aged 0-18 in Wales.

The Monitor focuses on our seven core aims for children and young people, which are underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. They include:

• Having a flying start in life and the best possible basis for future growth and development.
• Having access to a comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities – including acquisition of essential personal and social skills.
• Enjoying the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health – including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation.
• Having access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities.
• Ensuring that children are listened to, treated with respect and are able to have their race and cultural identity recognised.
• Having a safe home and a community that supports emotional well-being.
• Ensuring that no child or young person is disadvantaged by poverty.

It also reports on progress against child poverty targets set out in Eradicating Child Poverty in Wales: Measuring Success – and places them within the context of what else we know about children and young people’s well-being in Wales.

Now we have established the baseline in this 2008 Report, everyone will be able to measure progress on all these fronts, when we publish future reports in 2010, 2013 and so on every three years.

Children’s Minister, Jane Hutt said:

The well-being of children and young people is at the heart of all of our polices. This is the first time we have published something which paints as comprehensive and reliable a picture of children and young people’s well-being as possible. It highlights areas where we are making real progress, as well as the issues which still need our attention.

The publication of the Monitor is a One Wales commitment, and provides us with valuable information which will help us highlight priorities for the local Children and Young People’s Partnerships which are responsible for delivering effective and integrated services for children and young people across Wales.

Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Dr Brian Gibbons, said:

Tackling child poverty is at the top of our agenda for this third term. It is fundamental to the future prosperity of Wales and to the health and well being of its people. The Monitor will help us measure our progress against the challenging child poverty targets that we have set ourselves.

Related Links

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/childrenyoungpeople/?lang=en

http://new.wales.gov.uk/about/aboutresearch/social/ocsropage/monitor?lang=en