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Reducing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), preventing alcohol and substance misuse, and improving education and training opportunities are some key ways to help prevent suicide in Welsh children and young people.

A new review, published by Public Health Wales and Swansea University, examines the deaths of all children and young people in Wales who died by suicide between 2013 and 2017. A number of themes were identified which should be targets for preventing these terrible tragedies in the future. 

There is evidence from across the UK of an increase in deaths by suicide in young people since 2010. Combining a number of sources, the review sought to identify the factors related to suicide in 10-18 year olds in Wales. 

The review examines 33 cases of children and young people who took their own lives. Some of the issues surrounding these suicides included substance misuse; poverty; sexual abuse and assault; bereavement; shame; difficulties in education, employment or training; and lack of awareness around self-harm.

The review notes there is rarely a single reason why a child or young person takes his/her own life. It’s usually due to a variety risk factors, circumstances and adverse experiences. Despite this, suicide is potentially preventable. 

The review identifies six key opportunities for suicide prevention in children and young people. These are: 

1.  Prevention of alcohol and substance misuse. Including ongoing action to restrict the access of children and young people to alcohol, along with the full implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance to prevent substance misuse.
2.  Mitigation of ACEs. Including continued interventions for children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences such as sexual abuse, sexual assault or domestic violence. This should also include greater engagement with safeguarding boards to raise awareness of the importance of protecting children from the effects of domestic violence and sexual abuse to prevent suicide and self-harm.
3.  Management of self-harm. Including full implementation of the NICE guidance for the management of self-harm relating to children and young people.
4.  Raising the age of participation in education, employment or training. Including an exploration of support mechanisms to ensure children and young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are supported in education, employment or training; including work-based training.
5.  Better information sharing. Including an exploration of how information can be shared between non-state education settings, such as private schools, and state services.
6.  Better knowledge and awareness of self-harm and other risk factors for suicide. Including an exploration of evidence-based ways of increasing knowledge and awareness of self-harm and other risk factors for suicide, safety planning, help seeking and accessing services, as well as tackling stigma.

More information here: https://phw.nhs.wales/news1/news/averting-tragedy-suicide-prevention-in-welsh-children-and-young-people/

The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust is Open to Receive Application from LOCAL Groups Seeking Funding.

The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust was established through an agreement between the Millennium Stadium and the Millennium Commission and its income is generated through a levy on every ticket purchased by people attending public events at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Trust strives to enrich the quality of life in Welsh communities by investing in inspirational sporting, arts, environmental and community-based projects that will have a lasting impression on the people who will benefit.

The Trust achieves this by issuing grants to voluntary and charitable organisations throughout Wales. 

The Closing date for receiving Local Applications is noon on 10.01.2020 Trustees will meet 19.03.2020

Applicants may apply for up to £2,500.00 for grants where the projects remit will serve their local community or town.

Please visit the website for details and to down load an application form: www.millenniumstadiumtrust.co.uk

For queries relating to this round please contact Sarah Fox at: FoxSE Consultancy on Tel:  029 20 022 143 or Email: sarah@foxseconsultancy.co.uk or msct@foxseconsultancy.co.uk

Qualifications Wales have launched the Qualified for the Future consultation.

It will be looking at the kind of qualifications needed for the new curriculum. 

Their vision is that 16-year-olds in Wales take globally respected qualifications that inspire and prepare them for life, learning and work – and they want to know what you think!

You can find all the details by following this link:

https://www.qualificationswales.org/english/qualified-for-the-future/

After the passing of the Votes at 16 legislation last week we wrote an article about the big news on the European Youth Portal!

The Senedd and Elections Bill proposes to:

• lower the voting age to 16 for Assembly elections;
• change the name of the Assembly to ‘Senedd Cymru’ or the ‘Welsh Parliament’
• provide for Members to be known as ‘Aelodau o’r Senedd’ or ‘Members of the Senedd’;
• extend the right to vote to qualifying foreign citizens.

41 of the 60 Assembly Members voted in favour of the Bill, which is the biggest change to the Welsh democratic process in 60 years, when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, in 1959.

This amazing change means that 70,000 teenagers will get the vote from 2021 and also gives voting rights to 33,000 foreign nationals! It also means that from the 6^th of May 2020 our assembly will be renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament as part of the changes.

Labour, Welsh Government ministers and Plaid Cymru all backed the bill, but the Conservatives and the Brexit Party opposed it.

Commenting on the momentous decision the Llywydd (Presiding Officer) Elin Jones said:

“This was a vote to empower our young people to participate in the democratic process by extending the vote to 16 and 17 year olds – a move which, for some, is long overdue.

This Bill, in my view, will create a more inclusive, diverse and effective Senedd, and will strengthen our democracy for the twenty first Century. One that will give our legislature a name which is a true reflection of its constitutional status and improves public understanding of the Senedd’s responsibilities. And one that will bring new energy to our democratic process.

I am pleased that Wales has taken this important step to strengthen the foundations of our parliamentary democracy, a move that future generations will thank us for.”

For us as an organisation that represents the Voluntary Youth Sector in Wales we are thrilled by the decision to offer more young people a direct say in their future.

For further information on the Assembly reform work please visit: www.assembly.wales/AssemblyReform

Awareness and Engagement Event (North Wales) for Organisations that can help to support the delivery of the New Curriculum in Wales

You are invited to attend a workshop to update you on the development of the new draft curriculum for Wales 2022 and to consider how other organisations can support delivery of the new curriculum in schools.

You will also have the opportunity to hear about some examples of good practice.  Please share the information with your wider network.

The workshop will be held at The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno, LL30 1AP on 11 December 2019  and will start at 10:00am and finish at 14:00pm.

Please register here  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/organisations-who-can-support-delivery-of-the-new-curriculum-in-wales-tickets-82010747353

Calling community groups in North Wales!

You could win a share of more than £40,000 from North Wales PCC’s Your Community Your Choice fund

*Here’s the link*

We are delighted to announce the upcoming National Youth Work Conference:

When: 4th MARCH 2020
Where: CARDIFF CITY STADIUM
Who: YOUTH WORK PRACTITIONERS

Note: This is a DIARY MARKER only.

Further details of the event, including timings and content (plus how to book your place), will be released in due course.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Please see below a revised set of dates for the 2020 Spring and Summer CWVYS regional meetings.

Due to an increasingly crowded calendar of events for the sector, we have seen the need to change the dates as noted below:

We look forward to welcoming you to these meetings

The National Co-ordinator post for suicide and self-harm prevention is now out to advertisement until 11 December, 2019. 

Interviews will take place in early January.

This is a key Welsh Government commitment following the publication of the Everybody’s Business report and will assist in driving forward the implementation of the national and regional action plans for suicide and self-harm prevention under the Talk to Me 2 national strategy. 

Welsh Government are also appointing 3 regional leads in the new year to support the regional forums with their work. 

*Here you can find the Job description*

Please distribute widely and encourage colleagues to *apply here*

Please *click here* for sight of documents prepared by each UK nation for the Centre for Youth Impact.

CWVYS has developed close links with the CYI and currently have 6 Member organisations undertaking the YPQI as part of the first pilot in Wales. Six more will take on the programme in 2020 and another six  in 2021. 

CWVYS wrote the Wales paper, which you can access *here*

Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services

CWVYS is the independent representative body for the voluntary youth work sector in Wales

Vision

• A Wales where all young people are empowered by innovative, vibrant and sustainable voluntary youth work services.

Mission

• To represent, support and give a collective voice to its membership of voluntary youth work organisations across Wales. CWVYS leads on collaboration and partnerships on behalf of the voluntary youth work sector in Wales.

Five key functions of CWVYS

• National representation and strategic leadership for the voluntary youth work sector

(including facilitation, policy development, advocacy, shaping and influencing, strategic communications, raising the profile of voluntary youth work services within Wales and internationally; supporting the sector to include young people in all planning and delivery of best practice youth work)

• Collaboration and partnership working

(including facilitation of partnerships, promoting diversity and inclusion within   Wales and internationally)

• Knowledge exchange champions

(including funding information and support, policy information, resources, opportunities and events)

• Celebrate, measure and recognise the social, economic and cultural impact of the voluntary youth work sector in Wales

(including promotion of best youth work practice, quality assurance, workforce development/training/accreditation, data collection, research and evaluation)

• Membership benefits, opportunities and developments

(support for, and a commitment to growing a diverse, vibrant, values-based Membership of organisations across Wales, including Regional representation)

UpRising Cymru are recruiting across Wales for an exciting development programme.

This is a 10-month pilot programme of online content and monthly face-to-face sessions building skills,knowledge and networks, where participants will have the chance to engage with and learn from current leaders from a wide range of sectors. 

Key events include:

• Programme launch event
• Attend hands-on Workshops such as Future Trends and Influencing Others
• Attend a Leadership Summer School
• Experience an internship opportunity with a public body in Wales
• Graduation –  end of programme event where you’ll celebrate with peers

Through the programme, participants will have many opportunities to develop their confidence; knowledge; skills; networks; social mindedness;and wellbeing, gaining a wealth of experience thatcan be used within both person and professional life. Visit the website to find out more.

The details: 

Programme dates The Leadership Academy launches on 10 December 2019 with the programme running January – October 2020.

Face-to-face sessions will take place each month in various locations across Wales. This content will be supported by an on-line learning platform where you will work with the cohort across Wales.

Who can apply? We welcome applications from anyone aged 18-30 who lives, works or studies in Wales.

Cost The programme is completely free to participants.

Accessibility We have an accessibility fund that can help support participants attend face-to-face sessions.  All venues will be accessible by public transport, and will be accessible to wheelchair users.

How to get involved:
I want to refer an employee/colleague Direct them to register online, or for multiple young people, get in touch to arrange an introduction talk or tailored information free of charge informing your young people about this exciting opportunity.

I’m 18-30 and want to take part Take two minutes to register online – UpRising will send you an application.

To discuss any of the above, or for further details contact the Future Generations Leadership Academy Programme Manager, Libbi Prestidge at elizabeth.prestidge@uprising.org.uk or 07342 994076.