Wellbeing and Young People

Wellbeing and Young People

In 2004 the then Welsh Assembly Government formally adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). One of the seven core aims was to have a safe home and a community which supports physical and emotional wellbeing.This rights-based approach is set out in Children and Young People: Rights into Action (2004).

The Children Act 2004 places duties on local authorities, schools and other organsations to co-operate to improve the wellbeing of children and young people in their area. As part of this work, local authorities are required to publish information that relates to Children and Young Peoples Wellbeing. This includes:

  • A Children and Young Peoples Plan
  • The Children and Young Peoples Well-being Monitor for Wales. This was first produced in 2008, with a more recent version published in 2011.
  • Reports by Estyn, Her Majestys Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, who inspect the quality and standards of education and training in Wales. As part of the School Effectiveness Framework, the Welsh Government and its partners describe one purpose of schools as promoting a culture of social inclusion and respect for diversity, particularly through developing the wellbeing of learners and personalising their learning. The Framework also requires all levels of school and partners to to work together and align their efforts .... to the desired outcome of improved learning and learner wellbeing.

Other agencies also produce materials to measure children and young peoples wellbeing. Or alternately they provide the means for project developers and manager to include wellbeing into their activities and interventions. These include:

  • Exploring Sustainable Wellbeing Toolkit
  • Childrens Society
  • The Teachers Support Network has an interest in teachers wellbeing and has published a great resource.
  • Play Wales A briefing for public health specialists, primary care teams and healthy school co-ordinators: This briefing provides information on why playing is crucial to children’s health and wellbeing and explores ways to respond to children’s need for more time and space for free play.