Wales pledges £36.6m to support Covid recovery for children and families
Catherine Gaunt
Thursday, October 7, 2021
The Welsh government has announced more funding to help support children’s wellbeing and recovery for families from the pandemic, including funding for play and to increase childcare places.
Of the £36.6m in funding, just under a third is £11.6m in capital funding that has been earmarked to increase capacity in childcare, play and Flying Start settings in Wales.
It includes funding which can be used to develop outdoor spaces, purchase C02 monitors, or take other steps to support settings' Covid response.
The Welsh Assembly said it wants to provide even more opportunities for young people over the winter and into the spring, following its ‘summer of fun’ programme of activities.
The remaining package of wellbeing support will be split between:
- £5m in capital funding to help local authorities respond to the priorities in their play sufficiency action plans
- £20m to support access to play, sporting, creative and expressive, and cultural activities and experiences in Welsh and English in Wales for children and young people aged 0-25.
Deputy minister for social services, Julie Morgan, said, ‘I am pleased to announce the funding to provide a package of support for the wellbeing of our young people and families in Wales. The impacts of the last year have been felt by all of us, and particularly by our children and young people emotionally and physically. This funding will provide them with continued support and more opportunities to strengthen their social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Julie Morgan, deputy minister for social services
‘I want to build on the success of the Summer of Fun, and continue to provide support for our young people, their families and also to the local economy around them that deliver these types of activities and services.
‘Play has become increasingly important as a vehicle to help our young people to re-engage as it provides many opportunities to develop a range of different skills at all different ages.’
Deputy minister for arts and sports, Dawn Bowden, said, ‘I welcome the opportunity this funding provides to build on the summer of fun activities and pleased the culture and sport sector will continue to play an important role in supporting our children and young people to recover from the pandemic. This programme is another example of how we are working collaboratively to provide our children and young people with opportunities and experiences that will have a positive and lasting impact on their health and wellbeing.’
