A new youth council has been formed by Neath Port Talbot Council for looked after children to have their say on issues that matter to them.
Set up by the Council’s Children and Young People Services team, the purpose of the youth council is to give young people in care an additional channel to ensure they are heard, their concerns are dealt with and improvements are made going forward. It is also an opportunity for looked after children to meet others to share similar concerns, work together for change and socialise.
The new youth council is made up of young people in care between the ages of 11 and 18 who meet up on a monthly basis. Issues that arise at the meeting are fed back to senior officers to help shape how services are delivered in the future.
At the first meeting held in June, the children were tasked with coming up with a strapline and logo to help give the new council its own identity. The strapline they have decided to use is ‘your voice matters’ to reflect one of the main reasons the youth council was formed. At the next meeting in July, they are set to discuss the development of a bespoke webpage so young people can access information such as available support and useful contacts.
Councillor Alan Lockyer, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services said:
“I am delighted a new youth council has been set up specifically for children and young people in care. It will be a great opportunity to find out what sort of issues affect them and how we can tailor our services to meet their needs.
“Our aim is to ensure all young people in care are given the best start in life”.
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Cyngor ieuenctid newydd wedi'i sefydlu ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal
Mae cyngor ieuenctid newydd wedi'i sefydlu gan Gyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot er mwyn i blant sy'n derbyn gofal gael dweud eu dweud ar y materion sy'n bwysig iddynt.
Mae tîm Gwasanaethau Plant a Phobl Ifanc y cyngor wedi sefydlu'r cyngor ieuenctid gyda'r pwrpas o roi cyfrwng ychwanegol i bobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu clywed, yr ymdrinnir â'u pryderon ac y gwneir gwelliannau yn y dyfodol. Mae'n gyfle hefyd i blant sy'n derbyn gofal gwrdd ag eraill i rannu pryderon tebyg, gweithio gyda'i gilydd dros newid a chymdeithasu.
Mae'r cyngor ieuenctid newydd yn cynnwys pobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal rhwng 11 a 18 oed sy'n cwrdd bob mis. Rhoddir adborth ar faterion sy'n codi yn y cyfarfod i uwch-swyddogion er mwyn helpu i lunio sut cyflwynir gwasanaethau yn y dyfodol.
Yn y cyfarfod cyntaf, a gynhaliwyd ym mis Mehefin, gofynnwyd i'r plant fathu arwyddair a logo er mwyn helpu i roi ei hunaniaeth ei hun i'r cyngor newydd. Yr arwyddair maent wedi penderfynu ei ddefnyddio yw 'eich llais chi sy'n bwysig' i adlewyrchu un o'r prif resymau dros sefydlu'r cyngor ieuenctid. Yn y cyfarfod nesaf ym mis Gorffennaf, byddant yn trafod datblygu gwe-dudalen bwrpasol er mwyn i bobl ifanc allu cael mynediad i wybodaeth megis y gefnogaeth sydd ar gael a chysylltiadau defnyddiol.
Meddai'r Cynghorydd Alan Lockyer, Aelod y Cabinet dros y Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i Blant,
"Rwyf wrth fy modd fod cyngor ieuenctid newydd wedi'i sefydlu i blant a phobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal. Bydd yn gyfle gwych i gael gwybod pa fath o faterion sy'n effeithio arnynt a sut gallwn deilwra ein gwasanaethau i ddiwallu eu hanghenion.
"Ein nod yw sicrhau bod pob person ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal yn cael y dechrau gorau mewn bywyd."
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