A celebration event has taken place at Ysgol Bae Baglan to recognise the achievements of children in care across Neath Port Talbot.
The event, sponsored by Tata Steel, was arranged to showcase the successes and raise the aspirations of looked after children. Over 150 young people aged between 5 and 25 were nominated for awards across categories such as sport and leisure, education and personal achievements. The nominees were put forward for awards by their teachers, social workers and foster carers.
Following the awards, the young people had the opportunity to take part in a number of activities delivered by social work teams and support organisations such as Children’s Rights Unit, Voices From Care, Western Bay Advocacy, police and fire emergency services and the Bulldogs Community Gym. Activities included taking part in rugby drills, riding balance bikes, nerf games, cartoon film making and a reptile show. There were also some famous faces at the event with Ospreys rugby stars Hanno Dirksen and Giorgi Nemsadze showing their support for the young people.
The event was organised and compered by the young people who make up Neath Port Talbot Council’s looked after children’s youth council. Better known as YoVo – Your Voice Matters, the youth council was set up to give children in care an additional channel to be heard so they are given an opportunity to raise concerns and suggest improvements about how care services are delivered. YoVo also gives looked after children the opportunity to meet and speak to others in a similar situation.
Councillor Alan Lockyer, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services, who attended the awards, said:
“I would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners at the celebration event. This was a great opportunity to recognise and hear about the achievements of young people who have overcome the challenges of being in care.
“It is one of the Council’s key priorities to ensure all children and young people have the best start in life, so they can be the best they can be.”
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Digwyddiad dathlu wedi'i gynnal i nodi cyflawniadau plant sy'n derbyn gofal
Cynhaliwyd digwyddiad dathlu yn Ysgol Bae Baglan i gydnabod cyflawniadau plant sy'n derbyn gofal yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot.
Trefnwyd y digwyddiad, a noddwyd gan Tata Steel, i arddangos llwyddiannau a chynyddu dyheadau plant sy'n derbyn gofal. Enwebwyd dros 150 o bobl ifanc rhwng 5 a 25 oed am wobrau ar draws categorïau fel chwaraeon a hamdden, addysg a chyflawniadau personol. Cynigiwyd yr enwebeion ar gyfer y gwobrau gan eu hathrawon, eu gweithwyr cymdeithasol a'u gofalwyr maeth.
Yn dilyn y gwobrau, cafodd y bobl ifanc y cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn nifer o weithgareddau a gyflwynwyd gan dimau gwaith cymdeithasol a sefydliadau cefnogi megis yr Uned Hawliau Plant, Voices From Care, Eiriolaeth Bae'r Gorllewin, gwasanaeth brys yr heddlu a'r gwasanaeth tân a Champfa Gymunedol Bulldogs. Roedd gweithgareddau'n cynnwys cymryd rhan mewn ymarferion rygbi, reidio beiciau cydbwyso, gemau nerf, chwarae gemau cae ffair, gwneud ffilmiau cartwn a sioe ymlusgiaid. Roedd ambell wyneb enwog yn y digwyddiad hefyd gyda sêr rygbi'r Gweilch, Hanno Dirksen a Giorgi Nemsadze, yn dangos eu cefnogaeth ar gyfer y bobl ifanc.
Trefnwyd a chyflwynwyd y digwyddiad gan y bobl ifanc sydd ar gyngor ieuenctid plant sy'n derbyn gofal Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot. Sefydlwyd y cyngor ieuenctid 'Mae'ch Llais yn Cyfrif' (sy'n fwy adnabyddus fel YoVo) er mwyn rhoi ffordd ychwanegol i blant sy'n derbyn gofal fynegi barn a chael eu clywed fel bod cyfle ganddynt i godi pryderon ac awgrymu gwelliannau o ran sut cyflwynir gwasanaethau gofal. Mae YoVo hefyd yn rhoi cyfle i blant sy'n derbyn gofal gwrdd a siarad ag eraill mewn sefyllfa debyg.
Meddai'r Cynghorydd Alan Lockyer, Aelod y Cabinet dros y Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i Blant, a fu yn y digwyddiad gwobrwyo,
"Hoffwn longyfarch yr holl enwebeion ac enillwyr a oedd yn y digwyddiad dathlu. Roedd hyn yn gyfle gwych i gydnabod a chlywed am gyflawniadau pobl ifanc sydd wedi goresgyn heriau bod mewn gofal.
“Un o brif flaenoriaethau'r cyngor yw sicrhau bod yr holl blant a phobl ifanc yn cael y dechrau gorau mewn bywyd er mwyn bod y gorau y gallant fod.”
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