Seal of approval for council’s work with children and young people

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Think Family Partnership and Youth Service have been recognised for their work with children and young people at a ceremony in Cardiff.

Both were awarded the coveted National Participation Kitemark for the way they encourage children and young people to have their say in the design and planning of the services they deliver.

In order to achieve the kitemark, they had to undergo an inspection to show what they do to meet the seven national standards set out in the Children in Wales charter. The standards provide guidance on the best and most meaningful ways for organisations to listen and respond to the opinions of young people. This includes providing useful information, allowing choice, avoiding discrimination, always being respectful, having the opportunity to provide feedback, getting something out of participating, and being at the centre of decision-making.

The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, presented them with the kitemark certificate at a ceremony to mark the 30 years of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The kitemark permits the use of the logo on all their printed and digital marketing materials to show they meet the required standards.

Councillor Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said:

“I am delighted that our Youth Service and Think Family Partnership have both achieved the kitemark.

“After signing up to the National Participation Charter last summer, this shows that we have delivered on our promise to put the views of children and young people at the forefront of our considerations.

“It’s important that they are encouraged to have their say so we can continue to provide the best services possible to help them thrive and excel in what they want to do.”

The Council’s Youth Service works with young people aged between 11 and 25 to help develop their personal and social skills through a range of activities. The Think Family Partnership is a consortium made up of a group of Council services and professionals whose roles are to provide support to children, young people and families in Neath Port Talbot.

The National Participation Standards are endorsed by Welsh Government and managed by Children in Wales, a national body for organisations who work with children, young people and their families in Wales.

Sêl bendith ar gyfer gwaith y cyngor gyda phlant a phobl ifanc

 Mae Partneriaeth Teulu’n Flaenaf a Gwasanaeth Ieuenctid Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot wedi cael cydnabyddiaeth am y gwaith maent yn ei wneud gyda phlant a phobl ifanc mewn seremoni yng Nghaerdydd.

Cyflwynwyd dyfarniad nodedig Nod Barcud Cyfranogiad Cenedlaethol iddynt i gydnabod y ffordd maent yn annog plant a phobl ifanc i ddweud eu dweud wrth ddylunio a chynllunio’r gwasanaethau maent yn eu darparu.

Er mwyn ennill y nod barcud, roedd yn rhaid iddynt gael arolygiad i ddangos bod yr hyn maent yn ei wneud yn bodloni’r saith safon genedlaethol a bennwyd yn siarter Plant yng Nghymru. Mae’r safonau’n darparu arweiniad ar y ffyrdd gorau a mwyaf ystyrlon y gall sefydliadau wrando ar bobl ifanc ac ymateb iddynt. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys darparu gwybodaeth ddefnyddiol, caniatáu dewis, osgoi gwahaniaethu, bod yn barchus ar bob adeg, cael y cyfle i ddarparu adborth, cael boddhad o gymryd rhan, a bod wrth wraidd y penderfyniadau a wneir.

Cyflwynodd Prif Weinidog Cymru, Mark Drakeford, y dystysgrif nod barcud iddynt yn ystod seremoni a oedd yn nodi 30 o flynyddoedd ers sefydlu Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau’r Plentyn. Mae’r nod barcud yn caniatáu iddynt ddefnyddio’r logo ar eu holl ddeunyddiau marchnata digidol ac ar bapur, er mwyn dangos eu bod yn bodloni’r safonau angenrheidiol.

Meddai’r Cynghorydd Peter Rees, Aelod y Cabinet dros Addysg, Sgiliau a Diwylliant,

“Rwyf wrth fy modd bod ein Gwasanaeth Ieuenctid a’n Partneriaeth Teulu’n Flaenaf wedi ennill y nod barcud gan Blant yng Nghymru.

“Ar ôl cofrestru ar gyfer y Siarter Cyfranogiad Cenedlaethol yr haf diwethaf, mae’n dangos ein bod wedi cyflawni’n haddewid i roi barn plant a phobl ifanc ar flaen ein holl ystyriaethau.

“Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn eu hannog i ddweud eu dweud am faterion sy’n bwysig iddynt. Rydym am sicrhau ein bod yn darparu’r gwasanaethau gorau posib i’w helpu i ffynnu a rhagori yn yr hyn maent am ei wneud.”

Mae Gwasanaeth Ieuenctid y cyngor yn gweithio gyda phobl ifanc rhwng 11 a 25 oed i helpu i ddatblygu eu sgiliau personol a chymdeithasol drwy amrywiaeth o weithgareddau. Consortiwm yw Partneriaeth Teulu’n Flaenaf, sy’n cynnwys grŵp o wasanaethau’r cyngor a gweithwyr proffesiynol sy’n darparu cefnogaeth i blant, pobl ifanc a theuluoedd yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot.

Cefnogir y Safonau Cyfranogiad Cenedlaethol gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac maent wedi’u rheoli gan Blant yng Nghymru, corff cenedlaethol ar gyfer sefydliadau sy’n gweithio gyda phlant, pobl ifanc a’u teuluoedd yng Nghymru. Mae’r safonau’n gysylltiedig â Chonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau’r Plentyn a Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015.