“Ensuring children are safe, nurtured and heard” – the NSPCC’s new trustee for Wales outlines his vision

• Leading children’s charity announces Albert Heaney as its new trustee for Wales
• Mr Heaney joins 17 others on the NSPCC’s Board for Trustees

NSPCC Cymru/Wales has today revealed its new trustee for Wales, appointing Albert Heaney to the prestigious role for the child protection charity.

A Senior Civil Servant for Wales, Albert joins the NSPCC with a wealth of experience in safeguarding, leadership and governance, holding the role of Welsh Government’s Deputy Director General for Health and Social Services in the last Senedd term.

Albert is one of 18 trustees from across the UK on the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for the overall control and direction of the NSPCC.

Speaking about his new voluntary role with the charity, Albert says: “It’s a huge honour to be appointed NSPCC Wales trustee at such an important time for children and young people.

“They’ve faced new and difficult challenges during this pandemic, and for some this will have been on top of existing problems or issues in their young lives such as abuse, domestic violence, or poor mental health.

“There are other trials ahead as we ease out of lockdown and in my role at trustee I want to positively contribute to improving the life chances of children, ensuring they are safe, nurtured and heard.

“We all have a responsibility to safeguard children in our communities and a fun way people across Wales can stand with the NSPCC in its fight for every childhood is to bring their family, friends or colleagues together for a fundraising day of play to celebrate Childhood Day.”

It’s the first time Childhood Day has taken place in Wales and NSPCC is calling on people to play their part in giving children a fun summer and better future by hosting a fundraising play day of their own.

Albert, a therapeutic social worker, has previously worked for NSPCC, CAMHS, and been the President of the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru. He will be formally elected to the Board of Trustees at the charity’s annual council meeting (ACM) in October, when volunteers, trustees and honorary members of council will gather to celebrate achievements and hear about the challenges facing children and young people.

The announcement has been welcomed by Chair of the Board of Trustees, Neil Berkett.

He says: “We are delighted to welcome Albert to the Board at a significant time for children and young people who have faced different challenges over the course of this pandemic.

“Albert has considerable experience that will help us ensure that a generation of children and young people do not become defined by this pandemic, and instead are provided with the necessary support to help them recover.

“He joins us at an exciting time for the NSPCC as we embark on our new ten-year strategy that will edge us ever closer to our vision of preventing child abuse and neglect, transforming the online world so it’s a safer one for children, and making sure children are supported to speak out so they feel safe, heard and understood.”

Fiona Curteis, who in October stepped down from her trustee role for the NSPCC in Wales, says: “I am delighted to learn of the appointment of Albert Heaney to the NSPCC Board of Trustees. He joins a wonderful organisation of loyal volunteers and dedicated staff all working together to protect children from harm, and I am sure he will find it as rewarding as I have done.

“During the seven years I had the honour and privilege of serving as a trustee, in addition to participating in the regular Board meetings in London I much enjoyed the opportunity of travelling within Wales to meet with staff and volunteers engaged in service delivery, policy work and fundraising and to see their excellent work at first hand.

“I have been especially proud of the way the whole organisation responded so swiftly to the arrival of the pandemic to ensure that the NSPCC and Childline can safely continue to support vulnerable children.”

For more information on how to get involved in Childhood Day on or around Friday 11 June, visit the NSPCC’s website and download a fundraising pack.

Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk.

Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000. Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support.