On 8 February, I published the results of my Beth Nesa/What Next? consultation. This has been the largest consultation undertaken by my office and arguably the most comprehensive consultation undertaken with children in Wales, due to its scope and breadth.
It had two phases. The first was a qualitative, face-to-face phase. My team and I met 1,000 children and young people from toddlers to late teens between April and July 2015. Children took part in discussions, workshops play events and a youth festival. We made a special effort to listen to children in all parts of Wales and living in all sorts of circumstances. We also had discussions with about 200 professionals and parents.
In the second phase, we drew on findings from the first phase to develop a series of surveys for different age groups with accessible versions using British Sign Language. Around 6,000 children and young people and 1,000 adults completed surveys in October 2015. The survey was unusual in that it included those who often don't get a chance to take part in school surveys such as very young children (800 three to seven-year-olds took part), young people in prison, in Tier 4 mental health provision, homeless young people, travellers and care leavers.
Surveys of young people often concentrate on behaviours such as sport and exercise, smoking, drinking and drug taking. This survey asked them about their opportunities to participate in school and their communities, their feelings of safety in school and their local area, experiences of bullying, local services and what areas I should prioritise in my work. Some of these areas are covered in the National Survey of Wales, but as that is for people aged 16 and over, children rarely get the opportunity to comment on their local community.
The most pressing issues
The youngest age groups asked me to prioritise places to play, while all age groups between seven and 18 thought that tackling bullying is the highest priority. Adults - both parents and professionals - put improving mental health services as a clear first choice for the most pressing issue.
This consultation suggests there are widespread concerns about how we support children's mental health and more general wellbeing. Some people might comment that bullying is an age-old issue and that it is not clear whether we have increasing mental ill-health or more recognition of problems. In other words, what is new in these findings?
We must recognise that we are living in a rapidly changing world that is becoming increasingly complex. We expect all children to achieve more, especially in school. They also need to navigate relationships in the modern context, which includes social media. All of these present different challenges than may have faced earlier generations. We need to listen to children's experiences of bullying and feelings of stress or anxiety and provide the right support for the modern world. The issues raised in this consultation are not simple, and will not be solved overnight.
As children's commissioner, there are three levels I can work at to try to achieve change. First, I will work to influence legislation and policy so that children's rights are always central when new laws are made and guidance developed. Second, I will monitor policies and laws as they are implemented, with an aim that wherever children live in Wales, they get a good quality service. And finally, I will find out whether laws and policies improve outcomes and everyday life for children and young people by finding effective ways for them to share their experiences with others and me.
Sally Holland is children's commissioner for Wales
