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Monthly Policy Update – June

Susie Ventris Field (Chief Exec of WCIA)  and Claire O’Shea (as Chair of WOAG) represent the international sector on the Third Sector Partnership Council – an opportunity for the third sector in Wales to feed into Welsh Government policy. Here, we share a few updates on recent activity and some upcoming opportunities for you to give input. If you’d like issues to be raised at TSPC meetings, or you’d like to get more closely involved in influencing policy on international issues in Wales, please email susieventrisfield@wcia.org.uk.

Update

  • We continue to campaign around the Nationality and Borders Act as expressed in our statement and the plans to deport people seeking sanctuary to Rwanda. Along with over 250 other organisations, we are signatories to Refugee Action’s pledge to fight the anti-refugee laws
  • There is a new Cross Party Group on Peace and Reconciliation with Academi Heddwch (hosted by WCIA) acting as secretariat. We’ll share opportunities to get involved as they arise.
  • We launched a Peace Education Policy Paperwith case studies from within and beyond Wales. This was presented to the Cross Party Group above.  

Opportunities to give views

  • Climate Cymru is involved in the Welsh Government’s biodiversity deep dive and is also collecting views around public engagement and behaviour change. Climate Cymru also launched a policy forum for climate and nature policy people in Wales – find out more and get involved here
  • TSPC meetings coming up over the next 4 months with Ministers – please let us know if there are key issues you would like us to raise on behalf of the international sector

Taith pathway 1 applications have been submitted, and now there is discussion about Taith pathway 2 (broadly similar to Erasmus+ Key Action 2) – get in touch if there are views you want to share on how this programme should be shaped

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Policy Update March

Policy updates

Susie Ventris Field (Chief Exec of WCIA)  and Claire O’Shea (as Chair of WOAG) represent the international sector on the Third Sector Partnership Council – an opportunity for third sector in Wales to feed into Welsh Government policy. Here, we share a few updates on recent activity and some upcoming opportunities for you to give input. If you’d like issues to be raised at TSPC meetings, or you’d like to get more closely involved in influencing policy on international issues in Wales, please email susieventrisfield@wcia.org.uk.

Updates

  • A DEC Appeal for Ukraine has launched – more general information about Ukraine and how people can help from Wales – being updated regularly
  • WCIA and WOAG gave evidence to the External Affairs Committee about the International Strategy – then submitted additional evidence on request
  • Contributed to Qualifications Wales consultation on wider skills
  • Joined discussions on concerns about the UK Bill of Rights (intended to replace the Human Rights Act
  • Taith (the new international exchange programme from Welsh Government) has launched. We’ve contributed policy input as this has developed to ensure it is accessible to all young people in Wales and is rooted in values.
  • At a UK level, we’re continuing to join other campaigns highlighting the problems with the Nationality and Borders Bill – the House of Lords has rejected a number of the worst provisions but this will now go back to the Commons. In this, we promote the need for Wales to be a Nation of Sanctuary for all fleeing war and persecution.
  • WCIA responded to a survey mapping indicators against well-being goals (from the Well-being of Future Generations Act)

Opportunities to give views

  • There are opportunities to feed into the new Qualifications framework for Wales – our focus is ensuring the education for sustainable development and global citizenship that is embedded in the Curriculum for Wales is also embedded in the new Qualifications
  • There will be a consultation on a Public Engagement Strategy to achieve the Net Zero Plan. Climate Cymru is collecting views to share in regular meetings with civil servants
  • TSPC meetings coming up over the next 4 months with:
    • Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice – agenda items likely to include volunteering, cost-of-living crisis, levelling up, Ukraine and the green and just COVID recovery
    • Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh language – agenda items likely to include Taith, post COVID education recovery and curriculum rollout
    • Vaughan Gethin, Minister for the Economy
    • Lee Waters, Deputy Minister for Climate Change
    • Future Generations Commissioner
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