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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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Monthly Policy Update -May

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.

Updates

  • Although the first round of applications for Taith pathway 1 is closing this week, we are still seeking to strengthen some areas of the programme so they are accessible for all young people. Alongside other colleagues from TSPC, we have a meeting coming up with the Taith director and the Chair of the Advisory Committee Kirsty Williams
  • We are disappointed about the passage of the Nationality and Borders Bill as expressed in our statement. Along with over 250 other organisations, we are signatories to Refugee Action’s pledge to fight the anti-refugee laws
  • We are also signatories to a Green Alliance civil society response to the Energy Bill released on 10 May
  • Along with the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and Size of Wales, we wrote to Minister Rebecca Evans and Deputy Minister Hannah Blythyn about global responsibility in the Social Partnership and Procurement Bill and have requested a meeting with the miniter

 

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:
    • 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
  • A new Cross-Party group on Peace and Reconciliation is being launched this week. Academi Heddwch are acting as Secretariat and we will soon share opportunities to get involved. WCIA are launching a Peace Education Policy paper at the meeting.
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Monthly Policy Update – April

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.

Updates

  • The Ukraine DEC Appeal is still live and we’ve compiled more information about Ukraine on our website
  • Taith (the new international exchange programme from Welsh Government) now has applications open. We’ve contributed policy input as this has developed and continue to work with youth sector colleagues and those delivering the programme to make sure it delivers for Wales’ young people. We contributed to a letter from WCVA (on behalf of TSPC members) to the Minister for Education to highlight some areas in the scheme that needs further development
  • We met with a Welsh Government civil servant to discuss how the Community Schools initiative overlaps with global citizenship. We continued to push for better mapping so schools can more easily find third sector resources and organisations to help with curriculum delivery – hopefully, something will be forthcoming soon through consultation
  • At a UK level, we’re continuing to join other campaigns highlighting the problems with the Nationality and Borders Bill
  • We’ve developed a draft paper for the Well-being for Future Generations Commissioners Office on how to be a more globally responsible nation – thank you to many people across the sector who contributed. There is still time to add your thoughts so please let us know if you would like to access the shared document

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:
    • 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
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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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