Cross-Parry Group Meeting
Cross Party Group for Children and Families
AGM
Wednesday 12th November 2025
12pm-1pm
Via Teams
Attending
Jane Dodds, MS – Chair
Ieuan Parry – MSS
Rachel Beddoe Children in Wales
Katie Jacobs – Social Care Wales
Tammi Owen – Cube Centre
Davina Carey-Evans – Family Fund
Darren Griffiths – RCPCH
Pippa Cotterill – RCSLT
Liz Gregory – Parent Infant Foundation
Dave Williams – NHS
Mark Carter – Barnardos
Rhiannon Beaumont-Walker – TPG Cymru
Cecile Gwilym - NSPCC
Johanna Robinson – Welsh Government
Kerrie Gemmill – Scouts Cymru
Kirsty Rees – Senedd
Jasmine Harris – Barnardos
Apologies
Ash Lister – Action for Children
Euan Hails - Adferiad
Rhian Croke-Chamberlain – Swansea University
Leo Holmes – Early Years Wales
Samantha Frith-Jones – AFKA Cymru
Sean O’Neill – Children in Wales
1. Welcome
Jane welcomed everyone to the meeting and AGM
2. AGM
Jane Dodds, MS was put forward to continue to chair the group. This was seconded by Cecile Gwilym. There were no objections to Jane continuing as chair of the group. Jane accepted nominations.
Children in Wales has agreed to continue as Secretariat of the group, this was seconded by Dave Williams and no objections were received.
The AGM was formally ended.
3. Looking Forward
JD reflected on the dissolution of the Cross Party Group as Senedd elections are being held in May next year. She noted that it would be useful to convene a meeting to reflect upon the journey of the group and to outline its legacy, producing a legacy report.
CG reflected on the work of the group on behalf of NSPCC. It was noted that the group has been a valuable forum, especially the focus on early years and poverty. It was noted that it may be likely that future meetings will want to return to these issues. CG has valued the engagement of everyone in the group and the work on Bil Pob Plentyn. Looking forward it would be useful to discuss issues such as children’s budgeting. It can be difficult to identify how much money is spent on children in the Welsh Government budget and to know exactly what percentage is spent on children and families, so they are able to track gaps.
JD queried if the issue with children’s budgeting is it written down anywhere for record.
ACTION: CG to send information to JD to ensure it is recorded going forward
Mark Carter, Barnardos, has found the forum helpful and it has been a strong group covering important areas. He noted he liked the idea of a legacy and two areas that Barnardos are focusing at moment, which may be useful going forward, are early intervention and prevention and children languishing in the neurodevelopment pathway. It was noted there is little support available while children and their families wait for assessment and the mental health and wellbeing of children and families is worsening rather than getting better.
JD picked up on early intervention and prevention and noted prevention links to every area of work.
Davina Carey-Evans noted that there are families eligible for the family fund and raised that Family Funds first coalition meeting will be held on 4th December, which will be led by parents and carers. DC-E invited members to join the collision and thanked Jane for her support.
Action: DC-E to forward details of the collision meeting on 4th December to send out to members.
JD noted disabled children need for support and ensure services are available to them and to capture this for the legacy report.
Dave Williams, NHS Wales/Clinical Lead Mental Health, noted that a statement on the importance of the group to promote rights of the child needs to be put the legacy report. He noted there is a need to consider the developmental stages of children and to consider a framework to encourage people to think about this. There is also a need for tracking budgets, especially to track the shrinking of call centre budgets in comparison with high end interventions. Differences in spending on prevention rather than intervention was mentioned, and diversity considerations to be considered also.
JD noted the preventative agenda is important to get in early to prevent emergencies. There is a need to demand a cabinet member for babies, children and young people
Dr Liz Gregory noted her appreciation of being part of the group and the opportunities and connections it offered. She agreed with focus on early intervention and prevention, especially a focus on the first 1000 days. She queried if the group should be called the cross-party group for babies, children and young people going forward. JD noted this was a good point to have cross-party group on babies, children and young people and will suggest this going forward.
Joanna Robinson, National Advisor for WADWASV, emphasised the need for holistic, cross-govenrment approach rather than siloed services. They also highlighted prevention opportunities when working with families experience domestic abuse and noted separation between safeguarding and VAWDASV agendas missing opportunities. They suggested using Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) common recommendations as evidence base.
Action: Jane’s office to write a letter to SUSR/Dawn Bowden MS requesting key recommendations from child practise reviews.
Kerrie Gemmill noted one thing to consider going forward is how to link with new national body and framework for youth work, which is still in development. This will be important vehicle and it is important to know who is going to own it going forward.
JD noted there had been a lot of work around youth work in the children in our care cross party group.
Action: JD to share legacy reports from the children in our care cross-party group
Tammi Owen noted the frustration for families going out of county and the lack of consistency in support services. It is important to look at good practice in support for families and have consistency pan Wales. She noted third sector concerns and that many may not be offering services in 2026 due to lack of funding
JD noted concerns over the lack of sustainable funding and there needs to be an opportunity to explore this framework.
Philippa Cotteril noted from a speech, language and communication perspective prevention and early intervention are crucial for those with communication difficulties.
JD referenced a report noting 60% of individuals in the criminal justice system have speech and language difficulties.
DG, via the teams chat channel noted that RCPCH would very much agree with the points made by CG and MC on children's budgeting and protection of prevention and early years funding in future Welsh Government budgets. This is something many organisations have called for repeatedly in budget consultations, including RCPCH, the Future Generations Commissioner and NHS Confederation.
JD noted there have been some key points and issues raised to include in legacy report and suggested the group meet in January to finalise legacy report.
4. AOB
None.
Summary Actions
Next Steps