At the start of June, we were proud to attend the launch of ‘Bil Pob Plentyn’ - a legislative proposal for an Act that would benefit every child in Wales!
This proposal has been developed in collaboration across two Cross Party Groups (CPGs) in the Senedd. These are groups where Senedd Members from different political parties come together with stakeholders from across Wales to discuss shared priorities. Together, we have identified key areas where strengthened or new legislation will enable us as a nation to more fully realise the rights of babies, children and young people as set out in the UNCRC. The hope is that political parties across Wales will adopt this proposal into their manifestos for the 2026 Senedd elections and then bring it into legislation in the next Senedd term.
Bil Pob Plentyn includes many issues that we’ve been campaigning for here at The Fostering Network for some time.
We support the Wales Corporate Parenting Charter being put on a statutory footing as this is currently only optional for public bodies to commit to. This would mean that care experienced children and young people are given a right to priority access to mental health services. We know this is important as our 2024 State of the Nations’ survey found that foster carers caring for a child who needs mental health support but isn’t receiving it has increased from 30% in 2021 to 37%. This is a deeply concerning trend that legislation must address.
The strengthening of the corporate parenting charter would also give local authorities statutory responsibilities for care experienced young people up to the age of 25, regardless of their education or employment status. This would help ensure smoother transitions into adulthood with the support they need to thrive.
Another important inclusion is the commitment that every young person leaving care should have a priority right to housing based on their needs, and an end to young people being placed in unregulated or unregistered accommodation. These changes would provide a safer and more stable foundation for young people leaving the care system.
We are pleased to see strengthened advocacy rights included in the proposal. We support a statutory right to advocacy for babies, children, young people, and families, with particular emphasis on extending this right to care experienced parents (up to age 30) and families on the edge of care. Advocacy can be life changing, ensuring that people’s voices are heard and their rights are upheld when it matters most.
We're proud to stand alongside this powerful network of like-minded charities in the Senedd's cross-party group, united by a shared mission to create a brighter, fairer future for children in Wales.
You can read the full legislative proposal here: Bil Pob Plentyn
We encourage all residents of Wales to write to their elected representatives, asking them to include Bil Pob Plentyn in their manifestos for the 2026 Senedd elections.
You can find your elected representatives here: Find your elected reps.
