Minister visits youth cafe and homelessness charity

Children and Social Care Minister Dawn Bowden visited Newtown last week to meet with young people and hear firsthand about the issues affecting them.

The visit was part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring young voices are heard in policy decisions.

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During her time in Newtown, the Minister visited Llamau’s supported accommodation service, which provides care-experienced young people with a safe and stable living environment. Llamau, a homelessness charity working in partnership with Powys County Council, focuses on helping young people develop the skills they need to live independently.

The young people the Minister met shared their experiences of transitioning from care to independent living, highlighting the vital role that supported accommodation plays in this process.

Sam Austin, Chief Executive Officer of Llamau, said: “We were pleased to welcome the Minister for Children and Social Care to our supported accommodation service for care experienced young people. The challenges facing young people experiencing homelessness are greater than ever, and sustainable funding is crucial to keeping these vital services running.”

The Minister also stopped by Youth Café Newtown, where she engaged with local youth groups, including Newtown Youth Club and Tutti Fruttis, an LGBTQ+ support group. These conversations provided valuable insight into the concerns and aspirations of young people in the area.

Reflecting on her visit, Dawn Bowden said:

“It has been great to hear from young people on my visits in Bala and Newtown on issues that matter to them and to see how passionate they are about them.

“The realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is part of the culture of Wales; part of who we are as a country. We want a Wales where every child knows that they have rights, understands what they mean and has support to be able to exercise them.

“What young people have to say is important and their opinions matter.”