We're pleased and encouraged by elements of the budget - but there are significant missed opportunities, and the National Insurance rise looms on the horizon.  

We need to see a renewed move toward cost-effective decisions that will have the biggest impact on people’s lives, and on those most often left forgotten within budgets.

People need support, and they need it now.

We're pleased to see Welsh Government note the importance of improving support for disabled children and young people in education and childcare.

However, we'd like to see Welsh Government reconsider some of choices so that every opportunity is taken to meet disabled young peoples’ needs.

The Draft Mental Health Strategy published by the Welsh Government marks a significant shift in how we understand mental health, and how the levers of government could be used to shift the wider social determinants that can lead to distress, trauma and harm across our communities.

We welcome this strategy warmly, and we are clear that if delivered, particularly the much-needed progress on data collection and wider societal prevention and education, it will be significant difference to the lives of people in distress.

In October 2023, a ground-breaking set of guidance was published by the World Health Organisation and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We believe this marks a huge opportunity to do things differently, including in Wales. Here's why.

This White Paper is proportionate, progressive and positive. However, we have concerns over funding, the creation of a ‘deliberate manipulation test’, and a need for a wider understanding of mental health to run through any legislation adopted as a result.

The guidance published on Belonging, engaging and participating is a very positive contribution to the policy and practice around young people’s attendance in educational settings (both in school and other settings).

However, there are some clear and key areas where we would want to see significant changes, and where we believe opportunities have been missed.

We welcome the priority the strategy has placed on including the voice of  the people of Wales. This is paramount in addressing the complexity of the problem at hand.

In our response, we outline how the strategy needs go even further to address the intersectionality and complexity at play.

In May 2023, Platfform gave evidence to the committee. This evidence shows that we need to build connected and relational communities that can understand and articulate their shared experiences.

At the Senedd debate on 3rd May 2023, there was the start of a consensus. But we need a broader shared understanding of social determinants. What do they mean for people without experience of trauma, poverty or discrimination?

Racism is itself traumatic, and we are committed to eradicating it.
Our response below reflects this position and focuses on the key areas we would like to see strengthened.