CHILDREN'S SOCIETY IN WALES

Early day motion 370, tabled 7 November 2001 by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 3 members.

That this House is dismayed by the decision of the Children's Society to cease completely its activities in Wales without any consultation with the public and young people in particular; sympathises with the financial pressures on medium-sized charities but believes that this response is a dereliction of duty towards the children and young people of Wales; is extremely concerned that this unilateral decision will abandon many children and could place them at risk; regrets the loss of around 120 jobs; notes that the Society has been active in Wales for 113 years and that this decision is a betrayal of the hard work of donors and volunteers over many decades; believes that the Children's Society should not review this move as it demonstrates clearly their contempt and lack of understanding of Wales; asserts that, rather, the Society should make arrangements with children's charities who are interested in working in Wales to take up its abandoned services; calls on the Government to review any funding for the Children's Society to ensure that it reflects its new England-only focus; and calls on the Society to leave an endowment fund in Wales to support children's services.

Signatures by party: Labour 2, Plaid Cymru 1.