Title

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Welsh councils call for ring-fenced preventative funding

A new preventative fund should be created in Wales to help ease the strain on children’s services, councils have said.

A new preventative fund should be created in Wales to help ease the strain on children's services, councils have said.

In a joint statement, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and the Association of Directors of Social Service in Wales warned children's services needed urgent investment to meet increased demand.

The organisations called for the new funding to be ring-fenced to establish a preventative fund.

Figures show that councils' expenditure on children's services has increased by 30% in real terms over the last decade despite core grant funding reducing by 22% over the same time period.

The WLGA's spokesman for health and social care, Cllr Huw David, said: ‘As Welsh Government considers its plans for next year's budget it is vital that real additional funding is provided to local government to meet the growing funding gap being seen across councils and within social care - otherwise our vital services will continue to be at considerable risk and will not be sustainable in the longer-term.'

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Clearer parameters should bring new opportunities

By Graeme McDonald | 07 October 2025

The opportunity to invest in change and build resilience offers the chance to drive new forms of cross-public sector collaboration and reform, says Graeme Mc...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Investing in potential

By Julie Young | 07 October 2025

Julie Young looks at the impact and value of Somerset’s supported internships.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

CCN is the natural home for all non-metropolitan unitaries

By Simon Edwards | 07 October 2025

As reorganisation changes the map further, the County Councils' Network looks forward to welcoming all new councils with similar characteristics into members...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Reorganisation, Reform and devolution

By Ann McGauran | 02 October 2025

Change is rippling through local government, from structural reform and new combined authorities, to health integration and the push for financial sustainabi...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman