One-third of children in Wales are currently affected by poverty. Since the 1930s, Save the Children has worked alongside Welsh communities to ensure every child has the support they need to grow, learn, and thrive. Our vision is a Wales where all children are free from poverty and have what they need to grow and succeed, supported by strong, connected communities that listen to and act on children’s voices.
Our Work in Wales
To ensure children get the best start in life, we work with partners and communities across Wales, listening to the latest evidence, and most importantly listening to the voices of children and families.
Implementing a Welsh Child Payment – what routes can the Welsh Government take?
A new legal analysis from Save the Children Cymru and the Bevan Foundation shows that a Welsh Child Payment is both legally and practically achievable under existing Welsh Government powers, despite social security being reserved to Westminster. With one in three children in Wales living in poverty, it is argued that a Welsh Child Payment could significantly reduce child poverty, improve child wellbeing and deliver long-term economic benefits. The paper explores the legal routes, political challenges and funding considerations for implementing the Welsh Government’s proposed Cynnal pilot and scaling it into a nationwide scheme.
"Listen to us more." A Manifesto for Children: 2026 Senedd Election
Child poverty is not inevitable, it is the result of choices. The 2026 Senedd election is a moment to make different ones. It’s a chance to show that Wales puts children first.
This manifesto, based on the calls of children to #ListenToUsMore, lays out what the next Welsh Government must do to give children in Wales the future they deserve.
The Elephant in the Room
Impact Reports and Research
- Starting Strong / Dechrau'n Gryf: Supporting families experiencing poverty through the early years transition phase. See also our Parents' / Rhieni reports and Children's / Plant reports.
- Pause to Play / Hoe am Hwyl: Demonstrating the difference that can be made if we alleviate an immediate financial crisis in a family home and provide a period of sustained support for families around their child’s early learning.
- From Covid to Cost of Living / O Covid-19 i Gostau Byw: 18 months of providing early years grants to families in Wales.
- Ukraine One Year On / Cymorth i blant a theuluoedd o Wcráin: Support for children and families in Ukraine.
- A Century in Wales / Canrif yng Nghymru: A century of change for children in Wales.
Power of Voice
The Power of Voice research project is one way in which we're seeking to listen to children and young people in Wales. We're especially interested in the views of children and young people who live in communities where there are higher levels of poverty.
Over 13 months from November 2023 to December 2024, we embarked on a research project where we listened to children and young people about their experiences of living in these communities and the ways in which poverty affects them. We spoke to them about their hopes and aspirations for the future and the things that they thought would help or hinder them in achieving those aspirations. Finally, we asked them about their ideas for change.
Read the full report, view our interactive report, and watch the fantastic animation created and voiced by the young people to share the findings.
Y GYMRAEG A NI / THE WELSH LANGUAGE AND US
FIND OUT MORE
For more information about our work in Wales, please contact [email protected] or call us on 029 20 396838.
