AS PART of Social Work Week, we are celebrating the work of professionals at NSPCC Cymru who work closely with children to keep them safe from harm and neglect.

Staff and volunteers come from a wide range of experience and have often worked in challenging and demanding roles before joining the organisation.

Once such area is social work and the skills and knowledge of this discipline are key to the work of our Children’s Services Practitioners (CSPs).

While people often shy away from talking about child abuse, the reality is that half a million children experience abuse every year. We need to talk about it, and the CSP team at NSPCC Cymru is here to help prevent it happening. We are here to support children and their families when it has happened, to reduce stigma and shame and help promote recovery.

Sophie Dowle is a Children’s Services Practitioner (CSP) based in Cardiff and explains what brought her to NSPCC Cymru a year ago and the vital work her team does.

Sophie said, “I qualified as a social worker in 2018 and worked in Child Protection and Counter Exploitation teams in a local authority children’s services department prior to joining the NSPCC.

“At NSPCC Cymru we work on a range of direct initiatives including a therapeutic service for children and their families and carers following sexual abuse.

“We deliver a service called Pregnancy in Mind which helps expectant parents with or at risk of mild to moderate anxiety or depression, and we are about to deliver a perinatal service that supports vulnerable parents, developing their confidence in parenting and meeting the needs of their baby.”

There are some differences between the kinds of social work support our Children’s Services Practitioners provide and the traditional roles associated with local authority social workers.

Sophie continues, “Local Authority social workers tend to deal with safeguarding risks in the here and now with overall responsibility for the plan of care and support a child needs.

“We do not deliver statutory services and crisis intervention. Our direct services practitioners offer support to prevent the harm in the first place, or support recovery once a child is safe.

“By working with other agencies and partners to help care and support children, we are afforded the time and a reduced case load to work intensively and creatively with young people and their families.

“It was the opportunity to develop my therapeutic skills, and hearing about the Letting the Future In service, which delivers therapeutic work following sexual abuse, that motivated me to join NSPCC Cymru.”

The skills needed for this demanding role include general child-centred social work skills, empathy, good communication, listening and analytical skills as well as creativity and decision-making skills.  Sophie says she appreciates the support and training the organisation provides.

She added, “I love the time and creativity I am given to work with children and their families. The work is very rewarding. I have worked with so many wonderful young people and have learnt things from them all. It is a privilege to be a part of their journey.

“In Social Work Week it’s important to spread the message about the vital role social work plays in safeguarding and supporting people and an opportunity to promote the work our Children’s Services Practitioners do at NSPCC Cymru to keep children and young people safe.”

NSPCC Cymru’s Direct Services team manager, Jess Hiscock said; “We value the diverse experiences and knowledge our practitioners bring to the role. Sophie and her practitioner colleagues’ passion and commitment to ensuring babies, children, young people and their families are supported and safe contributes to so many improved outcomes for those with whom we work.”

To find out more about Social Care Week visit Social Work Week 2025 | Social Care Wales

For more about the NSPCC’s services visit NSPCC | The UK children’s charity | NSPCC

TEENAGERS in Carmarthenshire have been stepping up to make a positive impact by volunteering their time to help tackle anti-social behaviour in their communities.

As part of Operation Ivydene, a campaign aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour across the force area, the Volunteer Police Cadets have been distributing leaflets in key hotspot areas in including in Carmarthen.

So far, nearly 2,000 leaflets have been delivered, encouraging residents to complete a short questionnaire and provide feedback to help officers better respond to community needs. 

The cadets have clocked up nearly 100 hours of volunteering between them and a further leaflet drop with take place in Ammanford over the next few weeks.

The Police Cadet scheme is a nationally recognised free program that gives young people aged between 13 and 17-years-old the opportunity to make friends, develop leadership skills, engage with the police and contribute positively in the community. They take part in a two-hour weekly structured programme at various locations across the force and help to enhance the relationship between the public and police.

Rhian Curtis, Force Volunteer Police Cadet Officer, said: “Very often teenagers are unfairly labelled as being the cause of anti-social behaviour, but our cadets are proving that young people can be part of the solution. They are committed, enthusiastic and eager to make a difference in their local areas.

“Part of the aim of the cadets is to support local policing policies through volunteering and Operation Ivydene falls within this remit.

“We encourage residents to fill in the survey, which will not only provide feedback to the police but also show the cadets how beneficial their hard work has been.

“By taking proactive steps to support crime prevention and community engagement, the cadets are demonstrating that young people can play a crucial role in fostering safer neighbourhoods.”

Dyfed-Powys Police is always recruiting for new Volunteer Police Cadets across the force.

For more information how to get involved and make a difference visit Volunteer Police Cadets | Dyfed-Powys Police

A LICHEN success story is being celebrated in an area of ancient rainforest in Cwm Gwaun thanks to the conservation efforts of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Cwm Gwaun is one of the treasures of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, renowned not only for its deep-rooted Welsh language and culture but also for its ancient Celtic rainforest. This unique landscape is home to five Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), each nationally significant for its lichen-rich woodlands.

Lichens thrive in well-lit, humid environments with exceptionally clean air. However, in recent decades, these delicate ecosystems have declined due to changes in traditional woodland grazing practices and the impact of agriculture and industry on air quality.

One of the most striking lichens, Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria), was recorded on only five trees in the valley in 2007. Encouragingly, recent signs suggest that conditions are once again becoming favourable for its recovery.

A breakthrough moment came in 2017 when a Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Conservation Officer discovered a small fragment of Tree Lungwort on the ground following a storm at the Sychpant picnic site. Using netting from a fruit bag, they secured the fragment to a nearby ash tree, where it has since thrived. This unexpected success inspired a larger-scale effort to restore this vital species.

As part of the Cysylltu Natur 25×25 project, a lichen expert has now transplanted 46 small, windblown fragments of Tree Lungwort onto 20 trees across three carefully selected sites in Cwm Gwaun. These locations were chosen following thorough surveys, which confirmed the presence of other old-growth forest lichens with similar habitat needs.

Each tree has been mapped and labelled, allowing volunteers to monitor the progress of the transplants in the months and years ahead. The storm that once dislodged a fragment of Tree Lungwort may ultimately help breathe new life into Cwm Gwaun’s extraordinary lichen communities.

Mary Chadwick, Conservation Officer for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, remarked, “Tree lungwort is a stunning lichen that embodies the essence of Atlantic rainforests. It’s exciting to contribute to its gradual recovery across Cwm Gwaun.

This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme and delivered by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government.