A SEVERE lack of data on missing children in Wales is holding back policy responses and hindering efforts to help young people, a committee warned.

Buffy Williams, who chairs the Senedd’s education committee, raised concerns about the lack of an accurate source of Welsh data that records all episodes of missing children.

“In turn, this means we don’t have the right policy responses,” said Ms Williams, explaining that data is collected for those who go missing from care but not other children.

The Labour MS said: “The majority of evidence we’ve heard is there’s a severe lack of data … hampering efforts to ensure the correct procedures are in place to support children.”

Dawn Bowden, Wales’ social care and children minister, said the Welsh Government is delivering a huge transformation programme for children’s services.

She acknowledged far too many children are taken into care in Wales as she pledged to focus on prevention and keep families together wherever possible.

Ms Bowden said: “One of the things we do know is that many children who are reported as missing are often children who are trying to get home.”

She told the committee data is collected by the Welsh Government, councils, Care Inspectorate Wales, police and the Home Office.

She accepted that children go missing for “all sorts of reasons, in all sorts of circumstances” but pointed out that care-experienced children are far more likely to go missing.

Taryn Stephens, deputy director for social services improvement, added that wider data – beyond looked-after children – will be available in the next children’s census.

Ms Williams also raised alarm about the accuracy of data on children missing from care.

She said data shows 16 children in Cardiff went missing in 2022/23 despite more than 1,000 being in care, while Conwy had 273 going missing despite only having 215 in care.

Ms Bowden suggested the disparity may be down to different information being recorded – for example, on the number of children or incidents.

She said data collection and guidance is reviewed and quality assured every year.

Ms Williams put concerns to the minister that children missing from care are not high enough on the Welsh Government’s policy agenda

She raised the example of calls to make return interviews a legal requirement, as in England, which have gone unanswered for years.

Ms Bowden reiterated that the policy response is focused on prevention.

The minister insisted that the Welsh Government acknowledged the calls for mandatory return-to-home interviews, commissioning two pieces of research.

She said: “It was interesting that the research itself didn’t come to a consensus around whether return-to-home interviews should be mandatory and who should conduct them.”

Ms Bowden added: “The statutory provision in England is actually only an offer of an interview, it’s not that the interview itself is mandatory.”

Warning Wales’ 22 councils take different approaches, Labour’s Lesley Griffiths pointed out that national standards have not been published despite being due in 2023.

Ms Bowden said the delay was because of consultation responses, which suggested more work was needed, and a draft framework should now be published by the end of 2024.

Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary, asked about the changing nature of criminal exploitation of children in Wales.

Giving evidence to the committee’s inquiry on children and young people on the margins, Jane Hutt was alarmed by the frequency of child criminal exploitation in Wales.

Referring to data for April to June, the social justice secretary told the committee Wales’ four police forces all received modern slavery referrals. “That is of great concern,” she said.

Ms Hutt explained the highest number of referrals for all forms of exploitation was in South Wales (75), followed by Gwent (39), North Wales (27) and Dyfed-Powys (11).

“During that quarter, 59%, that’s 90, of modern slavery referrals were for children,” she said. “And almost half, 49%, that’s 74, of Welsh modern slavery referrals for criminal exploitation.”

Raising variation on criminal exploitation across Wales, Mr Campbell said Wrexham reported seven children per 1,000 compared with one per 1,000 in Blaenau Gwent in 2022.

Ms Hutt agreed about the importance of all-Wales guidance but added that she would expect some variation due to different demographics and levels of need.

Tom Giffard, the Conservatives’ shadow education secretary, focused on prevention, urging ministers to address the root causes of exploitation.

He said the committee heard from many young boys that their motivation for joining gangs was to gain a sense of belonging rather than financial reasons.

Mr Giffard also raised concerns about a significant increase in child sexual exploitation victims in Wales from about 900 in 2020 and nearly 1,500 by 2022.

Ms Hutt raised the role of the Welsh Government’s youth justice blueprint as she pledged to take a child-first, rights-based approach.

She said Welsh ministers recognise shortcomings with the national referral mechanism for identifying victims, including significant waiting times.

Ms Hutt told the meeting on September 19 that the Welsh Government remains committed to seeking the devolution of youth justice.

PEMBROKESHIRE has been announced as the host county for the National Eisteddfod in 2026, marking the festival’s return to the region for the first time in over two decades. The announcement has sparked excitement across the area, with preparations for the prestigious cultural event set to begin with a public meeting on Thursday, 10th October.

The meeting will take place at Theatr y Gromlech, Crymych, at 19:00, and offers local residents the opportunity to learn more about the plans for the festival and how they can get involved in the community project.

In a unique move, the catchment area for the 2026 event will include not only Pembrokeshire but also parts of south Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, creating a broader festival footprint. This collaboration is particularly fitting as the National Eisteddfod will be held during the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod, which took place in Cardigan Castle in 1176.

Speaking about the upcoming event, Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses, expressed enthusiasm for the festival’s return to the area: “We’re looking forward to holding the Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire in two years’ time. We’ll be working in a new way, bringing areas from three counties together to create a project and festival celebrating our language and culture both locally and nationally.”

Moses also highlighted the strong partnership between Pembrokeshire County Council, which will act as the lead authority, and the councils of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. “It’s a chance for us to work in a brand-new way, bringing the expertise of three local authorities together,” she said. “We haven’t been to Pembrokeshire since 2002, and we’re looking forward to returning to the county that gave us such a warm welcome when the festival was held in St David’s almost a quarter of a century ago.”

She emphasised the many opportunities available for local residents to get involved, whether through organising and supporting community events or working on the artistic programme and competitions. “There’s a warm welcome for everyone at the meeting, and we’ll have translation available at the event,” Moses added.

The National Eisteddfod, a cornerstone of Welsh cultural life, is a week-long celebration of music, literature, and the arts, conducted predominantly in Welsh. The festival draws thousands of visitors from across Wales and beyond, offering a platform for competitors of all ages to showcase their talents.

Nominations for key roles on the executive committee, including Chair, Deputy-Chair Strategy, Deputy-Chair Culture, Secretary, and Chair of the local fund, are currently open, with a closing date of Friday, 19th October. Those interested in getting involved can find more information and register at the official Eisteddfod website.

Following the public meeting in Crymych, work will begin on selecting the competitions for the Rhestr Testunau, with the community project and artistic programme development set to commence in the new year.

For more details on how to participate or to stay updated on festival plans, visit the official Eisteddfod website at www.eisteddfod.wales.

HUNDREDS of residents and visitors filled the streets of Fishguard and Goodwick on the evening of Friday (Sept 20), to partake in a vibrant autumn lantern parade. The event marked the launch of the twin towns’ new Art Afoot sculpture trails, with participants showcasing beautifully crafted lanterns, including a whimsical family of owls, a striking seahorse, and a shoal of jellyfish, all aglow as they illuminated the night.

The parade commenced from the stunning new fish sculpture, situated outside the Ocean Lab on Goodwick Parrog. This sculpture is one of many planned for the upcoming art trail, which aims to boost footfall and interest in the area.

For those keen on technology, the event also featured augmented reality artworks, accessible via QR codes on mobile devices, merging traditional art with modern innovation.

Organised by Small World Theatre, the lantern parade signalled the beginning of the On Land’s Edge / At Ymyl y Tir festival, a weekend filled with cultural festivities. Following an uplifting performance by Goodwick Brass Band and a warm welcome from Fishguard and Goodwick Mayor, Cllr Billy Shaw, the parade wound its way up the hill towards Fishguard, attracting even more lantern bearers and spectators along the route.

At Fishguard Square, the atmosphere was electric with performances from dancers of Joon Dance and mesmerising fire jugglers, culminating in a lively finale led by drummer Joe Caswell and friends.

The lanterns were the result of creative workshops held over the summer, involving local schools, youth groups, and community members, showcasing the artistic spirit of the area.

Ann Shrosbree, Director of Small World Theatre, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We owe a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed and supported this year’s event, including Pembrokeshire County Council, Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council, our volunteers, and many local organisations. You’re all stars!”

The Art Afoot / Celf ar Droed trails were commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council with funding from the UK Government in December 2023. This year has been dedicated to public consultation, planning, and creating the artworks, with installations expected to be completed by November.

“We’ll return with more updates on guided walks and the sculpture trails this autumn,” Ann added.