News & Views

The SCiP Alliance Hub Cymru Development event, hosted by SSCE Cymru Programme Manager and Hub Chair, Millie Taylor, proved to be a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to come together, enhance their knowledge, and engage in strategic discussions focused on improving outcomes for Service children across Wales. Jo Wolfe, SSCE Participation Lead Officer, shared the voices of Service children and young people through a series of videos that captured their experiences in schools across Wales. Philip Dent, SCiP Alliance Director, also addressed the attendees, sharing an overview of the SCiP Alliance and emphasizing the importance of the hub network, stating, "Helping professionals achieve together what they cannot achieve alone."

The event kicked off with an insightful presentation from Jason Pollard of Welsh Government, who provided an overview of strategic priorities affecting Service children in Wales. This was followed by presentations from Pencoed Primary School and Haverfordwest High School, where Kaye King and Reg White shared real-world examples of how schools are supporting Service children. They highlighted practices such as utilising the Thriving Lives Toolkit and providing one-to-one support to address the unique needs of Service children.

Victoria Fisher, Engagement Manager at the SCiP Alliance, along with Shaun O'Neill, Chair of the East Midlands Hub, shared examples of best practices in the functioning of healthy hubs. They discussed strategies to ensure that hubs operate effectively, with a focus on fostering strong collaborations across the network.

Millie Taylor, Hub Cymru Chair, led a series of workshops where participants had the chance to collaborate and provide input into the future direction of the hub. The sessions were designed to establish clear objectives for the hub, including how to operate effectively, define focus areas, and identify the right partners to support the hub’s mission.

The event also featured reflections from Becky Lovell (Naval Families Federation) and Anna Hutchinson (Army Families Federation), who provided invaluable family perspectives. They emphasized the importance of acknowledging the diverse experiences of Service children and young people, underlining that they are not a homogeneous group.

We would like to extend our thanks to all attendees for their active participation and contributions, which made the event a forward-thinking and collaborative session. The SCiP Alliance Hub Cymru Development event has helped pave the way for a more unified and effective approach to supporting Service children in Wales.

We look forward to continuing this journey of collaboration and progress.