News

The Welsh Government is marking International Day of the Girl today by reaffirming its commitment to ending period poverty and building a Period Proud Wales.

• New figures show there were 6,157 police-recorded hate crimes in Wales in 2025-26.
• With hate crime remaining at an unbearably high level, the Welsh Government is encouraging people to stand together against hate and support those affected by hate crime.
• The Deputy First Minister says everyone should be able to feel safe, valued and respected in their community.

• New analysis published today shows around two in five children in Wales were living in income deprivation in 2024.

• Tackling child poverty is a top priority for the new Welsh Government, with early progress on funded childcare, the Cynnal pilot, and a new Child Poverty Strategy. 
• Assurances needed from UK Government on Cynnal pilot.

• Thousands across Wales could be missing out on money they're entitled to, as energy bills hit a three-year high this winter. 

• The Claim What's Yours campaign connects people with free, confidential advice through Advicelink Cymru - part of the Welsh Government's cost of living support package. 

• Last year, Advicelink Cymru and other Welsh Government funded advice providers helped 79,000 people across Wales with social welfare issues. 

• Nearly £5 million invested in local authorities across Wales to tackle poverty 

• Funding will support emergency food aid and long-term poverty prevention 

• Extra money allocated to rural areas facing distinct challenges 

The Deputy First Minister, Sioned Williams, has issued the following statement.

• Twenty men across Wales have completed specialist training to help promote respect and healthy relationships. 

• The programme equips men working with young people to challenge harmful behaviours and discuss positive masculinity. 

• Inspired by the training, Cardiff musician James Minas launched Bros B4 Lows, a support group for men in the music community. 

• All local authorities in Wales on track to offer Welsh Government-funded childcare for all two-year-olds by end of March 2027
• Major milestone reached on journey towards universal childcare offer
• More families set to benefit as childcare expansion gathers pace across the country

The Welsh Government places a strong emphasis on working in partnership with the UK Government to improve outcomes across the justice system in Wales – that was the message from Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality Sioned Williams today.

• Expert group meet for first time to design a pilot providing £10 a week to up to 15,000 children in Universal Credit households.
• Members will help design and test the scheme to make sure it works well for families and makes a real difference to children's lives.
• Establishing the expert group delivers a key first 100 days commitment.

• Deputy First Minister sets out the route and phasing for a funded childcare offer for all children aged nine months to four years.
• Local authorities expected to make huge strides towards extending the offer to all two-year-olds as a result of recent funding, setting the foundation for truly universal childcare.
• Twenty local authorities expecting to deliver to all two-year-olds by the end of 2026-27.  

• £5m boost to upgrade and transform community spaces across Wales
• Investment will allow more community led projects to access funding
• Deputy First Minister visits refurbished Cymmer Afan Library, transformed with £181,300 funding