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. 

• 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. 

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.  

• Welsh Government urges older people to claim financial support they're entitled to.
• Deputy First Minister visited Age Connects Morgannwg to see welfare advice in action
• Working towards a simpler, fairer welfare system for Wales

The Welsh Government has announced a £50,000 donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country last week.

• Deputy First Minister attends Armed Forces Day event in Carmarthenshire
• £20,000 contribution supports this year’s event
• Focused support across devolved areas to the Armed Forces community in Wales

• £55 million childcare investment.
• This is a phased rollout as part of the Welsh Government's commitment to deliver the most generous childcare offer anywhere in the UK.
• Wrexham has joined Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport in expanding the offer to all two-year-olds in their areas.