Month: January 2026

NEST framework (mental health and wellbeing): implementation update

The NYTH/NEST framework is a co‑produced planning tool for organisations and strategic leadership to share key principles and language for mental health and wellbeing.

The Welsh Government is committed to creating a whole system approach to mental health and wellbeing services for babies, children, young people and their families. Implementation of the NYTH/NEST framework is a key part of supporting services to work in partnership to deliver more joined up, nurturing, empowering, safe and trusted services.

This NYTH/NEST implementation update draws together reporting from Regional Partnership Boards’ NEST self‑assessments and Welsh Government to show the progress being made in NYTH/NEST implementation.

NEST framework (mental health and wellbeing): implementation update 2025 [HTML] | GOV.WALES

Fframwaith NYTH (iechyd meddwl a llesiant): diweddariad gweithredu

Mae’r fframwaith NYTH yn offeryn cynllunio wedi’i gydgynhyrchu ar gyfer sefydliadau ac arweinwyr strategol i rannu egwyddorion ac iaith allweddol ar gyfer iechyd meddwl a llesiant. 

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i greu dull system gyfan o ymdrin â gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl a llesiant ar gyfer babanod, plant, pobl ifanc a’u teuluoedd. Mae gweithredu fframwaith NYTH yn rhan allweddol o gefnogi gwasanaethau i weithio mewn partneriaeth er mwyn darparu gwasanaethau meithrin, grymuso, diogel a dibynadwy mwy cydlynus.

Mae’r diweddariad blynyddol hwn ar weithredu NYTH yn dwyn ynghyd adroddiadau o hunanasesiadau NYTH Byrddau Partneriaeth Rhanbarthol a Llywodraeth Cymru i ddangos y cynnydd sy’n cael ei wneud wrth roi NYTH ar waith.

https://www.llyw.cymru/fframwaith-nyth-iechyd-meddwl-llesiant-diweddariad-gweithredu-2025-html

The SPACE wellbeing co-ordinator posts are now live on NHS jobs – please see below link. The closing date is currently 7^th January, but this will be extended for a further 2 weeks due to the Christmas break. For further information, please click on the link below.

Jobs – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

These sessions will bring together colleagues from across the sector to explore new insights, research, and practical approaches to supporting learner health and well‑being. We’d love for you to join us, and we’d also be grateful if you could share the details within your networks to help spread the word.

You can learn more about each webinar and book your free place using the links below.

Learner School Connectedness and Well-being: Evaluation of the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being

Wednesday 28 January, 3.45pm – 4.30pm, Microsoft Teams

Join us for a free webinar where we’ll share insights from a three-year evaluation of the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being in Wales, funded by the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health, Cardiff University.

Using data and insights from The School Health Research Network (SHRN), the webinar will explore if children and young people’s mental health and sense of connection to school has changed over time since the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being was introduced.

Improving School Climate to Support Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Thursday 26 February, 3.45pm – 4.30pm, Microsoft Teams

Schools play an important part in shaping how learners feel. But what does a supportive school climate look like (e.g. relationships, routines, values, and the general ‘feel’ of a school) and how much difference can it make to the mental health and well-being of learners?

Join us for our free webinar, where we will discuss school climate approaches and interventions; their impact on mental health; and their potential to reduce or widen health and well-being inequalities.

Rethinking Secondary Schools: Insights from SHRN Data to Support Leaners with ADHD

Wednesday 25 March, 3.45pm – 4.30pm, Microsoft Teams

Join us as we dive into a SHRN-informed research study exploring how school practices and environments impact the mental health and well-being of learners with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Using data from The School Health Research Network (SHRN), drawn from over 21,000 learners aged 13 – 14 across Wales in 2019, this study investigates the links between self-reported ADHD symptoms and mental well-being, depressive symptoms, and emotional difficulties, while also uncovering how these outcomes differ between schools.

Building on these findings, we take a closer look through in-depth interviews with leaners and staff in three secondary schools. This qualitative research reveals how elements of school climate e.g. belonging, shared values and relationships, alongside everyday practices, shape the well-being of learners with ADHD.

The research provides practical insights to help schools create more inclusive environments, supporting learners with ADHD while also boosting well-being for every learner.

DIARY MARKERS*

You may, or may not, have heard about the proposed Statutory Framework for Youth Work in Wales?

If not, or if you need a refresher, more here via the Cabinet Secretary for Education’s announcement on 1 December 2025:

https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-national-body-and-statutory-framework-youth-work-0

https://www.llyw.cymru/datganiad-ysgrifenedig-corff-cenedlaethol-fframwaith-statudol-ar-gyfer-gwaith-ieuenctid-0

As the Statement says:

‘The new framework, comprising statutory directions and statutory guidance, will be brought into force by April 2026. It will place a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure the provision of youth work – this is unprecedented and reflects my commitment to extend the benefits of youth work to more young people. The framework will also introduce a new planning and reporting structure which will enable Welsh Ministers and crucially, young people, to hold decision makers to account for decisions relating to the youth work offer in their area.’

This will bring big changes to the ways in which you will be working and collaborating with local authority youth service teams  – whether you already do or if you never have done. 

CWVYS intends to help you to navigate this new approach by providing you with webinar and in-person opportunities to discuss and debate the opportunities, barriers, solutions and ways forward – both amongst yourselves and with local authority Principal Youth Officers and their teams plus Welsh Government officials from the Youth Engagement Branch.

Diary markers:

Webinars (for voluntary sector organisations only):

29 January 10am-12 noon 

30 January 10am-12noon 

10 February 10.30-12noon

11 February 2.00-3.30pm

In-person (for all):

26 February – Swansea

27 February – Cardiff

12 March – north Wales tbc

13 March – mid Wales tbc

‘Meet and Greets’

CWVYS will facilitate online and/or in-person conversations between yourselves and local authority youth service teams to continue, or to start, conversations about collaborative working as part of the new statutory framework. Details to follow.

Next steps

In the coming days and weeks, we will start to roll out more information on the above.