About Barnardo's Cymru
Barnardo’s Cymru has been working in Wales for over a century. Our aim is to reach out to the most disadvantaged children, young people, families and communities in Wales to help ensure that every child has the best possible start in life. We try to ensure that every young person can realise their full potential, whatever the circumstances of their life.
Barnardo’s works with children, young people and families living on the margins of society who are struggling to overcome the disadvantages caused by poverty, abuse and discrimination.
Today we run 107 services across Wales including the following:
- families and activities centres – which support parents in their parental role and provide activities and safe play for children
- Young Carers Projects – which support children and young people who shoulder the responsibilities of an adult in the home because a member of the family is seriously ill, disabled, suffering from mental health problems or misusing alcohol or drugs.
- adoption and fostering service across Wales – which finds foster homes or arranges adoption for children who are difficult to place; for example groups of siblings who need to be kept together, disabled children, children from black communities and black and ethnic minorities and children who have substantial behavioural problems.
- family link services – which provide support in the form of short holidays and leisure opportunities for disabled children and young people.
- leaving care and services for homeless young people – offering support for vulnerable young people and homeless young people aged 16, including assistance in finding accommodation, developing life skills, advice on health matters and support with education, employment and training.
- Taith Service – a partnership with seven local authorities, South Wales Police and the Hillside Secure Unit, which works with children and young people who have problematic sexual behaviour.
- Seraf Service – a new project across Wales which helps children and young people who are currently being sexually exploited or are in danger of such exploitation. The project is currently located in Newport, Swansea and Wrexham.
- Caterpillar Service – which supports young people who have mental health concerns. The project has worked with young people who self-harm, who have eating disorders and who are suffering from mental and emotional distress.
As well as providing direct support through its services, Barnardo’s Cymru also seeks to influence policy makers to improve the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people. For example, we have successfully campaigned for services in Wales to support children who are sexually exploited by other people.
Barnardo’s believes that it is never too early or too late to offer help to a child or young person in need, and we do not give up.
Children have only one childhood, and the aim of Barnardo’s Cymru is to ensure they make the most of it so that they can build a better future.
Barnardo's Cymru Annual Reports can be viewed here:
