Children & Young People...
MISSION STATEMENT
The C.Y.D Network is the voice of children; young people and community based voluntary organisations in Rhondda Cynon Taff. C.Y.D promotes and supports positive action for its member group by the exchange of information and the development of interaction between the voluntary, statutory, private and health sectors
AIM
The C.Y.D Network aims to provide support systems for people working with children; young people; families and communities in Rhondda Cyon Taff to share information and best practice and to ensure that the voice of the voluntary sector is heard at strategic level to aid delivery and implementation of service for all.
Up until 2003, Interlink convened two networks supporting organisations working with children and young people in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The first was the Neighbourhood Network and the other was the Children and Young People’s Network. In 2003, they were amalgamated to form CANNS – Children and Neighbourhood Network. Members come from a vast number of organisations across RCT and currently there are @120 members on the mailing list. This group has met bi-monthly and has grown in membership. Around 30 organisations are represented at these meetings discussing items of real interest to work with children and young people. As a result of a ballot undertaken in April 2005, the name was changed to C.Y.D. Network – the Children and Youth Development Network. A new logo was designed by young people from Llanharan Community Association and has subsequently been professionally developed by Ethos Creative Company.
C.Y.D. Network Aims
- Allow for the exchange of information between member groups on developments relating to children and young people issues, local developments, new sources of funding and other relevant topics;
- Provide mutual support and an opportunity to share experiences and good practice by finding out about work undertaken by other organisations, challenges that organisations encounter and approaches adopted to address key issues facing organisations providing for children and young people;
- Determine the key issues relating to the provision of support for children and young people by voluntary organisations across Rhondda Cynon Taf;
- Promote collective planning and working, identifying gaps and duplication in services for children and young people;
- Develop a relationship between the voluntary sector and strategic and operation groups dealing with children and young people. This will occur through the use of representatives who will maintain an understanding of issues facing organisations through discussion at C.Y.D. Network, create a dialogue with key groups, raise main concerns and influence developments and delivery as well as appraising developments on behalf of the sector. These representatives will provide systematic feedback to the C.Y.D. Network;
- Fostering participation in planning through providing a mechanism for consultation with the voluntary sector and for the election and briefing of representatives to joint planning groups and committees;
- Promoting the value and impact of support provided by voluntary organisations for children and young people amongst key partner organisations including the statutory and private sector;
- Ensuring that the sector is in a position to make appropriate demands from services provided by other partners for children and young people;
- Responding to consultation documents from national and local bodies
C.Y.D. Network Meetings
C.Y.D. Network meetings happen bi-monthly at various organisation venues across Rhondda Cynon Taf. Going to CYD can be a way of seeing RCT and where other organisations operate and what they achieve at community level!
A key part of C.Y.D. Network meetings is to link in with the work of the key partnerships in RCT, especially the Children and Young People’s Framework Partnership – Fframwaith. There are also links into the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Partnership as well as the Better Life Consortium and the Play Association. It’s the place to be, then, if you want to influence what is going on!
Members share information about recent developments and Interlink staff members provide news about key developments such as funding.
WHAT DO MEMBERS SAY ABOUT CYD?
It’s a great opportunity to network.
You find out so much by being there.
If I don’t attend I think I miss out on so much useful information.
It’s good to hear about what other people doing.
It’s good to hear about the partnerships and what they are doing.
There are so many changes at the moment; C.Y.D. is good for keeping up.
HOW DO YOU BECOME A MEMBER
You just need to make sure that you are on the Interlink C.Y.D. Network mailing list. Contact Emma Rees at Interlink.
Emma Rees
Development Officer (Children & Young People’s Partnership Support)
Interlink
Maritime Offices
Woodland Terrace
Maesycoed
Pontypridd
CF37 1DZ
01443 485337