P 57

Ymchwiliad i’r Adolygiad Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon

Inquiry into the Priorities for the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Ymateb gan: Colegau Cymru

Response from: Colleges Wales

ColegauCymru / CollegesWales response to Priorities for the Health, Social Care and Sport Commitee

 Views on priority areas that should be considered for the next 12-18 months

 September 2016

1. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales welcomes the opportunity to submit comments to the Committee for Health, Social Care and Sport in response to the advertised consultation. 

2. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales represents the 14[1] further education (FE) colleges and FE institutions in Wales.[2]

3. Since 2014, ColegauCymru / CollegesWales in partnership with Sport Wales has been the lead organisation for Sport and Physical Activity development in the FE sector in Wales.  Developments have focused on increasing participation among underrepresented groups, future workforce, collaboration between FE and other NGBs and organisations with similar goals and future proofing systems to build capacity in the sector.

4. Within the FE sector in Wales, ColegauCymru / CollegesWales is currently focusing its work in Sport and Physical activity among the 16-19 age group, there are currently approximately 50,000 students in this age group in full time education in FE colleges in Wales.

In response to the Consultation, ColegauCymru / CollegesWales would like to respond to the point on Sport and Public Health specifically:

· Making Education at all levels a priority – the current MoU is between PHW and Sport Wales but would be better served including education at the same level. Specific reference to the post 16 sector including FE has often been neglected - for example in some of the recent development work on Physical Literacy.

· Future Workforce: Must ensure that the training of the future workforce in FE is given due attention and is linked to short term planning and interventions in primary schools etc. Also that the 16-24 age group is given priority with its cohort including those approaching child bearing age, future parents and future teachers / coaches.

· Supporting Volunteers: Opportunities exist to provide better resources for volunteers from FE – 50,000 students potentially doing Welsh Bacc with 30 hours of volunteering required

· Support change – if the current model isn’t working, increase investment in embedding the WFG Act’s 5 ways of working into training for sport and health in the FE sector. This would enable better Involvement, Collaboration, Integration, Prevention and Long term impact between FE and other organisations.

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[1] The 14 include 10 FE corporations including St David’s Catholic College; an FE institution – WEA YMCA Community College Cymru; and The College Merthyr Tydfil, Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion which are part of university groupings.

[2] In this paper the terms ‘FE college’ and ‘college’ are used to cover FE colleges and FE institutions.