Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care visited Action for Children’s new therapeutic children’s home in Newport.
During her visit, she met staff and toured Ty Ash, the newly refurbished Newport property, as the charity prepares the four-bedroomed home to receive its first children this summer.
Ty Ash has been established through the Housing with Care Fund (HCF), a Welsh Government initiative designed to improve housing options for people with care and support needs. This capital programme promotes independent living, enabling individuals to thrive in their communities while receiving the care they need.
Dawn Bowden, Minister for Children and Social Care, said:
“I am pleased the Welsh Government has provided important funding to renovate Ty Ash and proud of the work we have done alongside Action for Children, the Regional Partnership Board and Newport City Council to get to this point.
“This is about more than funding though – it’s about transforming the care experience for children and young people. By eliminating profit from the system, we are reinvesting in people, in communities, and in the principle that care should be driven by compassion, not commercial gain.”
Ty Ash will care for children and young people between the ages of eight to 18 years. Ty Ash will provide 52-week residential placements for up to four children/young people subject to matching. The charity offers long-term placements for children/young people looked after by local authorities within Gwent.
Laurie Ryall, Action for Children’s director in Wales, said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Minster to our new children’s home in Newport and see another HCF funded project come to fruition. We are very proud of our homes in Wales and the positive impact they have on young people that have often faced significant trauma.
“The Minister is already familiar with our work with children in Wales and has previously attended training on our therapeutic approach, delivered by our Fostering Service. She showed genuine interest in how we support care-experienced children and in our contribution to the not-for-profit sector.”
Emma Coombs is Ty Ash’s registered manager. She added:
“It’s taken a lot of hard work to reach this point, but we are delighted with the home. It’s a beautiful property and we have finished it to a very high standard. It’s central to our whole philosophy that we make it a real home from home and I’m sure the children will quickly feel as comfortable and safe as possible in our loving environment. It was an honour to welcome the minister to Ty Ash, and we look forward to welcoming her back soon.”
