• ·       Council commits to tackling £49.7m budget shortfall
• ·       ‘Little Gigs’ programme showcases tomorrow’s talent at Clwb Ifor Bach
• ·       85% of Cardiff's pupils attend a school committed to embedding children's rights

Cardiff Council has revealed it is facing a predicted budget shortfall in 2025/26 of almost £50m.

The council is now working on a budget plan for next year – which could see some services reduced or stopped completely – to bridge the gap.

The shortfall is caused when the money the council receives from Government, added to the money it expects to raise from charges like council tax, isn’t enough to pay for the 700-plus services the council delivers to residents.

A report to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet, on Thursday, July 18, details the financial pressures the council is currently experiencing due to rising costs and demands for social care, schools and education, buildings, roads and parks, alongside increasing demand for multiple other services.

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It was autumn when a series of ‘Little Gigs' by some of the hottest acts on the Welsh music scene toured Cardiff's secondary schools, kickstarting a Cardiff Council programme aimed at inspiring learners and providing a pipeline of talent for Cardiff's music sector.

Last week - after a programme of mentoring, training and support from music industry partners, includingCerddcf, Anthem, and Sound Progression, as well as Duke al Durham, Maddie Jones, Alex Jones, Wonderbrass, Dflexx and Farrah -pupils from schools across Cardiff took to the stage at Clwb Ifor Bach in a series of special showcase events in front of an audience that included BBC 6 Music DJ Huw Stephens and BBC Radio 1 DJ Sam MacGregor.

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Last November, Cardiff was officially declared a UNICEF Child Friendly City - the first of its kind in the UK.

The prestigious and internationally acknowledged status was awarded in recognition of the steps the Council and its partners have taken to advance the human rights of children and young people across the city.

In championing children's rights, 55Cardiff schools have now been awarded gold or silver in the UNICEF Right's Respecting Schools Award (RRSA). This recognises that schools are putting children's rights into practice -  where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they are able to thrive.

Through support from Cardiff's Child Friendly Cardiff team, an impressive 85% of all children and young people attend a school that has a rights action plan in place.

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