The Wales Schools Programme, which is also known as SchoolBeat Cymru, is set to continue in North Wales.

That is thanks to the joint efforts and funding of North Wales Police chief constable Amanda Blakeman and North Wales Police and crime commissioner Andy Dunbobbin.

The programme, a partnership between the Welsh Government and North Wales, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, and South Wales police forces, assigns a Schools Police Officer (SPO) to every school in Wales.

Their duties include delivering teacher-developed, bilingual lessons for pupils ranging from five to 16 years old.

However, after the Welsh Government confirmed in February that it would end its funding support from the end of March, funding for the programme had been temporarily provided by North Wales Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) office.

This prompted a wave of disappointment across North Wales.

The Wales Schools Programme has come to be seen as a highly valued component of educational life regionally.

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In response, North Wales Police launched extensive local consultations with partner agencies, schools, students, and young people to understand the programme's value to them and to help shape the programme's future.

The feedback gathered has led to the announcement that the programme would be funded by the North Wales Police and PCC's office on an ongoing basis.

This commitment ensures that the programme will carry on, with the police officers involved remaining connected with young people in a similar format but with heightened focus on the Force's youth engagement strategy.

Ms Blakeman celebrated the programme's continuation saying: "The SchoolBeat programme not only provides young people with the opportunity to learn about civic responsibility and helping their community, it also provides a vital link between the school and my officers.

"I am therefore delighted that we have been able to continue this valuable service on a local level.

"School Police Officers deliver vital inputs around a variety of subjects, but they also provide an opportunity for young people to develop a positive relationship with the police, understanding our role in serving our communities."

Mr Dunbobbin likewise shared his delight about the programme's future adding: "I am delighted that our work with North Wales Police means that the Wales Schools Programme is able to continue in an adapted form and I look forward to seeing it develop in the months ahead.

"We all can understand the pressures on budgets and finances on government at every level that have led us to this point, but I am pleased that the Force and my office have been able to come up with a solution that means a School Beat Cymru-inspired programme can continue in schools.

"Our new and bespoke programme can therefore help to keep forging the deep links between the police and young people that will stand us all in good stead for the future, encouraging understanding, dialogue, and trust between different generations and parts of society."