The next meeting of the Welsh Youth Parliament will take place on Saturday, 14 November with members discussing the impact of Coronavirus on children and young people.
Members will be invited to share their own personal experiences of living through a global pandemic, but will also speak about what other children and young people they represent have been telling them.
Lockdown has led to schools closing for months at a time and further disruption with school years needing to self-isolate - many pupils say they’ve been struggling to learn from home. With travel and household bubble restrictions as well, socialising, taking part in extra-curricular activities and seeing family and friends has also been very difficult.
The meeting will take place virtually and will be live streamed for the first time on Senedd TV from 10.00.
Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Welsh Language, and Hannah Blythyn MS, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, have agreed to attend.
Also taking part will be:
Lynne Neagle MS, Chair of the Senedd Children, Young People and Education Committee;
Mike Hedges MS, Chair of the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee;
Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales; and,
“This is our third meeting as a full Youth Parliament. I look forward to being able to share our report on plastic waste and litter with the Government.
“I am excited to hear the ministerial response to the third Youth Parliament report as this is such an important issue for the young people of Wales.
“It's good to finally be able to share the work of the committee. I'm also looking forward to being able to see friends from all over Wales again, albeit it's virtual.
“I am delighted to be part of this Youth Parliament as all the members are so talented and passionate.” - Welsh `Youth Parliament Member, Efan Fairclough.
The session will be chaired by the Llywydd of the Senedd, Elin Jones MS:
“Coronavirus is the issue dominating our lives every day. This meeting is a critical opportunity for young people to tell the Welsh Government how they’ve been affected by the pandemic and what support they need.
“The Welsh Youth Parliament has also been working hard to produce two, detailed, thoughtful and constructive reports on issues they identified as important to children and young people.
“I thank the Welsh Government ministers for agreeing to attend this meeting and look forward to hearing what they have to say.” - Elin Jones MS.
The Welsh Youth Parliament recently published two reports; one on emotional and mental health support among children and young people, and the other on tackling the problems of litter and plastic waste in Wales.
The
emotional and mental health report found three out of five children and young
people were coping with emotional and mental health issues every week in Wales.
It calls for urgent action to make all young people aware of the information
and support services available to them.
The
litter and plastics report calls for a ban on single-use plastics in Wales as
well as better education about the benefits recycling and reducing our waste.