Young people have the chance to shape a new youth parliament for Wales which will give them a voice to discuss the issues they care about.
The Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales, Elin Jones AM, formally launched the consultation at her old school, Ysgol Bro Pedr, in Lampeter.
The consultation asks young people about a name for the youth parliament, its aim, membership, role and values.
A youth parliament is a key part of the Assembly Commission’s commitment to give children and young people a voice at a national level. It was voted for by all political parties represented at the Assembly.
It follows the publication of the Young Person’s Charter in 2014, which committed the Assembly to become a world leader in youth engagement.
“Our duty is not only to today’s voters, but to all citizens whose lives the Assembly touches,” said Elin Jones AM, Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales.
“Children and young people have the right to take part as citizens now. This consultation is an opportunity to think afresh about how this should happen.
“I am very proud to be launching a consultation which means they will have a voice at a national level and put in place a system which will heavily influence the work of our Parliament and decisions makers in Wales.”
Since announcing the intention to establish a youth parliament in October last year, the Assembly has been working with a steering group to lay the early groundwork. That group consists of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Youth Cymru, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Children in Wales, NUS Wales, the Wales Observatory on Human Rights of Children and Young People, The Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS), Scouts Cymru, GirlGuiding Cymru, The Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and the Campaign for the Children and Young People Assembly for Wales (CYPAW).
Elin Jones said:
“The contribution of the steering group has been invaluable and, from the outset, was based on putting the younger generation at the centre of the process.
“Children and young people will inspire us all to think differently about our nation’s future. They often think of original ideas and provide valuable perspectives to complex issues.
“We must provide support for them to discuss issues they care about, find ways for them to influence, and above all, we must listen.”
The consultation will run to 30 June and will include the Urdd Eisteddfod to be held in Bridgend between 29 May and 3 June. Regional events will also be staged across Wales including during Welsh Youth Work Week between 23 and 30 June.
The regional events are:
- 13 May – Denbigh Town Hall, Denbigh (10.30 – 12.30)
- 20 May – Llangrannog, Cardigan Bay (10.30 – 12.30)
- 30 May – Glan Llyn, Bala (13.00 – 15.00)
- 31 May – Halliwell Centre, Carmarthen (10.00 – 12.00)
- 31 May – Swansea YMCA, Swansea (14.00 – 16.00)
- 10 June – Cwmbran Stadium, Cwmbran (10.00 – 12.00)
- 10 June – Pierhead Building, Cardiff
More information on the consultation and the regional events, including how to take part, will be available from the youth parliament website – www.youthparliament.wales / www.seneddieuenctid.cymru.
The findings from the consultation will be published later this year.