Our Citizen Engagement Team works with you, the people of Wales to provide opportunities to have your say on the issues that affect our lives.
Senedd Committees play a vital role in holding the Welsh Government to account, by scrutinising the policies they set, the money they spend, and the laws they propose. Hearing from those with lived experience are crucial to the work of Committees. We aim to create engaging and accessible opportunities for you to engage with and influence this work, across a range of issues like health, education, transport, the economy, and the environment.
Some examples of the our work is included below.
Work it out: Parenting and employment in Wales
The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee held an inquiry into pregnancy, maternity and work in Wales.
We arranged focus groups, and ran an online discussion forum which allowed for open and frank discussion, where participants could share their views and ideas, anonymously or otherwise.
The breadth of views shared were reflective of the diversity of participants. Contributions were submitted by mothers from Blaenau Gwent to Carmarthenshire, and from Bridgend to Flintshire. They included young mothers, single mothers, mothers from low-income households – some of whom were employed, some were in part-time work or on zero hour contracts, and others were out of work.
A number of key themes emerged, which informed subsequent evidence sessions as well as the recommendations made to the Welsh Government in the Committee’s report.
On the right track? The Rail Franchise and the South Wales Metro
The Senedd’s Economy Infrastructure and Skills Committee undertook a piece of work on the Welsh Government’s procurement of the next Wales and Borders Rail Franchise and Metro.
The Committee wanted to focus on passenger priorities, so a survey was created so that rail users could have their say. An event was held in Shrewsbury in order to highlight the need to capture the views of users from across the franchise area in Wales and England. This enabled us to gather views from user groups and other interested parties.
Almost 3,000 survey responses were received. The Committee used the contributions from the survey and stakeholder event to create their Top Ten Priorities for the New Wales and Borders Franchise and to help form their recommendations and final report.
Children’s Rights in Wales
The Children, Young People and Education Committee began a short review of Children’s Rights across Wales to review the impact of the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011.
We engaged directly with the youth sector by providing resources and materials called a ‘Meeting in a Box’. Education professionals in turn used these resources to deliver an interactive session with the young people they work with, the results of which were then forwarded to the Members of the Committee.
The activities also included a voting task - in true democratic style! 45 sessions were held involving 866 participants from all five Senedd regions. The feedback received helped inform the Committee’s work.
Our First Citizens’ Assembly
On the weekend of 19 – 21 July, 58 of the 60 people selected as being representative of the Welsh population gathered at Gregynog Hall in mid Wales to take part in our first Citizens’ Assembly. The Senedd Commission decided to hold this citizens’ assembly as part of its 20th Anniversary celebrations.
This Citizens’ Assembly had two questions to consider:
- How can people in Wales shape their future?
- Which devolved areas are working particularly well and which are challenging Wales?
“Coming here now and meeting lots of different people and listening to different opinions was really good – it was a really good weekend.”
Sarah, citizens’ assembly member
On Sunday 29 September, as part of the GWLAD festival, the Citizen’s Assembly’s report was presented to the Senedd.
