Dates: 11 September - 11 November
Location: Senedd Oriel
As we mark 25 years of devolution in Wales, we’re celebrating the stories of people who have used their voice to campaign for change.
Watch and listen as they explain how they worked with the Senedd in different ways to raise the issues important to their communities.
From our mountains to our cities and coast, voices from across Wales have shaped the story of the Senedd, and will continue to shape its future.
Angel Ezeadum
Angel was a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament between 2018 and 2021.
She is a passionate advocate for social justice and was elected to the Welsh Youth Parliament by partner organisation, Race Council Cymru.
Rhian Mannings MBE
Rhian had recently returned to work after having her youngest son George when tragedy struck her family. George died suddenly with no sign of illness in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant on the 22nd February 2012. Just days later, traumatised by the loss of their son, her husband Paul took his own life.
In 2019 Rhian submitted a petition calling for support to be given to families who unexpectedly lose a child or young adult aged 25 years and under.
Cai Phillips
Cai was a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament for West Carmarthen and South Pembrokeshire between 2018 and 2021.
In his first speech in the Senedd chamber, Cai spoke about farming and rural opportunities. He focused on the impact of Brexit on the industry, as well as broadband problems in rural Wales.
Claire O'Shea
Claire lives and works in Cardiff and has dedicated nearly 20 years to the charitable sector. In 2022, Claire was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer.
The Health and Social Care Committee held an inquiry in 2022-2023 looking at the experiences of women with symptoms of gynaecological cancer, and how they are listened to and treated by healthcare professionals.
Claire’s diagnosis motivated her to engage with the Committee. She shared her personal experience through a written response, video interview and oral evidence given in a Committee meeting at the Senedd.
Neil Evans
Hailing from Carmarthenshire, Neil’s early passion for angling sparked his appreciation for the countryside and awareness of environmental issues.
In 2007 Neil submitted a petition calling for plastic bags to be banned because of the environmental impacts of their manufacture and disposal.
On 1 October 2011 Wales became the first country in the UK to introduce a requirement to charge on most single-use carrier bags under The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Wales) Regulations Act.
Sarra Ibrahim
In 2022, Sarra was a project worker for Women Connect First, a charity to empower Black & Minority Ethnic Women in Cardiff and South East Wales.
In 2022, the Equality and Social Justice Committee undertook a short inquiry: Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence: migrant women.
The Committee held a number of focus groups across Wales. Sarra participated in a focus group at South Riverside Community Development Centre.
Lisa Turnbull
In 2008, the Royal College of Nursing started a campaign to ensure that nurse staffing levels within the Welsh NHS were sufficient to provide safe, effective, and quality nursing care to patients at all times. Lisa was working as Policy and Public Affairs Adviser at the time.
The Royal College of Nursing contacted Assembly Member Kirsty Williams to work together to propose a Bill (a new law). The Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill was introduced as a Member Bill by Kirsty Williams AM in 2014.
In 2016, Wales passed the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act. It was the first country in Europe to recognise in legislation the link between numbers and skill mix of nursing staff and patient outcomes.
