Our Executive Board Members. Pictured left to right: Sam Kwan – Treasurer, Zach Davis – Communications Officer, Magda Smith – Chairperson, Toby Bithray – Vice Chair and Evie Somers – Secretary
We are excited to be holding our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 10th April 2025 in the Chambers at County Hall, Carmarthen at 5:00pm.
We have had a busy year, and we are looking forward to our AGM. The meeting gives us the chance to look back at the work we’ve been involved in and the positive achievements we have made over the last twelve months. Once again, this year we are fortunate to have the support of decision makers, managers and elected members form Carmarthenshire County Council attending our meeting.
Amongst the issues the Youth Council have worked on and the projects they are proud of are the creation and official launch of the Never Silence The Violence Docudrama; highlighting the need for real life lessons in our schools as part of their Our Voice, Our Vote, Our Future project; involvement in the recruitment and selection of staff. Also, new for this year, they have enrolled on Volunteens, a project delivered by Foothold Cymru that acknowledged their commitment and volunteering time to as Youth Councillors.
We are pleased to welcome Owain Lloyd, Director of Education and Children’s Services to officially open our 2025 meeting, along with the support of Cllr Glynog Davies Executive Board Member for Education and Children who will be addressing the meeting.
Our Chairperson Magda Smith, 18 from Pentregwenlais said “being part of Carmarthenshire Youth Council has been an incredible experience, and this AGM is a chance to recognise the dedication of our members. Seeing young people shaping change is inspiring, and I’m grateful for everyone’s contributions over the past 12 months. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Youth Council building on our successes in the coming year.”
For more info or if you have any questions, you can contact us by CLICK HERE!
Evie addressing the House of Commons during the UKYP Annual Sitting
How many times have you been told that young people are the future, that it is us the next generation who will determine this time to come and that we, the youth, are the pathway to what lies ahead?
The UK Youth Parliament wholeheartedly rejects this statement. Far too often are we illustrated as this evolutionary change in waiting who clearly cannot contribute until this so-called future.
Our new manifesto, entitled Shaping our Future: Today not Tomorrow is a clear message to government. If we are your future, invest in us today and reap the benefits tomorrow.
This message was echoed across the House of Commons during the Youth Parliament’s Annual Sitting not long ago where MYPs from across the UK spoke on the five debates determined as the most important.
I spoke in that very chamber detailing the need for a comprehensive programme of political literacy describing how ‘democracy does not function on apathy’ and that it instead ‘thrives on awareness participation and empowerment’.
Evie’s passionate speech on political literacy in the House of Commons during the 2025 UKYP Annual Sitting
During this time of increased conflict, political antagonism and great uncertainty a programme such as the Youth Parliament whose members provide premier representation for a bulk of young people should be a relief.
An increasingly notable point on the work of Youth Parliament is lowering the voting age to 16 in the UK; a point that with some strikes controversy and others reason.
Young people already get a say on who to elect to the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments as well as their local councils but don’t get a say on who to elect to Westminster.
When gauging the views of my constituents they said that ‘policies are being made that impact us – as young people, we should have a say in our futures and our lives’.
Alternatively, an opposing point of view stated the following, ‘18 should be the standard age of voting, based on maturity levels, susceptibility to influence and general lack of public knowledge’.
A report issued by the Electoral Reform Society states that ‘there is a real danger that 18 year olds who don’t vote now, will become 50 year olds who don’t vote in the future’.
With mixed certainty on the matter, is greater clarity and understanding the key to an expanded franchise, or, will the UK reject to follow suit with its Welsh and Scottish counterparts?
Last summer our Secretary Evie was elected as the Member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) for Carmarthenshire and will be representing the County at the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) Annual Sitting being held at the House of Commons, London on Friday 28th February 2025.
Evie said “Being given the opportunity to represent your peers, your peers’ experiences and their voices is one of the greatest honours. When I have conversations and interactions with my constituents, I feel so lucky and appreciative to be in my position”
MYP’s are 11 to 18 years old and represent the views of their peers on a UK wide level and Evie will have this position for a two-year term. Evie and over 300 other MYP’s from all parts of the UK will travel to Westminster to debate and vote on issues that matters to young people.
The UKYP provides opportunities for young people to bring about social change through meaningful representation. It is overseen by the National Youth Agency and Evie’s involvement is supported locally by Carmarthenshire County Councils Youth Support Service.
Presided over by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Members of the Youth Parliament will take part in five debates, the subjects for which were voted for by young people across the UK. MYP’s will prioritise two out of five debated subjects for the UK Youth Parliament national campaigns.
The 5 issues to be debated in the Annual Sitting are:
★VOTING (UK issue) 16 and 17 year olds should be allowed to vote in all elections and referendums, accompanied with more political education throughout school.
★ MINIMUM WAGE (UK issue) The National Minimum Wage for every worker under 22 be raised in order to match the National Living Wage for those over 22.
★TRANSPORT (Devolved issue) All public transport should be free for young people.
★ POLITICAL EDUCATION (Devolved issue) All young people in the UK must have access to a standardised level of political literacy and democratic education to improve engagement in politics on a local, national and international level to develop critical thinking skills.
★ PERIOD DIGNITY (Devolved issue) To establish period dignity, there should be free, accessible, good quality period products available in public spaces for everyone.
Evie said that “since being elected, the past five months have been both exciting, in the case of meeting with and getting to know regional MYPs from Wales, and to an extent, overwhelming. For example, attending the Annual Conference in October 2024 was my first time meeting MYPs from across the UK, and in two days we made our entire manifesto. Situations like those tend to remind me of my elected duties and my accountability to the young people of Carmarthenshire.”
Evie is looking forward to the Annual Sitting, she feels it is her elected duty to protect young people’s voices no matter what, and believes young people offer what can often be a very valuable perspective on issues adults cannot; all young people in Carmarthenshire will be at the forefront of her mind during this prestigious event.
Here’s how to stay up to date or follow the action as it happens;
Here’s how to stay up to date or follow the action as it happens; ★WATCH : The UK Youth Parliament Annual Sitting in the House of Commons on Friday, the 28th of February will be shown live on Parliament TV and Parliament TV Social Media. You can watch live by clicking here!
★CONVERSATION: You can keep up to date with Evie’s Day by following #CarmsHoC25 on social media.
★VISIT: For more information on the UKYP you can visit their website by clicking here www.nya.org.uk/ukyp
Our Never Silence the Violence project presents a drama-documentary that highlights the critical stages and sheds light on the experience of a young person following the reporting of a domestic abuse incident.
We are very proud of our members as they took the lead on every aspect of the Never Silence the Violence project, including having starring roles, script writing, filming, and interviewing professionals such as Dyfed Powys Police, Children’s Services, and CarmDas. Click here to read our Project Leads experience of developing the Docudrama – Win The Fight Against Domestic Abuse
The 15-minute DocuDrama, Never Silence The Violence was officially launched by the County Council’s Director for Education and Children, Owain Lloyd at an event in the Carmarthenshire Business Hub at St Catherine’s Walk on Monday, November 25 following a short walk-through the town for men and boys to show their support organised by Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Services Ltd.
We are very grateful to Carmarthenshire Youth Support Service for funding the docudrama and to everyone involved in the making our idea come alive and all the hard work that was put in to raise awareness for such a pressing issue. We hope that this resource will be shared amongst various organisations to give young people an insight into the support available and what happens when they disclose or report domestic abuse.
Find out how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse: ★ Remember that you can talk to your Teacher, Youth Worker, Coach or an Adult you trust ★ Live Fear Free – National Website ★ Carmarthenshire Domestic Abuse Service ★ Live Fear Free Helpline – 0808 80 10 800 ★ In an emergency, CALL THE POLICE on 999
For more information contact us using our online page Get In Touch or get involved in the conversation by using #NeverSilenceTheViolence on social media.
OUR BIGGEST CONSULTATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARMARTHENSHIRE
OUR PROJECT…
Our Voice, Our Vote, Our Future’ is Carmarthenshire’s annual youth consultation which finds out what issues matter the most to young people in our county. The consultation promotes democracy and enables Children’s Rights by encouraging young people to have a say in what matters to them. We launched Our Voice Our Vote, Our Future Ballot, during the Autumn term of 2023. We reached out and worked with secondary schools in Carmarthenshire, asking them to share the two most important issues for their students, we called these motions.
In November, we held a consultation event where two representatives from each of our secondary schools presented their motions. Everyone present took a vote, shortlisting the 10 TOP MOTIONS, forming our first Our Voice, Our Vote, Our Future ballot paper! The ballot paper went live in early 2024 and young people, aged 11-18 from across Carmarthenshire were encouraged to cast their vote on the one issue that matters most to their lives.
THE VOTE…
After the voting period, we counted the number of ballots we received and were amazed by how many of you used your voice for positive change. A total of 5221 votes were received from across Carmarthenshire. The results of the ballot were announced during the Carmarthenshire Youth Council Annual General Meeting held in April 2024 with the top issue voted for by young people was Teach Real Life Lessons In School with a total of 1051 votes.
The vote will shape the conversation around issues that directly impact young people’s lives and matter to them the most. Teach Real Life Lesson In School is now our priority issue and over the next 12 months we will give young people an opportunity to work on a campaign to make sure that their vote counts and makes a difference across Carmarthenshire.
WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
Contacted Schools and Projects letting them know what the top issues is.
Met with Carmarthenshire County Council’s Education Department Management Team to discuss the result, share our ideas and gain feedback.
Held and taken part in a workshop (for CYC Members) to discuss and research the issue further, created a draft timeline and appointed a sub-group to keep move the campaign on.
Created a campaign proposal that we will share with the Education Department Managers, Head Teachers and other relevant bodies to gain support and work together.
Four members of CYC are represented on the National Education and Training Advisory Boards for 11-16 and 16-25 year old rung by Young Wales
We can’t wait for you to see what we have planned! To keep in touch with the campaign or to get involved please follow #LearnRealLife social media or leave us a comment below with your opinions.
