Young People Take The Lead at Annual General Meeting

Posted on by Sarah

Our AGM (Annual General Meeting) took place in County Hall on Thursday, 10th of April. Young people from across Carmarthenshire attended and we had the opportunity to share our achievements from the past year with County Council Elected Members, Managers, and Heads of service within the Education and children’s services department.

At the meeting we welcomed Director of Education and Children, Owian Lloyd to officially open the meeting. We are so grateful as it is his first Youth Council AGM since his appointment as Director in October 2024.  

Chaired by our outgoing Chairperson Magda Smith the AGM gives an opportunity for Youth Council Members to present reports and speeches on the achievements and work of the Youth Council over the year and to set priorities for the coming year.

Speaking at the AGM Magda, 18 from Pentregwenlais said “Looking back, I feel incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. Serving as Chairperson of Carmarthenshire Youth Council has been a privilege. It’s opened doors I never imagined, from representing young voices in decision-making spaces to building lasting friendships. I’ve grown not only as a leader but also as a person. Most importantly, I hope I’ve made a difference by helping young people feel heard, empowered, and inspired to create change. While this chapter is ending, the impact and the memories will stay with me for a lifetime. I know the future of CYC is safe in the hands of the up-and-coming young people”

The past twelve months have been busy, with members working on officially launching our domestic abuse project called Never Silence the Violence and Our Voice Project where we worked with Secondary Schools to explore Real Life Lessons.

We have also been very fortunate to have Evie represent us, Carmarthenshire and Wales in the House of Commons as part of the UK Youth Parliament.

Following the AGM we are pleased to announce the exciting news that Carmarthenshire Youth Council’s Executive Board for 2025 are:
★ Toby Bithray – Chairperson
★ Ben Bantock – Vice Chairperson
★ Evie Somers – Secretary
★ Samuel Kwan – Treasurer
★ Zach Davis – Communications Officer

Toby, following receiving the position of Chairperson said “In my role as Vice Chairperson over the last twelve months, I have been proud to assist the Chairperson in meetings and leading the young people. Now I feel ready and excited to become Chairperson of the Youth Council myself. I hope to continue amplifying the voices of young people in CYC, and bring a further sense of community within the Youth Council.”

Cllr. Aled Vaughan Owen addressed the meeting to give an update on the collaboration work between Carmarthenshire County Councils Executive Board and Youth Council, a project developed to encourage young people to influence the priority areas of Carmarthenshire County Council. 

We also welcomed Kelly Tomlinson, Head of Operations at Foothold Cymru who presented the members with Volunteens certificates for their contribution to Carmarthenshire Youth Council. You can read more by clicking here on what Youth Council members said about signing up to the Volunteens project.

We were joined by Gill Adams, Principal Youth Support Services Manager who presented members who successfully completed an Introduction to Safeguarding Training delivered by Carmarthenshire Youth Support Service Staff during our Annual Summer Camp last year.

The AGM also allowed us to express our appreciation and to celebrate the hard work, dedication and valuable contribution of former Youth Council members who have recently left. Former members who were in attendance were presented by with a certificate and Award of Recognition by the Director of Education and Children, Owain Lloyd.

Our 2025 AGM was officially closed by County Councillor Carys Davies, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Community Cohesion and Planning Policy who addressed the chambers with a positive message about the importance of continuing to be the voice of young poeple and to champion young peoples issues locally and nationally in the Senedd and Houses Of Parliament.

If you would like more information or are interested in being a part of the CYC then please reach out and get in touch with us by email on info@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or send a message on any of our Social Media platforms Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly Twitter)

Evie Joins National Debate At The House Of Commons

Posted on by Sarah
With passion and purpose: Evie speaks on political literacy at the UK Youth Parliament’s House of Commons Annual Sitting

Our Member, Evie Somers, from Carmarthen represented Carmarthenshire at the UK Youth Parliament Annual Sitting at the House Of Commons, Westminster. The Annual Sitting took place on Friday 28th February 2025 and along with 300 other Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) Evie debated and voted on key issues which affect young people across the UK.

Evie was elected as the MYP for Carmarthenshire, in August 2024 and will stand for a two-year term. MYP’s are 11 to 18 years old and represent the views of their peers.

During the Annual Sitting, which was presided over by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, young people from across the UK as well as the British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies debated and voted on five key topics, these were:
★ Voting 16 and 17-year-olds
★ Increasing the minimum wage
★ Free transport for young people
★ The need for political education
★ Period dignity for everyone

Evie said “It was such an honour to represent my peers, their experiences, and their voices at the House of Commons. During a day filled with passionate debate, I had the opportunity to deliver my speech on the importance of political literacy, highlighting how ‘democracy does not function on apathy’ and that it instead ‘thrives on awareness participation and empowerment’. Click play on the video below to watch Evie’s passionate speech at the House of Commons.

Evie delivering her speech at the House of Commons.

Following a busy day of debating in the Chamber, the day ended with the UK Youth Parliament setting key motions on issues affecting young people nationwide, ensuring that youth voices are central of policy discussions. Youth Parliament Members voted to prioritise Lowering the voting age to 16 (UK Reserved Campaign) and Period dignity (Devolved Campaign) as their campaigns for the upcoming year.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons said that he was “very proud that this sitting of the UK Youth Parliament will be the most inclusive and exciting yet.”

The event in the UK Parliament coincided with the launch the UK Youth Parliament Manifesto for 2024-2026, ‘Shaping Our Future, Today Not Tomorrow’, which was created by young people at their Annual Conference last year, drawing on the views and issues raised by young people from across the UK.

As a dedicated advocate for the voice of young people, Evie will continue to work alongside decision-makers to drive progress in these priority areas. Ensuring young people’s voices are heard and championing for meaningful change for young people throughout Carmarthenshire, Wales and across the UK.

Carmarthenshire Council Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, Cllr Glynog Davies congratulated Evie on representing the county at the UK Youth Parliament and also for being elected as the Member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) for Carmarthenshire.

For the first time ever a Member of the Youth Parliament made history as the first young person to use British Sign Language to deliver their speech in the House of Commons. A BSL interpreter communicated this via a microphone in the Commons Chamber.

Excitement Is Building For Our 2025 Annual General Meeting

Posted on by Sarah
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!

Today, Not Tomorrow: UK Youth Parliament

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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?

Article by
Evie Somers

Evie Represents Carmarthenshire at House of Commons

Posted on by Sarah

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