Senedd 2026: The Candidates are coming to Carmarthen

Posted on by Sarah

The 2026 Senedd Election is coming up this May and if you’re 16 to 18 years old living in Carmarthenshire, then this event is for you!

From the cost of your bus fare to the mental health support in your school, the people elected this May will be making the decisions that shape your daily life. Politicians usually spend a lot of time talking about young people but on Thursday, 12th March, we’re making them talk to you.

We are bringing Senedd candidates to the Halliwell Centre in Carmarthen to give young people first-hand experience of the democratic process, by giving you the opportunity to meet, discuss and question your local candidates and party representatives on the issues that matter most as first time voters.

If you want your school or college to be part of the conversation, talk to your teachers and ask them to email us on info@carmarthenshire.gov.uk.

Meet the candidates poster. Showing an image of young people sitting around a table with two candidates. Information on the poster: Meet the candidates, 12th March 2026 at the Halliwell Centre, Carmarthen. Meet, Discuss, Question. On the bottom there are three logos of the organisations that have organised it Carmarthenshire Youth Council, Carmarthenshire County Council and Foothold Cymru

BE READY

Foothold Cymru’s ‘Future Changemaker’ project is offering to visit schools before the event to run workshops. They’ll break down how the democratic process works so you can walk into the Halliwell Centre feeling ready to hold the candidates to account. You can reach out to Anneli at anneli@footholdcymru.org.uk to set this up.

FOR THE STAFF

It’s not just for pupils. The Senedd Cymru Engagement Team will be running a ‘training the trainer’ session for accompanying staff. They’ll be sharing resources to help bring democracy into the curriculum back at school.

Don’t let someone else decide your future.
Come along, ask the questions, and make sure your voice is heard in 2026.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Senedd makes decisions on the things you deal with every day: your education, public transport, the environment, and the NHS in Wales. This year’s election is different, for the first time, the Senedd is expanding to 96 members and the voting system is changing to a “closed list” system. Essentially, you’ll be voting for a party or an independent candidate to represent your area.

Make them listen: This is your chance to highlight the issues you actually care about, like climate change, mental health support, or local transport right direct to candidates.

Meet the candidates: a chance to meet and find out the views of the people asking for your vote.

Be ready to vote: If you aren’t on the register, you don’t get a say – as simple as that. So we can support and help make sure you’re registered to vote.

Start the conversation back at school: You and your teachers can be shown resources, workshop ideas, and information that you can take back to your schools to help start the conversation in your own classroom.

The “Receipts” Check: Bring a notebook to jot down specific promises they make. If they get elected, you’ll have the “receipts” to hold them to it later.

Networking: There will be time at the end of the event to chat with Youth Council Members and other pupils there. It’s a great way to find out if people from other schools share the same views about the same things as you – there’s power in numbers.

Most candidates hang around for a few minutes after the event ends. If you are too nervous to ask a question in front of your small group, you could just walk up and talk to them afterwards.

Staff from the Participation Team, Foothold Cymru, Senedd and the Politics Project will have information stands and are availble if you have any questions.

CONNECTED:  EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE PLACE:
Your Local Council’s Youth Team
Future Changemaker Project at Foothold Cymru
The Politics Project
Senedd
Elections and Voting Carmarthenshire
Register to Vote

Our Voice, Our Vote, Our Future 2… Is LIVE!

Posted on by Sarah

If you are aged between 11 and 18 years old and living in Carmarthenshire, you probably have a list of things you’d change about your community if you were in charge. Well, here’s your chance to influence those changes.

We’re excited to officially launch Our Voice, Our Vote, Our Future 2. This isn’t just a survey that gets forgotten; it’s a chance to tell decision-makers exactly what needs to change. Your vote decides the Youth Council’s top priority for the year, and they will be working on the ground to turn that result into real change for young people across the county.

WHAT ARE THE BIG ISSUES?

Last autumn, the Youth Council spent time listing to others from across the county. From those conversations, we narrowed it down to five key topics. Now, it’s up to you to pick the one that matters most:

★ INCREASE WELSH LANGUAGE USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE
Promoting more Welsh speaking across youth organisations and schools to address the decline in Welsh speakers

★ TACKLING FOOD POVERTY
Boost foodbanks volunteering, more support with school holiday food poverty, affordable meals in schools and colleges.

★ MORE SUPPORT FOR EXAM STRESS
Provide more school sessions on wellbeing, coping with stress strategies, and effective revision techniques

★ INCREASE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Make young people aware of local activities and encourage them to take part.

★ CREATE MORE SPACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Develop outdoor spaces designed for young people, open town halls, and create parks suitable for those aged 12 and over

VOTE NOW

WHY SHOULD YOU VOTE?

In 2023, over 5,200 of you took part in the first version of this project. That collective voice made it difficult for local decision-makers to ignore what young people said. By getting involved and casting your vote this time, you’re helping to decide which of these five issues becomes the Youth Council’s top priority for the coming year. The winning issue will lead to actual campaigns and projects aimed at making a difference in Carmarthenshire.

HAVE YOUR SAY!

★ Online Vote: Click here to cast your vote on the online ballot paper
★ Get your group involved: If you’re part of a club or project, you can download the ballot paper here to get everyone voting
★ Invite us over: If you want us to come to your school or youth project to hear your views in person, contact us here to arrange a visit.

Voting is open right now and stays open until 14th March 2026.The results will be revealed at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March 2026.

Stay updated and see what other young people are saying by following #OurVoice2SirGar on social media.

Speak Up and Be Heard: Evie at the House of Commons

Posted on by Sarah

Over 300 young people from across the UK are getting ready to attend the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) Annual Sitting at the House of Commons this week.

The UKYP’s Annual Sitting is an important event where young people’s voices take centre stage. Our very own Evie, who is 17 and from Carmarthen will be among the attendees, representing Carmarthenshire in London on Thursday 6th November 2025.

The historic chamber will host the annual sitting of the UK Youth Parliament, where Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) from across the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies will formally gather. This session provides a crucial platform for young representatives to debate and influence national issues.

During the prestigious event Evie and the other Members of the Youth Parliament (MYP’s) will take part in five general debate sessions on 5 topics important to young people: 
★ Housing
★ Health
★ Employment
★ Crime
★ Sustainability

These discussions will focus on five topics from the new UKYP Manifesto for the 2024-26 term, titled ‘Shaping Our Future, Today Not Tomorrow‘. These debates aim to give MYPs a chance to share their perspectives on the topics under consideration.

Representing Carmarthenshire Evie said  “I’m looking forward to hearing the views of other Members of Youth Parliament at the House of Commons sitting. Representing the young people of Carmarthenshire in the chamber is such a huge honour and privilege.”

Evie, in her role as an elected youth representative, is ready to work alongside policy and decision makers to tackle these priority areas, ensuring the voices of young people in Carmarthenshire and across the UK make a difference and bring about positive change.

The event organised by the National Youth Agency and UK Parliament is hosted by the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP​​ the Speak of the House of Commons.

This year’s debate will be broadcast live on Parliament TV and live streamed on the UK Parliament’s social media channels. You can also keep up to date with the Annual Sitting on social media using #UKYPHoC.

Send us a message if you would like more information or would like to get involved with Carmarthenshire Youth Council we’d love to hear from you.

Young Voices, Big Impact!

Posted on by Sarah

I had the chance to interview Evie, a member of the UK Youth Parliament, to learn more about her role and the issues she is most passionate about.

THE INTERVIEW…

Q. What does being Wales’ Member of the Youth Select Committee mean to you?
A. There’s more than 500,000 young people across this nation – having been entrusted to effectively represent their views on the Youth Select Committee (YSC) is, of course, an honour. Fulfilling this position will be my most active representative role to date – I plan to take great care and responsibility when speaking and advocating on behalf of Wales’ young people.

Q. Who’s your biggest inspiration?
A. It’s going to be difficult to pick just one I’m afraid, as I admire many people for many different reasons – Nadia Whittome MP for example does a great deal of work promoting equality across parliamentary settings. Will Hayward, a Welsh journalist produces some incredible content on Welsh politics allowing for accessible and quality news. I could go on.

Q. What do you feel most passionate about – and what do you want to change for the future?
A. I’m incredibly passionate about political education – something which I had the privilege to discuss in the House of Commons with my fellow Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs). I believe that far too many young people are disengaged and disinterested with the very systems that govern them. I would certainly change the way that government and politics is approached within our curriculum; starting a comprehensive programme of political literacy is key to curing ignorance.

Q. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I’ll hopefully have a secure career within journalism – a dream I have held for some time.

Q. What would you tell your younger self today?
I would tell my younger self what I would tell Wales’ young people – take every opportunity available to you – enjoy every experience, and be kind, always.

Thank you to Evie for answering my questions and good luck with your work in the UK Youth Parliament.

Article by
Bethan

Evie, will travel to London this week to attend the first in-person meeting of the UK Youth Select Committee, held at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday, 18 September.
This prestigious event marks the official launch of the Committee’s inquiry process for the 2025/26 term. Evie, who is representing both Carmarthenshire and Wales, is one of only 12 young people across the UK to have been selected to sit on the influential Youth Select Committee.

If you want to know more or keep up with what Evie’s up to in London with the Youth Select Committee, you can follow her journey and get the latest updates on our socials Facebook and Instagram! If you’ve got a question for Evie, drop it in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to get you an answer as soon as we can!

Our Annual Get-Together in Margam

Posted on by Sarah

We had an incredible time at our Annual Summer Camp! We recently came together for another fantastic camp, designed by young people, for young people! Thanks to our Summer Camp Planners who worked hard to create an unforgettable experience packed with fun, learning, and making memories, and we think they absolutely nailed it!

We always look forward to our Summer Camp, it’s become a fantastic tradition for Carmarthenshire Youth Council to come together, recharge, and get ready for another year of making a difference. This time, we headed to the brilliant Margam Discovery Centre at the end of July. It was the perfect spot for our annual get together.

Beyond all the fun, the camp was a super important time for us to get down to business. It a great opportunity for all of us as a Youth Council to plan our work for the year ahead and set our priorities. We shared ideas, discussed what matters most to young people in Carmarthenshire, and figured out how we can make the biggest impact. Your voice is at the heart of everything we do, and the camp really helped us shape our vision for the coming months.

This year, we had an absolute blast with a “Traitors” theme, inspired by the incredible castle right on the grounds of Margam Park! We took part in loads of exciting team-building games and tasks that really got us working together, thinking strategically, and having fun.

It was a brilliant way to strengthen our bonds and get to know each other even better outside of our usual meetings. Everyone enjoyed the theme and took part with really enthusiasm.

One of the absolute highlights was the Raft Building Activity! We split into teams, got our building ideas ready (and our hands a bit wet!), and built our very own rafts. It was so much fun, and even if some of them weren’t exactly seaworthy, it was an amazing way to build relationships and create some hilarious memories together. Nothing beats a bit of friendly competition and shared laughter on a warm summer day.

Our member Mimi, said following the Summer Camp  “My favourite part was the raft building, as it helped us work as a team whilst having lots of fun! I felt that the Traitors theme gave way to a lot of conversations and helped connect everyone present”

Margam Park isn’t just about castles and lakes; it’s also home to some adorable creatures! We spent some time on the Farm Trail, getting to meet and pet some of the friendly farm animals like goats and even some super cute alpacas! We also spotted some of Margam Park’s long-term residents, the majestic deer and ducks. It was a great way to relax and connect with nature after all our planning and activities, and a wonderful break from the “Traitors” tasks.

We had an unforgettable summer experience! Our Summer Camp was truly amazing! We had fun, made new friends, strengthened our bonds, and set out a clear path for how we’re going to continue making a difference for young people in Carmarthenshire. You can see some of the memories we made in the photo album below.

Keep an eye on our social media and website for updates on our upcoming projects and how you can get involved with Carmarthenshire Youth Council!

We’d love to hear from you – what kind of activities would you like to see us take on next? Leave your ideas in the comments.

OUR SUMMER CAMP 2025 GALLERY

Photos provided by Sam K