Amber, 16 from Burry Port is our elected member of the UK Youth Parliament for 2019/20. Amber will be joining members of the UKYP in the House of Commons on Friday 8th November to debate and decide on the most important issue to campaign on for 2019. Amber will be amongst 24 members representing Wales at the event.

Ahead of the event Amber said “I’m so excited to be attending the House of Commons on the 8th November to represent both Carmarthenshire and Wales. It is an opportunity I could have only ever dreamed of so I am just so grateful to have been elected to do so.”

Amber led on the 2019 ‘Make Your Mark’ Ballot in Carmarthenshire, which is the largest youth consultation across the UK with over 800,000 young people taking part. Amber and her team encouraged more than 4,000 young people aged 11-18 years across Carmarthenshire to get involved and vote on the important issue that impact their lives.

In November, Amber and Members of the UK Youth Parliament will come together to debate and decide at the UKYP House of Commons sitting the most important issues to campaign on for the year ahead. The sitting will mark the end of Parliament Week. The Make Your Mark Ballot Results (Carmarthenshire and Wales Results can be found on page 26 – 27) were revealed in October.

The five issues to be debated at the Annual Sitting are:

1. PROTECT THE ENVIRNOMENT
UK Issue – We have a responsibility to protect the environment from the effects of climate change for the next generation; and that the Government should look towards carbon neutral alternatives.

2. PUT AN END TO KNIFE CRIME
Devolved issue – Too many young people’s lives are lost to knife crime; the Government need to do more to help end the knife crime epidemic.

3. MENTAL HEALTH
Devolved issue – Services should be improved with young people’s help, and should be available in schools.

4. TACKLING HATE CRIME
UK issue – We should be educated on how to report hate crime. We believe the Government should invest in creating safe spaces that promote unity in communities.

5. CURRICULUM TO PREPARE US FOR LIFE
Devolved Issue – Schools should cover topics like finance, sex and relationship education and politics

Amber added “I’m looking forward to debating the top issues from Make Your Mark in the Houses of Commons and will ensure that the voice of over 3700 young people in Carmarthenshire will be heard up in Westminster. I would like to thank all the young people who did engage in Make Your Mark this year, an amazing effort was seen in Carmarthenshire! Thank you”

Tom, 14 from Llandyfan is our elected member of the UK Youth Parliament for 2018/19.

Tom led on the 2018 ‘Make Your Mark’ Ballot in Carmarthenshire, which is the largest youth consultation across the UK with 954,766 young people taking part. Tom and his team encouraged 5,076 young people aged 11-18 years across Carmarthenshire to get involved and vote on the important issue that impact their lives.

The Make Your Mark Ballot Results (page 30-31) were revealed in October and the results for Carmarthenshire were: • 1,035 votes • 1,035 votes – Mental Health
• 620 votes – Tackling Homelessness
• 599 votes – A Curriculum to prepare us for life
• 599 votes – Equal pay for Equal work
• 595 votes – Put an end to knife crime

Tom joined members of the UKYP in the House of Commons on Friday 9th November to debate and decide on the most important issue to campaign on for 2019. Tom was amongst 24 members representing Wales at the event.

The 2 National Campaigns for 2018/19 voted on by the UKYP Members at the House of Commons Debate in November were:
1. To Put An End to Knife Crime
2. Votes at 16

On behalf of the Youth Council and the UKYP Tom has thanked all young people in Carmarthenshire that facilitated and took part in the Make Your Mark Ballot this year, the largest number of young people to vote in Make Your Mark since it began in 2011.

Tom said that “being a member of the UKYP has been the most amazing thing that has happened to me as a young person. It hasn’t only given me confidence and strength, but opportunities to meet people from all over the UK and hear their opinions that mean most to them. Votes at 16 campaign is a very special topic for many young people, as it gives us the voice and chance to help shape decisions that affect us most.”

It will ensure younger people are becoming politically active, and ensure they’re aware of the changing world and the decisions that can affect them.” He also added “A Curriculum for life is also a very important campaign as we, the younger generation need a curriculum that will prepare us for the busy world ahead of us. I’m very excited to be a part of, and see the work we have ahead of us, ensuring that we continue to provide the younger generation with a true voice.”

Alisha, 17 from Tycroes is our elected member of the UK Youth Parliament for 2017/18. Alisha led on the 2017 ‘Make Your Mark’ Ballot in Carmarthenshire, which is the largest youth consultation across the UK with 954,766 young people taking part. Alisha and her team encouraged 4,635 young people aged 11-18 years across Carmarthenshire to get involved and vote on the important issue that impact their lives.

The Make Your Mark Ballot Results (page 30-31) were revealed in October and the results for Carmarthenshire were:

Top 5 results for Carmarthenshire:

• 727 votes – A Curriculum to prepare us for life
• 661 votes – Work Experience hubs for 11-18 year olds
• 605 votes – Protect LGBT+ People
• 531 votes – Votes at 16
• 496 votes – First Aid Education for All Young People

Alisha joined members of the UKYP in the House of Commons on Friday 17th November to debate and decide on the most important issue to campaign on for 2018. Alisha was amongst 24 members representing Wales at the event

The 2 National Campaigns for 2017/18 voted on by the UKYP Members at the House of Commons Debate in November were A Curriculum to prepare us for life, and Votes at 16

On behalf of the Youth Council and the UKYP Alisha has thanked all young people in Carmarthenshire that facilitated and took part in the Make Youth Mark Ballot this year, the largest number of young people to vote in Make Your Mark since it began in 2011

Alisha said that “being a member of the UKYP has been the most amazing thing that has happened to me as a young person. It hasn’t only given me confidence and strength, but opportunities to meet people from all over the UK and hear their opinions that mean most to them. Votes at 16 campaign is a very special topic for many young people, as it gives us the voice and chance to help shape decisions that affect us most. It will ensure younger people are becoming politically active, and ensure they’re aware of the changing world and the decisions that can affect them.”

She also added “A Curriculum for life is also a very important campaign as we, the younger generation need a curriculum that will prepare us for the busy world ahead of us. I’m very excited to be a part of, and see the work we have ahead of us, ensuring that we continue to provide the younger generation with a true voice.”

Friday 26th January, saw Alisha and members of the UKYP Official Launch the National Campaigns as part of the National Day of Action. We, led by Alisha will be developing projects and initiatives to find out more about young people’s views and opinions on the two national issues. Such as School Council Debates, Consultation opportunities, raising awareness via social media and working with Senior Managers in Education about the Curriculum Reform taking place in Wales.

Over three days this weekend 16 year old Alisa Gibbons, Carmarthenshire’s elected UKYP (United Kingdom Youth Parliament) representative for 2017 will be staying at the university campus in Liverpool to take part in the Annual Sitting of the UKYP Youth Parliament.

During the Sitting Alisha, who is the representative of Carmarthenshire and Wales, will be putting up a strong case and fighting for Mental Health and Access to better Mental Health services for young people to be included within the top ten national issues to be put on the ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot form.

Make your Mark is the largest young people consultation in the UK and we will need your help and support to reach as many young people as possible across Carmarthenshire and the UK to get involved and have a say in this years ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot which will be launched on 12th August 2017.

Alisha, from Tycores said “I’m feeling enthusiastic and excited to be heading to Liverpool to try and get mental health on the 2017 MUM ballot papers. Mental health is an occurring issues that affect young people’s everyday lives. I strongly believe that mental health services for young people needs to be improved and every child and young person should have the right support when they need it!”

Taking part in the event will give Alisha the opportunity to meet up with and work with other members of the UKYP all aged 11-18 from across the country to make a difference for young people! She will be involved in workshops and debates to prepare her for the UKYP House Of Commons debate and vote in November to decide on which two issues from Make Your Mark will become the UKYP’s national campaigns for 2018.

MYP’s (members of Youth Parliament) will also have the privilege of listening to speeches made by political figures in addition to an opportunity of participating in a question and answer session.

Keep up to date with the conversation on our twitter and facebook or use #UKYP17

Our Communication’s Officer, Gwen Griffiths, will take part in the UK Youth Parliament debate on Friday, November 11. Gwen is representing us and the county in a national debate at the House of Commons.

Gwen, who was elected by other youth councillors to represent Carmarthenshire, will join 300 Members of the UK Youth Parliament aged between 11 and 18.

Over the summer Carmarthenshire Youth Council (CYC) backed the UK’s largest youth consultation, as the UK Youth Parliament tried to give one million young people across the UK a voice. CYC returned over 600 ballot papers for the event where they will be debating the top five issues chosen.

Each debate topic will be introduced with speeches from regionally elected members, who will put forward arguments for and against the issue.

Following the five debates, each member of the Youth Parliament will vote for their top issue to decide which will become their national campaign for 2017.

Gwen said: “I’m so thrilled to have been elected as MYP (Member of Youth Parliament) to represent the voices of young people in Carmarthenshire and Wales on a National Level. I’m looking forward to being able to have the experience of debating in the House of Commons.”