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