WE MATTER. WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Posted on by Sarah

We have been working with Foothold Cymru recently to set Carmarthenshire Youth Council up as a volunteering placement to recognise the contribution, time and hard work of our members. We are so proud of our members that have signed up to their Volunteens Projects. Volunteens is a platform connecting young people with meaningful volunteer opportunities, who believe that through volunteering young people can develop new life skills and give back to their communities.

Our members who are aged between 11 – 21 years old devote and contribute a lot of time and work to the participation and children’s rights work on a local, regional and national level and the Volunteens project helps us celebrate and recognise our volunteering hours and the time we have given. We want our members to consider the personal benefits of volunteering and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives such as promoting good mental health, fostering a feeling of belonging, engaging in community participation, and strengthening social involvement more generally.

Our Chairperson Toby, said “volunteering with CYC has played a monumental role in shaping me as a person. It has provided countless opportunities to build my confidence, such as delivering speeches, and has empowered me with vital knowledge, whether recognizing the signs and symptoms of domestic abuse to protect myself or learning how to amplify the voices of other young people.“

Toby also added that “The work we do in CYC is invaluable, not only in addressing key issues but also promoting the growth and development of young people as a whole. It is essential that our efforts are recognised, as they create lasting change in both the young people of CYC and the wider community.”

Our member Kaya said that “volunteering with the Youth Council has made me become a better person socially while speaking to others and mentally as I learn and take part in new opportunities that help me develop such as making a speech during AGM which helped me with my confidence throughout our group and also planning our events which helped me with having a creative mind.”


Volunteens is a way of recognising what we have done and shows our commitment to making sure children and young people have a voice in Carmarthenshire. There are so many reasons to volunteer, so here are just a few:
★ Volunteering is a fantastic way to support a cause that you care about and learn new things along the way
★ Build your experience and skills while growing your confidence
★ Make a difference to others
★ Meet people, have fun and be part of your community
★ Feel valued and make a difference

    “We are so grateful to Foothold Cymru for creating a volunteering scheme that acknowledges the time, commitment and contribution given by Carmarthenshire’s young people. It is important we recognise this! Not only does volunteering open up a wealth of experiences, but it also allows young people to gain a variety of skills, such as team-work, that are beneficial in day-to-day life. I can’t express how much their volunteering is appreciated and valued by the service” explained Sarah Jones, Senior Participation and Children’s Rights Officer for Carmarthenshire County Council said

    Kelly Tomlinson, Head of Operations at Foothold Cymru said “I genuinely love Volunteens and the young people I’ve been able to meet with along the way. The project takes a fresh look at volunteering based around young people’s thoughts and opinions. The site and many of it’s resources have been co-produced by young people too and highlight the huge potential our young people have and how much they have to give. It’s also been great building relationships with many local organisations who are keen to take these Volunteens on board. Thanks to funding from the WCVA, Welsh Government and Volunteering in Wales, Volunteens now covers Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys and I’m really excited to see the difference young people can make across Wales.”

    There really is a volunteering opportunity for everyone and if you are 11 years old or older and interested in volunteering or you are already Volunteering in Carmarthenshire and want to know more about the Volunteens Project please visit the Volunteens website by clicking here or contact Kelly on kelly@footholdcymru.org.uk

    Our Voice, Our Vote, Our Future

    Posted on by Sarah

    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.

    Article by
    Evie

    Join the fun with us at our RIGHTS TOGETHER: A Celebration of Children’s Rights Conference

    Posted on by Sarah

    Hey, as a Youth Council, we’ve got something really exciting coming your way, it is our FIRST Youth Conference since the Covid lockdown;

    RIGHTS TOGETHER: A Celebration of Children’s Rights!
    Get ready to have a blast on Wednesday, 25th October 2023, at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli 9:30am – 2:30pm. Click HERE to book your places.

    Why children’s rights are cool: Children’s rights are like superpowers – They give you the freedom to be yourself, learn, have fun, and grow up in a safe and fair world. We are here to show YOU just how amazing and important they are.

    Here are some of our Event Highlights:
    ★ RIGHTS CHAMPION: Children’s Commissioner for Wales: Rocio Cifuentes, to give the Key-Note speech
    ★ SUPER WORKSHOPS: We’ve got interactive workshops that will make learning fun! Dive into topics that will empower you to speak up when your rights are not met.
    ★ YOU LEAD THE TALK: We want to hear YOUR thoughts! There will be discussions led by our Youth Council members, who will listen, and truly care about your opinions and ideas.
    ★ THE BARN: There will be an abundance of organisations, with information and activities for everybody. Make sure to take part, as this is a once in a lifetime experience!
    ★ MEET NEW PALS: Connect with other young people and groups, who are passionate as you are about making Carmarthenshire a better place.

    Why you should come:
    ★ LEARN COOL STUFF: Find out about Children’s Rights, and why they matter.
    ★ BE INSPIRED: Hear stories from young people and organisations who are changing our world for the better.
    ★ MAKE NEW FRIENDS: Meet other awesome young people and organisations who believe in you.
    ★ FEEL EMPOWERED: Get ideas on how YOU can make a real difference in your community.

    How to be a part of the action:
    If you’re a school, or part of an awesome group, working with young people aged 11-18, we want YOU to join the fun! Its your chance to shine, make new friends, and learn how to be empowered through children’s rights. Please click here for the draft programme.

    ★★★ SAVE THE DATE ★★★
    Circle Wednesday 25th October 2023, on your calendar. Hopefully, we will see you there!

    “RIGHTS TOGETHER: a celebration of children’s rights” is not just a conference; it’s a place to  have a great time, make friends, and be a part of something BIG. Together, we’ll make sure children’s rights are known and celebrated!

    Stay tuned for more updates, live on #RIGHTSTOGETHER on social media, and on our website – We’re counting down to an epic day of fun, learning, and making Carmarthenshire  a better place; one step at a time!

    BOOK YOUR PLACE

    Article by Tom